Issue Position: Jobs and Economic Growth

Issue Position

While there are signs of improvement, much more needs to be done to reduce unemployment and spark economic growth. This requires investing in our transportation infrastructure and education, fostering an environment that rewards creativity and innovation, and reducing regulatory burdens to starting and running a business. In particular, Virginia needs to increase investments in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and our community college system. We also need to reform and streamline our tax system while ensuring that sufficient revenue is generated at the state and local levels to provide needed services. For instance, the BPOL (business, professional, and occupational license) tax presents a barrier to starting a small business by taxing gross receipts even if a business doesn't make a profit. Similarly, the Machinery and Tools tax, which made sense when Virginia had a thriving manufacturing sector, now serves as a disincentive to investing in new manufacturing tools. I supported House Joint Resolution 755 to work with our local governments and other stakeholders to find a revenue neutral, responsible replacement for these outdated taxes.

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