Issue Position: Securing Our Economy: Keeping and Creating Jobs in Iowa

Issue Position

Bruce Braley believes that working families have lost out to the special interests in Washington. He will stand up for working families in Congress and put Iowans first--not lobbyists and big corporations.

Increase the Minimum Wage. Bruce believes it is shameful that Congress has raised its own salaries eight times since minimum wage was last increased in 1997. Bruce will not accept a Congressional pay raise until minimum wage is increased.

Fight for Fair Trade Laws. Bruce believes that irresponsible economic policies in Washington have cost our state good-paying jobs. Unfair trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA are hurting our economy. In Congress, Bruce will fight for fair trade laws that are good for American workers.

Get Control of Skyrocketing Gasoline and Energy Prices. Three-dollar per gallon gasoline is causing inflation, hurting our economy, and making it hard for Iowa families to get by. Bruce believes that unfair subsidies to gas and oil companies need to be ended and that more money needs to be invested in renewable fuels like ethanol to end our dependence on foreign oil, bring down gas prices, and create jobs here in eastern Iowa.

Roll Back the Bush Tax Cut for Millionaires. Bruce believes that the Bush tax cut for the wealthiest one percent of Americans should be rolled back to help control our nation's spiraling deficit. It is time for fair tax policies that help the middle class--especially with the rising cost of college education--not millionaires and billionaires.

Protect Retirement Security. Bruce believes that big corporations have a responsibility to uphold the promises they make to their employees. He will hold corporations accountable for making their pension payments and oppose proposals that allow corporations to skirt pension responsibilities to their employees.

Establish a Universal, Portable Pension. Bruce will stand up to establish a universal pension that people can take from job to job without losing money from their retirement.

Source