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Jobs, specifically the lack of them, were a major theme of Bill Owens' congressional campaign, and in that vein, the first bill he has introduced into Congress is a rural job-creation tax credit.

"The whole idea is to get companies expanding their payrolls," Owens, D-Plattsburgh, said in a Wednesday interview with the Enterprise on his Rural Jobs Tax Credit Act. "As they do, they're going to put more money in the hands of employees."

Owens' bill would apply to employers of any size, headquarted anywhere, creating jobs in rural areas. Rural areas are defined as communities with fewer than 50,000 people - which includes every community in Owens's congressional district, New York's 23rd.

Owens introduced the two-year measure, which has three original co-sponsors, Tuesday evening; it is now in the House Ways and Means Committee.

It would give back, as an income tax credit to employers, 15 percent of payroll cost expansion above the prior year's inflation rate in 2010 and 10 percent in 2011.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced a bill creating a job-creation tax credit Tuesday to give a credit of 20 percent to small employers and 15 percent to large employers that expand their payrolls. Gillibrand's bill is for all areas, not just rural ones. Owens said he expects legislators would try to reconcile the two bills "so people are receiving one credit for job growth."

The three original co-sponsors are U.S. Reps. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, Mike Arcuri, D-Utica, and Harry Teague, D-N.M.

"We've talked to a number of folks that are expressing interest, and we're circulating the bill to secure cosponsors," Owens said.

Owens said he hasn't yet encountered any opposition to the bill.

"I think everyone in Congress is concerned with jobs," Owens said.

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Contact Nathan Brown at 891-2600 ext. 26 or nbrown@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.