Issue Position: Economic Plan: A New Direction - Creating Jobs in the New Innovation Economy

Issue Position

Issue Position: Economic Plan: A New Direction - Creating Jobs in the New Innovation Economy

To restore our innovation advantage and create the jobs of tomorrow, Jeanne Shaheen believes we need to end tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas and instead invest in emerging industries that will also improve our quality of life, such as clean energy, environmental clean-up, stem cell and other medical research, and new technologies.

In the opening years of the 21st century, our prosperity is more dependent than ever on innovation and technology. Our once insurmountable position as the largest and most powerful economy in the world is being challenged by both India and China. China's gross domestic product increased ten-fold in the last 30 years. India's GDP more than doubled in the last ten years.

Jeanne Shaheen understands we can't compete with India and China for low-wage manufacturing jobs. She believes America's future is in maintaining the cutting edge in science and technology, creating new jobs in new industries and giving older industries the tools they need to compete in the global marketplace.

Jeanne Shaheen believes we need to change direction if we want the United States to remain at the forefront of the new innovation economy. In the US Senate, she will push to:

* Return to making policy decisions based on science and not ideology;
* Boost federal research funding;
* Stimulate private sector investment in research and development by extending, expanding and making permanent the R & D tax credit; and
* Build a workforce up and down the economic ladder with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the innovation economy.

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