Issue Position: Labor

Issue Position

I have always supported the American worker and America's great workforce -Alaskans should be paid a fair wage for a day's work. However, our national economy has continued to struggle under the weight of a global recession. No state or small business has been immune to its affects. As a fiscal conservative, I will continue to support legislation which seeks to lower taxes wherever possible, so that individuals and businesses can keep more of their hard-earned income to get back on their feet. In times like these, it is our country's resilient workforce which holds the key.

As before in our nation's history, American labor can and must dig our economy out of its current hole by continuing to produce the globe's finest goods and services. In order to give that chance to the millions of Americans who are currently out of work, I will continue to support organized labor's efforts to negotiate and maintain adequate compensation for America's workers.

Over 24% of all workers in Alaska are members of organized labor. This incredibly diverse group includes countless women and men from all different cultures and creeds. Approximately 33.6% of all Alaskan union workers have at least a college degree, 5% better than the national average. What is most important to consider when examining Alaskan organized labor groups, however, is the improved compensation compared to the national average. Union members earn approximately $2.40 more per hour. Alaskan union members are 30% more likely to receive employer-provided health care than non-union employees. Finally, organized labor participants are over 40% more likely to have a retirement plan than non-union workers.

During these difficult economic times, many hardworking Alaskans and Americans nationwide are struggling to find work. For those individuals that are fortunate enough to have a job, businesses sometimes take advantage of soaring jobless rates to underpay their employees, banking on the fact that many individuals are just happy to be employed. This is where organized labor in Alaska comes to the workers rescue.

Minimum Wage
I believe that Alaskans deserve to be paid a decent hourly wage. However, increasing the minimum wage too rapidly can actually have a negative affect and reduce the demand for workers. If the minimum wage is set at an amount higher than what the community can support, it raises the costs for small business owners above what they can financially handle. They would then be forced to let employees go and as a result, unemployment would increase. The bills below illustrate how a balance between the two can be achieved.

Bills Passed by the House that I voted for:

H.R. 2465, Federal Workers' Compensation Modernization and Improvement Act
This bill updates the federal workers' compensation program for the first time in almost 40 years in an attempt to improve efficiency and save money. It would allow physician assistants and advanced nurse practitioners to be reimbursed for serving federal workers. H.R. 2465 would also streamline the claims process for workers who sustain a traumatic injury in an armed conflict zone. The legislation would provide additional support for funeral expenses (up to $6,000) and for workers who sustain injuries that lead to severe facial disfigurement.

Bills Cosponsored

H.R. 376, Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act
Lengths of Service Award Programs (LOSAP) provide benefits in the form of deferred payments to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Approximately 20% of all volunteer firefighters in the U.S. today participate in LOSAPs. States that do not provide one for their firefighters usually blame the tax code which taxes LOSAPs from the beginning, unlike like a traditional pension plan which is nontaxable until the worker retires and begins to collect. H.R. 376 would amend the tax code to treat LOSAPs for firefighters and EMTs as tax exempt until the retired worker begins to withdraw funds. Total tax-free contributions at $5,500 per worker, per year.

H.R. 2885, Legal Workforce Act
Would make the E-Verify Program permanent and mandatory for all businesses. This program is used to verify an American worker's legal status to work in this country.

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