Issues: Jobs

I believe joblessness in Nevada is the most serious problem we face today; however, it is a problem with a solution.

Because small businesses are the largest job creators in the United States, we must help remove government roadblocks that thwart their success.

I believe we must free entrepreneurs to run their businesses by easing taxation, reforming regulation, and providing incentives.

During this crippling economic downturn—where nearly one in five Nevadans are unemployed or underemployed—businesses cannot grow as long as taxation strangles budding efforts to emerge and expand.

That is why I signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

I believe now is not the time to bailout the architects of our fiscal meltdown by increasing taxes. We can’t keep reaching more deeply into the pockets of hardworking men and women who are trying to make products and payrolls.

We can ease the taxation burden by helping struggling businesses get back on track. I propose a six-month moratorium on payroll taxes along with a one-year 50% reduction in Medicare and Social Security taxes. I also propose a permanent reduction in the corporate tax rate to spur hiring and put paychecks in the hands of newly hired workers.

Because regulation hinders small businesses, I also believe we must make paying taxes easier for businesses who want to pay their fair share. No small businessperson can slog through a 16,845-page tax code, and its 5.5 million words, without the aid and expense of a tax specialist. With seven times more words than the Bible, the tax code is too long and complicated; we must simplify it.

I believe regulations that impede free markets and fair trade should be reformed. To create a level playing field for American workers and give them a chance to compete, I support aggressive trade strategies that open markets and create jobs.

We need private sector jobs. We cannot solve our problems by creating government jobs—government jobs only create more government spending. That is not the answer.

I believe the answer to meaningful job creation in the private sector, with attendant sustainable economic growth, lies in tax incentives. We should foster a climate that encourages business people to create full time positions and pay a fair wage. Tax incentives reward entrepreneurial ingenuity that jumpstarts productivity and employment.

Although Nevadans face challenges, I believe that together we can find solutions to our employment problem.