Issue Position: Jobs and Economy

Issue Position

Budget cuts will likely cost our state 32,022 jobs. Increased fees in the budget are equivalent to tax increases of $103.9 million in Fiscal Year 2011-2012 and $106.4 million in Fiscal Year 2012-2013.

As the owner of a successful small business located in the District, I understand the importance of contributing to community by hiring locally, operating locally, and giving back locally.

I will study and create ways, such as restructuring our economic development tier system, to better incentivize companies to relocate to this District.

In order to incentivize companies to hire and expand within the District, I will work to pass legislation that rewards and encourages corporations that invest in our local economy.

I will work to streamline and expedite granting of work visas for local employers who have employees with specialized knowledge. Affected companies are unable to maintain a stable business climate for competing in the global economy, negatively impacting a company's local operation or strategy and sometimes prompting them to relocate outside of the U.S.

I will work with employers to identify ways to provide training, at little or no cost to the jobless, so that a new workforce is retrained, retooled, and ready for new companies or existing companies with new work products.

I will endeavor to protect childcare subsidies, so that low-income families can obtain affordable childcare and women can work outside the home, conduct job searches, and pursue post-secondary education.

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