Issue Position: Creating Jobs

Issue Position

Government doesn't create jobs, people do
Government regulation stifles innovation and slows growth. If we are going to truly make Tennessee the best place to work and raise a family, we have to reduce the tax burden, reduce regulations, and lower barriers to entry. For job creation, one of the best things government can do is get out of the way.

Work and job training belongs in every social welfare program.
We may have a low unemployment rate, but that number only tells part of the story. One out of seven prime working-age males (25-54) in Tennessee have completely quit the workforce, and our labor workforce participation rate is among the bottom in the nation.

So when it comes to addressing our social safety net, we cannot cut a check and declare the job done. Work and job-training requirements aren't punishments, they are a hand-up for those in need. Any type of welfare should be a stepping stone to earned success in the workforce, not a destination of permanent dependency.

A job created in Tennessee is better than a job brought to Tennessee.
As a business leader, I welcome anyone who comes to our state. And I'll work with companies to encourage them to bring jobs here. But I don't believe our government should be in the business of picking winners and losers. Instead, let's focus on improving the tax and regulatory environment for every Tennessee business, not just large out-of-state firms.

Let's make our tax code as competitive as it can be.
After eliminating the state income tax and getting on track to reduce the Hall income tax, it is time we tackled the taxes we place on businesses across Tennessee. These franchise and excise taxes aren't paid for just by the business, they're borne by the employees and customers of that business, and right now our tax is tied for the highest in the region. This makes it easy for neighboring states to poach away employers, and hard for our existing businesses to grow and thrive. As your governor, I'll lead a conversation on sustainable tax reform that would make Tennessee an even better state for businesses to start and grow here.

It's time to tear down unnecessary government barriers to work
With one of the most burdensome occupational licensing regimes in the nation, Tennessee's structure for fees and licensing put the dream of becoming a small business owner out of reach for too many. As your governor, I'll work to reduce the regulatory burden across the board, and that includes a complete overhaul of our approach to occupational licensing.

Agriculture is a critical component of our state's economy.
In fact, agriculture makes up more than a tenth of our state's economy, and our education and economic development efforts should reflect that.

I live on our family farm, where we have over 400 head of Hereford cattle and produce quality beef that we ship to homes and restaurants across Tennessee. It's a way of life that is important to me and I hope to pass down to my children. But if we don't commit to supporting our farmers, we might not have much of an agriculture industry left to pass down.

To compete in the 21st century, we must better integrate the agribusiness community into our education and economic development plans, grow the next generation of producers, and look to new ways to be competitive by making Tennessee a leader in agriculture technology.

Click here to learn more about my thoughts on defending our agriculture community.

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