Issue Position: Jobs and the Economy

Issue Position

Small Business Assistance
As a small business owner, I know the stranglehold that burdensome legislation and state regulations can place on the individuals and families who own and operate our local businesses. I will oppose cumbersome and unnecessary red tape that keeps budding entrepreneurs on the sidelines and drives others out of business. I will sponsor legislation that will reduce the filing fees for small businesses, provide meaningful tax credits and incentives to small businesses that actually create new jobs, and encourage companies to hire individuals currently drawing unemployment assistance from the state, thereby moving those individuals back off of welfare and back onto the taxpayer rolls.

Workforce Development
Tomorrow's workforce will face dramatically different challenges than those of today. We must ensure our working-class families remain equipped to compete. I will continue to invest in the future by working for increased funding for job training programs that truly prepare workers for jobs in the modern, global economy.

I will increase job stability and support our middle-class workers through dogged advocacy and by sponsoring legislation requiring companies to provide their workers with reasonable paid/earned sick leave so that working parents have the ability to care for sick children. I believe in equal pay for women and men and support legislation promoting equal pay for equal work. I support the right of workers to mobilize and advocate for their own fair treatment, and I will be a stalwart champion of collective bargaining rights.

Minimum Wage
I support recent legislation increasing the minimum wage to $11 per hour by 2017 and will work to index future minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index, so that our workers don't bear the brunt of inflation.

Tax Credits
Too often we provide tax credits to industries and corporations without accountability or appropriate oversight. We fail to monitor their effects or recover funds when the recipients do not honor their commitments. In some cases we are literally giving away money, receiving nothing in return and compromising our tax base. Hard working individuals and families are forced to fill the gap with higher payments to the state.

A deal made must be a deal honored. As your State Representative, I will introduce legislation mandating "clawback" provisions are included in all tax credits and incentives given to private organizations. Similarly, I will support legislation requiring the Executive to report on the effectiveness and impact of existing and future incentive programs.

Source