Senate rejects extending funding for youth summer jobs program

In a division of the state’s two senators, freshman Scott Brown, who campaigned on the creation of new jobs, rejected the proposed amendment, which was cosponsored by his counterpart, John F. Kerry.

Kerry said in a statement that the Senate’s rejection of the funding was disappointing, while Brown said the country can no longer support programs without proper funding.

The proposal would have committed $1.3 billion under the Workforce Investment Act, helping to create up to 500,000 youth jobs nationwide. Last year’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $21 million to Massachusetts over two years. Of that, $16 million was spent and paid for 7,000 jobs. The balance of the money will be used this summer, said Susan Lange, vice president of the Youth Pathways Division at the Commonwealth Corporation, a state consultant.

But local economic and community development officials said the federal government must renew funding for a program that not only puts money in teenagers’ pockets, which helps the local economy, but provides youth with work experience and something to do in summer.

“These youth are our future, and this is something they desperately need,’’ said Sheila Sullivan-Jardim, executive director of the Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board, one of 16 in the state that received the federal funding.

She said that the program funded about 128 of roughly 350 jobs for youths in the Brockton area last summer and that those jobs will be gone without continued funding.

Jardim also said she was let down by Brown’s vote. “It’s just disappointed, because it was my impression that he was a great advocate for jobs, and this was all about jobs.’’

Don Gillis, executive director of the Massachusetts Workforce Board Association, said in a statement, “After Senator Brown placed such a high priority on jobs during the campaign, we were surprised and disappointed when he voted against the amendment which would have put 7,000 young people in our state to work.’’

Brown, speaking yesterday after greeting the crowd at a St. Patrick’s Day political roast in Dedham, said that he voted against the measure because it was not properly funded, instead relying on a pay-as-you-go program. The amendment included a provision for $1.3 billion for adult jobs programs, which was also rejected. Brown said the rejection was bipartisan.

“I did vote against the bill, because we can’t pay for it,’’ Brown said. “It’s about $100 billion of unfunded additional liabilities. My hope is when it goes over to the House, they’ll find a way to pay for it and I would feel more comfortable voting for it.’’

Advocates for the funding said the jobs program trains youngsters how to work, and it provides discipline during the summer months. Also, they are introduced to possible careers and potential employers.

Analysts say that the employment levels for youth are at record lows, and in a dire economy adults are taking jobs that used to be held by teenagers.

Spokeswoman Dot Joyce said Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston “believes wholeheartedly that summer employment not only gives our young people positive experiences, but it also gives them the discipline and economic independence that helps them be successful in life.’’

“Especially in this year, in this down economy, summer jobs for young people are most critical,’’ she said.

The stimulus program funded 700 jobs in Boston last year. Overall, the city created 10,153 youth jobs through partnerships with private industry and with state and federal funding.

Mary Sarris, executive director of the North Shore Workforce Investment Board, said the end of federal funding will result in the loss of about 400 summer jobs in the Salem area, a blow to efforts to keep young people off the streets.

“Let’s face it, a teenager in the summer without a job is not a good thing,’’ she said. “To us, the teen job market is terrible, and we were hoping the government would be able to fund the program again this summer. That particular amendment was one of our hopes, and it has just died at this point.’’

Kerry, who cosponsored the amendment with US Senator Patty Murray, said he will continue to push for the legislation.

“I was invested in it because it brought back upwards of $86 million to the state for jobs and created more than 11,000 summer jobs, which I hear about from mayors all the time,’’ he said.

Michael Levenson of the Globe staff contributed to this report.