State Forms New Bipartisan High-Tech Jobs Committee

Six State Assembly members representing San Diego County will be on a new committee tasked with creating high-tech jobs, it was announced Wednesday.

The Select Committee on Job Creation for the New Economy will be comprised of Assembly members Toni Atkins, Marty Block, Ben Hueso, Nathan Fletcher, Martin Garrick and Brian Jones. Fletcher, who represents parts of San Diego including La Jolla, will chair the committee.

Fletcher said creating jobs and embracing the new economy should be the top priorities of the government.

"There is a great need to work together to ensure our state is a more competitive place to grow innovative companies,'' said Fletcher, who is also a mayoral candidate in San Diego. "This committee will pinpoint what is preventing large and small businesses from investing and expanding in the state so we can empower them to create jobs.'' 

Among other things, the committee will:

• identify companies inside and outside California that are succeeding,
• and determine how to retain or attract them;
• explore ways to develop public-private partnerships;
• attract private investment;
• identify and eliminate roadblocks to job creation; and
• find ways to help public education provide a competitive workforce.

California needs to make business executives feel comfortable that it is the right place to make a long-term investment, said Jason Pyle, the CEO of Sapphire Energy, a La Jolla firm where the announcement was made.

City News Service contributed to this report.