The Herald-Dispatch - Natalie Tennant: Washington Should Work for W.Va., Not Wall Street

Op-Ed

By Natalie Tennant

This is one of a series of columns written by candidates in the Nov. 4 general election.

I grew up on a farm in Marion County as the youngest of seven children. With nine people and one bathroom, we learned how to get along, and how to do more with less.

My parents taught us if you wanted something you saved for it, you made it yourself, or you went without.

I brought those farm values to Charleston, where I cut my budget as your Secretary of State and gave $3 million back to taxpayers. That's the experience I will bring to Washington.

My opponent wants you to believe this race is about Washington politicians. It's not.

This race is about West Virginia. It's about you and the kind of future you want for your family.

President Obama and Harry Reid aren't on the ballot. Congresswoman Capito is running against me.

You know I'll stand up to politics as usual in Washington, because that's exactly what I've done in Charleston. In 2010, three Democratic officials tried to steal an election, and I led the investigation that put them behind bars. That's right. I put three members of my own party in federal prison, because I put the people of West Virginia above politics, party or position.

I met a woman in Charleston recently named Joanne. Joanne said to me, "Natalie, I'm a proud West Virginian. But I'm worried my kids won't have the opportunities they need to stay here."

I have a plan to create jobs -- a plan to make sure Joanne's kids, and all our kids, can stay in West Virginia, and thrive here.

It starts with energy, and energy starts with coal. The United Mine Workers of America endorsed me because they know I will stand up to President Obama and the EPA to protect their jobs.

We also have enormous potential to grow jobs in natural gas. But, it's not enough to take our gas and ship it somewhere else. We should be processing natural gas in West Virginia and using it right here to revitalize our chemical industry and create even more jobs.

Next, we must support the cutting-edge research and technology taking place all across West Virginia, like 3-D printing happening at the Robert C Byrd Institute.

West Virginia is leading the country in developing new technology. But we have to take the research from the labs to the factories to create jobs.

At the same time, none of this is possible unless we invest in our greatest resource: our people.

Budgets are about priorities, and I will always put the working people of West Virginia before Wall Street profits.

I will end tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas, and raise the minimum wage for working West Virginians. Anyone who works 40 hours a week should be able to keep food on the table and a roof overhead.

I know any business is only as strong as its workers, so I will lower student loan rates and invest in education from Head Start all the way to our universities and technical colleges.

And I will tackle the drug crisis that is tearing apart our families, devastating communities and bringing down our economy.

You know my record, and you know my vision for West Virginia.

You know I will protect Medicare and Social Security, do right by our veterans, and protect your 2nd Amendment rights because I am a gun owner myself.

I'm on your side. And whose side is my opponent on?

While I was cutting my budget and putting money back in your pocket, Congresswoman Capito was putting your money in the pockets of Wall Street banks. The Congresswoman voted twice to let Wall Street CEOs take huge bonuses while your taxpayer dollars were bailing them out.

Those aren't West Virginia values. I share your values, and I share your story. I'm proud to have the endorsements of Senator Joe Manchin, Senator Jay Rockefeller, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and West Virginia's longest-serving Adjutant General Allen Tackett.

I know what it's like to work a minimum wage job.

I know what it's like to run a small business.

I know what it's like to send a husband to war.

And I believe it's time Washington started answering to the working people of this country.

I'm running to be your voice in Washington and I'd appreciate your vote.

Natalie Tennant, a resident of Kanawha County and currently secretary of state, is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate from West Virginia.

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