Issue Position: Economy

Issue Position

I will work hard to bring sensible economic development with jobs that provide living wages for our working families. I will be relentless in working to attract corporate parks and manufacturing facilities that provide good paying local jobs, so our residents can live, work and thrive here.

Pennsylvania is one of the 5 worst states to start a business, where we rank #48 for businesses coming into our state, #46 for new business survivorship past 5 years, #50 in entrepreneurship, and #40 in industry variety. A large portion of our local economy is reliant on tourism, and while tourism provides many jobs and benefits to our region, it makes it difficult for other types of business to create a foothold here. We must improve the business climate in Pennsylvania and reverse these trends.

Job creation is a top priority for me, and I will work for increased technical and skilled trades training. We must focus on specialized job training and work to connect community colleges and technical schools with employers. We must invest in our infrastructure to create good jobs and protect our communities. I will always work to strengthen our workforce and will support policies that support and protect workers.

Our Economy is strongest when we have a strong and healthy middle class, but the middle class has been left behind. I will work to immediately raise the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $9.00 per hour to put more money in the paychecks of working people and boost economic activity in Pennsylvania. We need a plan to have age-based minimum wages with a goal of raising the top age-based minimum wage to $12.00 per hour. I will work for small business development and to provide tax incentives that allow small businesses to grow and to pay living wages.

We must invest in our employees and in our communities and encourage small business development and growth.

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