The topic of economic development incentives hurting public schools was discussed on the Dec. 5 edition of America’s Work Force Radio.

Greg LeRoy, Executive Director of Good Jobs First, spoke about school subsidies in different states. He said corporations throughout the country are given subsidies. Often times, businesses receive taxpayer money to move, remain in a certain geographical area or help the company expand. Last year, LeRoy said schools throughout the country combined to lose over $1.8 billion due to economic development tax incentives given to corporations. He argued this money should be invested into hiring more teachers, which in turn, would lower class sizes and make for a better learning environment. LeRoy explained the actual cost per job of the Amazon H2 headquarters economic development agreements.

Carolyn Lookabill, from Providence Home Healthcare, which provides management for senior living facilities, joined AWF and talked about the increase in use of technology by people age 60 or older. She said a larger portion of the senior population now uses technology, which includes medical equipment capable of sending real-time information, such as heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, etc., to their physicians, who can monitor the data and keep their patients safe. She also discussed the advancement in technology available to caregivers, which is designed to improve the quality of life for the people they are providing care.

AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc talked about the General Motors Lordstown plant and the lame duck session of Congress.

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