Issue Position: Jobs and the Economy
Issue Position
As we move into the 21st Century, it has become apparent that the American economy is creating two deeply unequal societies. There must be structural changes that encourage businesses to make long term investments in fair employee wages and benefits. We can revive economic equality and stable growth by instituting policies that move away from rewarding short-term profits and uneven wealth accumulation.
*Raise the Minimum Wage to $15 an hour. If you work a full time job you deserve a wage that covers your living expenses. Today, all too many Marylanders are working multiple jobs just to stay afloat. That's wrong. Raising the minimum wage to $15 will strengthen our families and our economy, which benefits everyone.
*Close Tax Loopholes to Ensure Corporations Pay their Fair Share. Middle class families are pulling their weight. Corporations need to start pulling theirs. We need to reform our tax code to make sure corporations are paying their fair share. We can start by closing tax loopholes that allow some corporations to pay little or no taxes.
*Raise the Capital Gains Tax Rate for People Making more than $500,000 per year. In this economy, the vast majority of the gains are shared by very few. For those who are doing exceedingly well, more needs to be asked of them. Under President Reagan, the tax rate for Capital Gains for people making over $500,000 was 28%. I will push the Republicans in Congress to raise the capital gains rate to at least the level Ronald Reagan supported.
*Establish Tax Credits to Encourage Companies to Hire American Workers. For too many families in the Fourth Congressional District, the Great Recession never ended. To expand job opportunities for our families struggling to make ends meet, we should encourage American companies to hire American workers. Tax credits that reward companies that hire American workers can bring jobs back to the people who need them most: our neighbors.
*Pass Permanent Middle Class Tax Relief. I wholeheartedly agree with President Obama that we should grow the economy from the middle-out. To jumpstart our economy, Congress needs to pass permanent middle class tax cuts to put money back in the pockets of working families. Currently, The Paycheck Bonus Tax Credit would reward individuals earning under $100,000 per year as much as $1,000 and $2,000 for joint filing couples. But, this bill is sitting in the House awaiting action. I will be a strong leader in the fight to pass the Paycheck Bonus Tax Credit to help our middle class families keep more of what they earn.
*Work to build the new FBI headquarters building in Prince George's County. The area surrounding the Greenbelt and Landover metro stations are two of the three finalists for the new FBI headquarters location. Construction of this single complex will bring as many as 11,000 jobs to the Fourth District. The project is the largest move of a federal agency since 1961.[1] Prince George's County offers substantial advantages in terms of shorter commutes and employee access. It is essential that the General Service Administration makes the logical choice and brings the FBI to the Fourth District. As a Member of Congress I would ensure decision makers realize the benefits of locating in Maryland. In the words of Sen. Barbara Mikulski, "For too long, we think, Prince George's County has been redlined, sidelined, overlooked and undervalued."
*Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit. Not only does the EITC encourage work it has lifted millions of families out of poverty[2]. It is one of the federal government's best tools for eliminating poverty and has an uncommon bipartisan appeal. Continuing on the success of the Obama Administration, I will be a strong advocate for continuing to expand the EITC for both families that have children and individuals who do not.
*Equal Pay for Equal Work. Paying women the same rate as men isn't just the right thing to do, it also strengthens our families and makes sense economically. Over 40% of households with children under the age of 18, include mothers who are the sole or primary earners of income. [3] Strengthening our families starts with strengthening their pocket books. Ensuring our moms are getting paid the same as their male co-workers will do that.
*Make Permanent the Child Tax Credit (CTC). An entire generation of Americans from the ages of 18 to 34 are beginning to have children. In fact, 40 percent of the age group already have kids, with that number expected to double in the next 10 to 15 years.[4] New millennial parents are facing a host of economic pressures. The CTC is essential to provide stability for young parents. In a rare act of bipartisanship, Congress expanded the CTC to include lower income families. Unfortunately, the credit remains a temporary part of the tax code set to expire in 2017. Failing to make the CTC permanent could result in as many as 12 million families and 6 million children being plunged into poverty.[5]
*Expand the Child Care Tax Credit. I want our Moms to be able to afford child care for their kids and go to work knowing their children are in good hands. I stand by President Obama's plan to expand the Child Care credit to more working families. I also support making the credit fully refundable for families that would ordinarily not earn enough to qualify for the credit.[6]
*Expand National Service and Youth Job Programs. Youth unemployment eliminates a host of career and educational opportunities for our kids and leaves them susceptible to getting in trouble. By investing in our children's economic future now, we can put them on that higher path we want for all of them. Youth job programs and National service programs like Americorp offer young people opportunities for work and responsibility that have not been available to them since the financial crisis.
*Implement the Employee Free Choice Act. The right to unionize is under attack by Radical Republicans in Congress in order to benefit big corporations that ship American Jobs overseas. Employees must fight back against republican attacks on working people and wage earners. By banding together employees can collectively bargain for improvements in workplace conditions, wages and overtime pay.
*Say NO to Fast Track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It is not fair for American workers to be forced to compete against lower paid foreign workers without strong protections in place. Instead of investing time and energy on a trade deal that will harm Americans workers, I suggest Congress look to solutions we know will help them today: raising the minimum wage, expanding paid sick and maternity leave for families, investing in early childhood care and education and increasing investments in infrastructure projects that can put Americans to work in America.
*Create the National Infrastructure Bank. As our highway system crumbles, Congress is continually battling over short term solutions to our nation's highway funding crisis.[7] We need a comprehensive solution that will pave the way for an age of economic prosperity. By creating a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB), the federal government can finance low-interest loans for highway projects. The NIB would act to provide loans to states, local governments and private investors based on project viability. Highway construction means more jobs in a wide array of industries as well as ultimately leading to a more efficient flow of goods. We need to move away from the morass of state and local bond financing, projects solely dependant of tax revenue and politically charged Congressional reauthorizations. Congress needs to stop "kicking the can down the road" on critical infrastructure and move forward on the NIB.
*Demand Paid Sick and Maternity Leave for All American Workers. As a father of six, I know the pressure of choosing between work and family. For many Americans that choice is cruelly stark, often choosing between taking care of their sick child and losing their job. A number of States and municipalities have implemented paid sick leave policies and the sky still hasn't fallen. I will be a strong leader in Congress pushing for paid sick and maternity leave for families.
*Open doors to federal contracts for small, minority and women owned businesses. Discrimination and other barriers still pose a problem for small, women and minority owned businesses that seek to work with the federal government, especially in the transportation sector.[8] Congress should enhance funding for the disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) program. In tandem with that effort, the minority contracting goals in the Small Business Act should be raised. Extending contracting opportunities to Americans, regardless of background will limit inequality and spread prosperity.
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