Georgia gubernatorial election, 2014

“Here’s the simple truth: it is getting harder and harder for middle-class people in Georgia to make it.”

Right now, there are 363,000 Georgians still looking for work. Our state ranks 50th in the nation in unemployment. One out of every four children in Georgia lives in poverty, the sixth worst poverty rate in the country.

Adjusted for inflation, the average Georgia family takes home $6,000 less than they did a decade ago. Georgia’s median income has slipped from 18th in 2002 to 33rd today. Middle-class incomes have dropped twice as fast in Georgia as it has in the rest of the country. That’s a real pay cut.

We need a strong climate for business. And you can’t have a strong economy if the middle class and small business owners are being left behind.

Promoting Small Business

We all have a stake in ensuring that communities statewide are good places to do business. Smarter tax policies and other incentives will attract businesses searching for a new home and will reassure workers and employers that we are committed to creating new jobs.

Unfortunately, under Governor Deal’s leadership, Georgia is failing to recognize the contribution of small businesses to job creation in our state.

Jason has proposed initiatives to expand benefits for small businesses, and for his work in the Senate has earned the endorsement of the National Federation for Independent Business as well as an “A” grade from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow

We must do better at educating and training Georgians for jobs that pay well and help families get ahead.

Governor Deal’s policies have resulted in 45,000 fewer Georgians attending technical colleges, with enrollment slipping from 195,000 to 150,000 in just two years. Not only is that a crisis for those students and their families, it’s an economic disaster for Georgia.

Jason has proposed measures to fix these failed reforms – for the sake of both our students and for our economy. ^[17]

By cutting taxes and reducing bureaucratic red tape, he’s helped to create nearly 300,000 private-sector jobs. As a result of his fiscally conservative leadership, Georgians enjoy one of the lowest tax burdens in the nation.

Gov. Deal has overseen three balanced budgets without raising taxes, saved millions of taxpayer dollars by maintaining Georgia’s AAA bond rating, and increased our rainy day fund by more than 500%.

In his second term, Gov. Deal will work to make it easier for our state to keep the jobs we have by making it easier for Georgia companies to gain state contracts. He’ll also expand programs like the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant and the High Demand career Initiative, which help increase enrollment at technical colleges so our state will remain on the cutting edge of labor force growth. That’s in addition to keeping taxes low, encouraging job growth, and promoting workforce development initiatives. ^[17]

Lowered unemployment increases family stability and decreases crime. Lowered unemployment naturally increases pay as employers compete for its number one asset: the people that work at the enterprise. People naturally feel good about themselves when they have a good job that pays fairly.

Currently only large businesses and the well-connected receive special relief, incentives, and government contracts. There are so many neighborhoods, small towns and cities around Georgia full of people who do not receive any benefits. The majority of companies and people pay for this crony capitalism. With the Job Powerhouse plan we establish a level playing field with fairness and freedom of operation. Companies and citizens create the jobs that drive our economy. A truly free enterprise system without penalties on employers will grow jobs rapidly.

Eliminate Employment Penalty Taxes

We should incentivize jobs – not penalize them. Government is currently limiting our liberty and taxing jobs, and this is very wrong. Georgia employment taxes will be cut completely and federal employment taxes will be reimbursed by the state. We will also alter regulations that result in artificial incremental cost of jobs. We will make Georgia a Job Powerhouse by eliminating taxes which Georgia employers currently pay for providing jobs.

There should be no special awards to only a few companies. Deal helped create a fund with which he can direct special benefits to a small number of selected companies. This is the ultimate example of crony capitalism. Government should not direct businesses any more than it should direct churches. There needs to be as few regulations as possible so that we can have a true free enterprise system. Let the open market place, not the government, decide on the winners and losers. There will be so many more winners and more jobs by reducing the government burdens and influence.

Eliminating employment penalty taxes equally helps all employers – small, medium or large – in every location of Georgia. It also helps employees by making a tighter market place for employees, thus opening new career options – which can also be enhancement in compensation.

The Job Powerhouse program will be funded by cutting expenses and government, while receiving greater income from the expanding economy that it fosters. Expenses of having under-employed or unemployed are reduced; crimes and prisoners are fewer; and poverty and people needing financial aid are greatly reduced. With more jobs, the number of people paying taxes is increased. Without any increase in the tax rates Georgia will receive much more income in the form of sales tax due to increased commerce, and people and companies will have higher income, which will add to the tax income. By reducing state expenses and increasing its income, these employment tax structure changes can be implemented and maintain a balanced budget.

More Entrepreneurs and High Tech Industry

High-tech industry growth yields higher incomes and better schools. Attracting or starting these companies is the initial step, however, in order to create mechanisms to retain and allow prosperity of these companies will be a key to long-term growth. We must communicate to executives, employers, and key employees the great benefits of Georgia. The elimination of employment penalty taxes will help high-tech firms. Georgia needs to reduce all burdens on companies that make it hard to establish and run businesses. Entrepreneurs have a hard enough time starting up a company. We do not need artificial burdens from the government. Initiatives to provide a uniform playing field for all companies will lead to a more vibrant high-tech community and allow Georgia to retain these companies in growth industries.

Incentivize Over $11/hour Pay

Our objective is to incentivize employers to create jobs that provide competitive pay for all Georgians. To bring a higher base pay to Georgians, the employment penalty tax reimbursement of federal payroll taxes will be for jobs paying $11/hour or more, and this will be indexed to inflation. Additionally, maintaining low unemployment will drive up pay for all, as employers will compete to get the staff they need. A strong free market economy yields great jobs! Thus, elimination of employment penalty taxes will bring higher pay and ensure fewer jobs with lower pay. When the People earn more, there is a stronger economy -which in turn helps all businesses. ^[17]