Issue Position: Jobs

Issue Position

As your State Representative, Gloria's number one priority will be to ensure that everyone has access to a good-paying job. East Tennesseans lost jobs at the worst part of the recession, and though we are certainly on the way to recovery, hard-working Tennesseans are still struggling to provide for their families. To increase family incomes, we will work to ensure that all Tennesseans can earn a living wage for their work, while also making sure that tax cuts are benefitting those that need it most, the middle class. "In order to grow our middle class, we must raise the minimum wage to help hardworking Tennesseans achieve a basic standard of living. Tennessee is one of the top states, if not the top, for minimum wage workers. Of those minimum wage workers, roughly two thirds are women. I know we can do better. We can also make sure that women get equal pay for the same work as men.

Here is some of the legislation Gloria sponsored or co-sponsored to help put Tennesseans back to work with good wages:

HB1850-Enacts "Keep Jobs in Tennessee Act" which requires contractors working on public construction projects to hire at least 80% Tennessee residents in their workforce.

HB1721-Enacts the "Equity for Entrepreneurs Act"; allows franchise and excise tax credits of $5,000 for eligible start-up small businesses.

HB1694- As introduced, raises minimum wage for certain employers who do not offer health benefits to employees and employees' dependents, subject to exceptions for certain types of employment

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