Issue Position: Cutting Taxes and Investing in Education

Issue Position

The American dream is increasingly under assault. Americans who work hard and play by the rules are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet and provide a secure future for their children. In Congress, I will take action to help middle class families who are being squeezed from all sides by rising prices for fuel, health care, and education, while property values are falling, wages are staying flat and our economy is struggling.

Middle Class Tax Cut

We must cut taxes for the middle class immediately, to help jumpstart our economy now and give families much-needed relief.

On my first day in the Michigan Senate, I introduced three bills to cut taxes for middle-class families and three bills to improve health care for children. During my time representing Oakland County, I voted to expand the income tax exemption, to create a college tuition tax credit. To help older Americans and their families, I also personally sponsored an amendment to create a $500 tax credit for senior citizens.

I also worked to cut taxes for small businesses to help them good paying jobs here in Michigan. I voted to exempt small businesses from having to pay taxes on wages for new employees, and to allow businesses to deduct unemployment expenses, FCTA taxes, and workers compensation costs.

In Congress, I will start working immediately to pass tax credits for college tuition, child-care, and senior citizens. I will also promote efforts to reduce the cost of fuel, invest in our economy, and ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care.

Families and small businesses here in Oakland County are being squeezed, and we can't afford to wait any longer to take action.

Investing in Education

Personally and in public service, education has always been a passion of mine. I learned the importance of an education early in my life. My father was public school teacher for over 25 years and he instilled in me a love of learning. He also taught me the necessity of passing on what we have learned to the next generation.

Today, as we face new challenges and a rapidly changing economy, a quality education is more important than ever.

I believe we must make a national commitment to pre-K-12 education. We must fully fund early childhood education programs, equip our classrooms with cutting edge technology, strengthen science and technology curricula, demand higher standards, reduce class size and make sure that we have the best trained, most qualified teachers in the world. And, we must also never neglect the unique needs of children in our special education programs.

In Congress, I will also take action to address the rising cost of college. Recent legislation to lower student loan interest rates was an important step forward, but we need to do more. I will work to pass a college tuition tax credit, increase low-income student grants, and expand tuition assistance programs for students who go into critical public service fields including teaching, nursing and public safety.

As a State Senator, I served as the ranking member of the Senate Education Committee, and I continually fought for policies that would expand educational opportunities for all children regardless of where they lived. I was particularly troubled by the fact that many schools in my Senate district lacked internet access.

In order to rectify this problem I formed a grassroots organization called NetDay Michigan and we mobilized hundreds of volunteers to roll up their sleeves, pull wire and install donated computers. We wired twenty-two schools, libraries and recreation centers, and in the process, opened a world of opportunities for children who would not otherwise have access to computers and the internet. In recognition of this effort, the Navy awarded me the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

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