Issue Position: Economic and Industrial Development

Issue Position

I support privatization of government services provided control of the activity rests with the government agency, and government agencies are free to bid. Arkansas is a beautiful state that has many fine attractions to bring visitors to our state. I support the expansion of the tourism industry and all efforts to promote tourism in our state. I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth -- Mountain View. Tourism is the number one industry of my town. We must work with our state and federal agencies in preserving the nature that attracts so many to our area. But tourism cannot be the only economic driver of our area.

There must be a more intentional effort to work with the county industrial and economic development committees. Infrastructure of even the most basic kind, must be improved. Even if it is just simply a cell phone signal. Some county courthouses are located in dead zones in my district! Broadband access must be improved, which will keep rural Arkansas alive. I have friends that work all over the world from their living rooms in Stone County. We must intentionally create plans for identifying and recruiting businesses that function in a global economy to reside and support our local economy.

When Mountain View was hit by an F4 tornado, our city and county was on the verge of running out of water. The electrical grid was wiped out and because of its' very rural and forest location, it was very difficult to repair. Stone County lost the ability to pump the water into the holding tanks, thus generators had to be obtained and operated under difficult circumstance. This is America…water shortage problems, even in the midst of a disaster, should be averted.

Free enterprise, liberty, freedom and the belief that the individual is able to make the right decisions for one's self should direct our economic development legislation. Small Business is the catalyst that drives our state's economy. All levels of government must work to become more understanding of small business, and work to meet the needs of small businessmen and women. Burdensome regulation and over-taxation must cease for small businesses in Arkansas in order for them to survive and flourish. My husband and I own a private practice. We provide jobs for our community, and yet we cannot afford to continue to hire employees due to the excessive payroll taxes. I believe our current administration is set on killing small businesses, so they will be eaten up by larger corporations, who will then be in prime position for a government take over. We've seen it in the auto industry, the banking industry and now in healthcare. This goes against the principals that created the American dream.

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