Issue Position: Jobs

Issue Position

We live in an economically diverse district, but too many of our citizens are slipping through the cracks in dead end jobs. I refuse to accept the notion that we must transition to an economy dominated by non-productive industries. Rather than cutting resources for job seekers, we need to increase funding and incentives for vocational training and higher education.

Virginians deserve a better chance to earn a decent living. My opponent, Mr. Hurt, consistently voted against job creating bills when he was in the state legislature, and he has followed the same pattern in Washington. Republicans have hindered our economic recovery by blocking bills that would fund transportation infrastructure, education, and healthcare right here in Central and Southern Virginia.

As your representative in the U.S. House, I would make it my number one priority to level the playing field. I would propose increasing the minimum wage to twelve dollars an hour. I would vote for any legislation that would bring back jobs in construction, manufacturing and production. I would support investments in education, and healthcare to enable us to hire more teachers and nurses right here in our district. Also, when we encourage the growth of public and private sector union labor, our economy does better and our middle class thrives. Our country did not become the greatest nation on earth without the hard work of farmers, factory workers, and skilled labor. While government can never be the answer to all of our problems, it can provide solutions to some of them.

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