Lt. Gov Pushes Job Creation: Nurses Especially

By BJ Austin, KERA News

Dallas, TX –

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst wants four Senate committees to focus on creating jobs in Texas, and make recommendations to the 2011 Legislature.

At a visit to the University of Texas at Arlington's "School of Nursing," the Lieutenant Governor said the committees will focus first on healthcare, hoping to increase the number of nurses statewide. Texas suffers a shortage.

Dewhurst: How we can increase the number of students? And, how do we increase the recruitment of additional faculty? How do we hold onto faculty? And what is the effect of state funds?

The Lieutenant Governor says UTA's School of Nursing has 300 qualified student applicants for every 100 slots open. He says higher paying jobs in hospitals make faculty recruiting and retention difficult.

Lt. Governor Dewhurst says he expects no new spending on job creation programs until the Legislature meets again next year.

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