Martinsville Bulletin: Lawmakers: Stimulus Saved Virginia Jobs (VA)

From Martinsville Bulletin:

Federal stimulus funds saved an estimated 90,000 jobs in Virginia, according to state Sen. Roscoe Reynolds. “Thank goodness for the stimulus package,” Reynolds, D-Ridgeway, told about 60 people at the Piedmont Democratic Women’s Club’s legislative breakfast Saturday at Forest Park Country Club.  Both Reynolds and Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Collinsville, said the $1 billion in stimulus funds the commonwealth received prevented the budget shortfall from being worse than it was. The money was in the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by President Barack Obama last month. While Reynolds said the funds saved 90,000 jobs throughout the state, Armstrong said they prevented the layoffs of 7,000 state employees. “The stimulus money was a breath of fresh air” that helped legislators get through a difficult General Assembly session, Armstrong added.