Issue Position: The Economy

Issue Position

The COVID-19 outbreak is causing enormous economic hardship. Tens of millions are losing jobs. Businesses are shuttered. Banks and landlords are threatening foreclosure and eviction. Essential workers are underpaid, underprotected, and underinsured.

This crisis is laying bare structural inequity and corruption in U.S. economic policy. Similar to the 2007-2008 financial crisis, while hardship is concentrated among working- and middle-class families and smaller businesses, the fastest and biggest emergency relief has gone straight to the top.

The government's financial safety net for Wall Street is vast and instantaneous, while help for ordinary people and smaller firms has been meager and slow.

Rather than relying on subsidies for Wall Street as economic stimulus and hoping the benefits trickle down, I'll support policies that help Georgia's families make and save more money: fast and generous direct emergency relief during economic crises, lower taxes for all but the wealthiest Americans, debt-free public college, free vocational training, and health care guaranteed at an affordable price.

To create millions of jobs, revitalize our economy, and alleviate poverty, I'll support the most ambitious infrastructure program in history. Upgraded infrastructure will serve as the foundation for decades of prosperity, sustainability, and health.

Georgia is a growing economic powerhouse in agriculture, logistics, aerospace, technology, clean energy, and media. Georgia's businesses and entrepreneurs are the crucial engine of job and wealth creation in our state.

I'll work to make tax and regulatory compliance simpler and more efficient for our businesses. I'll expose and attack unfair and unethical trade, labor, and environmental practices by overseas competitors that disadvantage American workers and businesses. I'll work to reduce our dependence on Chinese supply chains and strengthen domestic producers. I'll support strong antitrust enforcement and I'll attack anti-competitive special interest subsidies secured by dominant firms with lobbying power at the expense of smaller competitors and startups. These policies will support long-term prosperity, competitiveness, and strength.

The health of the banking system is vital, but public funds and loans shouldn't subsidize speculative short-term trading on Wall Street. That's why I'll vote to reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act, so Federal economic policy serves the long-term prosperity, stability, and financial security of families and productive enterprises, not short-term gains for investment banks, hedge funds, and private equity firms.

Lobbying and political contributions should not buy bailout money, unfair subsidies, or impunity for labor and environmental abuses. But as long as money buys political influence, our government's policies will favor the most powerful special interests, distorting the market to benefit the best connected people and businesses. That's one of many reasons campaign finance reform is essential to our prosperity and competitiveness.

I've dedicated my career to fighting corruption. I run a business that investigates bribery and the abuse of power worldwide. I'm not taking contributions from corporate PACs or Congressional lobbyists. As Georgia's Senator, I will be accountable exclusively to the people of our state.

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