Issue Position: Jobs & the Economy

Issue Position

West Virginia is not going to be able to wait for a miracle to pull itself out of the economic doldrums in which we find ourselves. Areas with economic growth in the 21st century are areas that have invested in their own long-term growth have three things in common: 1) a major research university or universities, 2) high-tech and research jobs incubated by proximity to higher education and 3) an older industrial base. The Kanawha Valley and the I-64 corridor between Charleston and Huntington is tailor-made for the same kind of growth -- we just have to invest in ourselves.

1. Reinvest in Higher & Technical Education
In the 21st century, long-term growth is dependent on the presence of higher education and having an educated workforce. For the past few years, the Legislature has cut higher education and we are paying for it with reduced economic growth. As a Senator, I will fight to ensure that higher education receives more funding so that it can spin-off jobs in our area.

2. Rebuild Crumbling Roads & Bridges
The American Council of Engineers gave our state a "D" for infrastructure investments. We need to have a real plan to repair crumbling highways and work to finish long-overdue projects, like Route 35. By pumping billions into infrastructure, we create good jobs whose wages will be reinvested in the local economy.

3. Restore Fiscal Sanity
In the 1980s, this state stood on the brink of fiscal collapse and insolvency. Thanks to wise stewardship, we staved off fiscal collapse, paid off our debts, cut taxes and saved millions to improve our state's bond rating. In the last two years, however, the Legislature has destroyed these reforms, severely damaging the state's bond rating. If we are going to reinvest in jobs in our state, we must have a satisfactory bond rating.

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