Issue Position: Jump-Starting Michigan's Economy

Issue Position

Issue Position: Jump-Starting Michigan's Economy

For the first time in the five generations that my family has lived in Oakland County, parents are starting to fear that they may not be able to provide as good a life for their children as the one their own parents gave them. I understand that feeling, and I know that's why we need to take action now to create jobs, invest in our businesses, give our workers a level playing field, and get Michigan's economy moving forward again.

In Congress, I will take immediate action to:

* Cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses;

* Take away taxpayer-funded subsidies for Big Oil companies that are making record profits and charging us record prices at the pump and use that money to support new alternative energy industries;

* Vote to get rid of tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas and instead give tax breaks to companies that create jobs here at home.

Create Jobs
Michigan has lost over 94,000 jobs in just the first six months of 2008. And while President Bush and his followers in Washington have continued to pursue disastrous economic and fiscal policies, Michigan's economy has suffered the longest, sustained period of job losses since the Great Depression.

Michigan is poised to take the lead in the emerging alternative energy industry, advanced biofuels and fuel cell technologies, and the next generation of fuel-efficient vehicles. We have an incredibly strong entrepreneurial tradition, along with an established industrial base, experienced workers, and some of the finest colleges and universities in the world.

As America looks for new answers to our energy crisis, Michigan's universities and engineers can be developing new technologies, and our factories can be turning out wind turbines, solar cells, advanced batteries, and plug-in hybrid cars.

We can't afford to wait any longer; we need to act now to invest in Michigan's economy. In Congress, I will work to end the failed policies of the Bush Administration that have cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs, and I will vote to invest in research and development to spur the growth of new technologies - like alternative energy and next generation vehicles - right here in Michigan.

Restore the Strength of our Manufacturing and Automotive Industry
The auto industry and manufacturing have formed the backbone of Michigan's economy over the past century, and I believe they will once again lead the way to as we work together to get our economy moving forward again.

Our automotive industry has been hit harder by rising gas prices and this Administration's failed economic leadership than nearly any other industry in America. We need leaders who are willing to make a serious investment in American businesses and American workers, rather than keeping us locked in the policies of the past.

In Congress, I will work to promote public-private partnerships with government, educational institutions, and the private sector working together to spur the development of fuel efficient vehicles, including hydrogen fuel cell automobiles and plug-in hybrids, and work to get those vehicles on the market and on the road as soon as possible.

In the last six years alone, the U.S. has lost over 3 million manufacturing jobs. We must act now to restore the strength of our automotive and manufacturing industries here in Michigan, and our actions must be bold.

A Level Playing Field for Michigan Workers
When the playing field is level, and the rules are fair, American workers and businesses can out-compete and out-perform any workers in the world. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration and its followers have pursued an unfair trade policy that has forced American workers to compete with sweatshops, child labor, and countries that violently suppress the rights of working men and women.

In order to ensure a fair playing field, trade agreements must include fair labor protections and environmental standards, and they must be enforceable. In Congress, I will work to require that countries like China and Korea play by international rules, and I will insist that the World Trade Organization (WTO) address currency manipulation and non-tariff barriers that prevent the importation of American goods into certain foreign markets.

I will also support the American Manufacturing Initiative (AMI), spearheaded by Senator Levin and Congressman Dingell. The AMI recognizes that our manufacturers are not just competing against foreign companies but rather they are competing against entire foreign countries that aggressively support their manufacturers. We must do the same.

Health Care
Another factor that puts American workers and businesses at a disadvantage is the skyrocketing cost of health care. Unlike every other developed nation, the United States does not guarantee health care to our citizens. This places the burden of health care costs squarely on the shoulders of our businesses, drives up operating costs and puts us at a competitive disadvantage.

One of my first priorities in Washington will be making sure that every American has access to affordable, high-quality health care and the choice of a family doctor they trust: a plan they choose, and coverage that can't be taken away if someone changes jobs or gets laid off. Read more about health care here.

Invest in Small Businesses
Just like the auto industry and our manufacturing sector, small businesses are being hurt by the rising costs of fuel and health care, and many are struggling to break even.

As a businessman and investment advisor, I know first-hand what is necessary for a small business to grow and thrive.

In the Michigan Senate, I worked to cut taxes for small businesses to help them create 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 work to cut taxes for small businesses and provide incentives for them to invest in new equipment and new facilities - and to hire new employees. The economic stimulus package passed by Congress this year was a good start, but we need to do even more to ease the burden on small businesses and enable them to grow and thrive.

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