Jobs

Getting the economy back on track and creating good paying jobs here in Wisconsin is my priority. I am advocating for policies that will create and save jobs, invest in stabilizing state and local economies, and provide help to the unemployed.

After a devastating recession, we are beginning to see signs of recovery. The recovery is slow but we have seen more than two years of private sector job gains. Though the recover is not as strong as we'd all like, it is improving. See my statement on the jobs report here.

Ron visits Vernon Area Rehabilitation Center where they are working to provide employment opportunities and teaching work skills to local community members.

Small Businesses

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating 2 out 3 new jobs according to the Small Business Association (SBA).  This is why any job growth strategy must begin with a focus on Main Street. Click here to see what I'm doing for small businesses.

Working for Western Wisconsin

The private sector creates jobs – not the federal government – and I am focused on promoting policies that position our businesses in western Wisconsin to remain competitive and continue growing. Below are some of the initiatives I have supported to help create the incentives and positive economic climate to get Wisconsin businesses and families working again.

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American Made: Ensuring a Strong Economy

We must build, construct and grow manufacturing in Wisconsin and across America in order to ensure a strong American economy.   

That's why I've put together a plan to help us do just that. By capitalizing on existing American strengths – a well educated and well trained labor force, innovation, and competitive spirit; supporting the transformation and growth of America’s manufacturers to move into the markets of the future; and by coordinating with federal, state, local governments and private institutions, we can ensure America’s economic success.

Read my manufacturing agenda.

Read the summary.

Rebuilding American Manufactuing Act 

In May 2012, I introduced legislation, H.R. 5795, to encourage American manufacturing and grow the economy by lowering the effective tax rate for domestic manufacturers to 20 percent. Investing in American manufacturing is critical to remaining competitive in a global economy.  Reducing the effective tax rate gives our manufacturers greater opportunity to succeed globally. It will help them keep facilities in the Unites States, produce American goods, hire American workers, and continue to grow and innovate. This is a commonsense investment in America’s future. Read more about it here

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Strengthening Our Economic Competitiveness

More than half of the growth in the size of our economy since World War II can be attributed to development and adoption of new technologies. I supported the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, which was signed into law on January 4, 2011, to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and math education; double our investments in the basic research that lays the foundation for future prosperity; and foster innovation through helping small and medium-sized manufactures access capital to become more efficient and creating Regional Innovation Clusters. These investments are crucial to ensuring our nation can compete in a global economy and remain the most innovative, creative country in the world.

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RECOVERY ACT   
The Recovery Act was passed to help our economy start creating jobs again. It invested in needed infrastructure projects across the nation, helped those hardest-hit by the recession, and kept police officers, firefighters, and teachers on the job serving our communities.  A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report estimates that up to 3.6 million people owe their jobs to the Recovery Act.  Click here to see all of the Recovery Act projects at work in western Wisconsin.

WORKER, HOMEOWNERSHIP & BUSINESS ASSISTANCE ACT
  (November 2009 Became Public Law No: 111-92)
• Boosted the economy with emergency relief for Americans hit by the recession
• Extended and expanded the first-time homebuyer tax credit
• Created tax relief for small businesses and other struggling U.S. businesses to help them get through difficult economic times.

HIRING INCENTIVES TO RESTORE EMPLOYMENT (HIRE) ACT (March 2010 Became Public Law No: 111-14)
• Will help create 300,000 jobs, unleash tens of billions of dollars to rebuild infrastructure
• Created tax cuts for businesses to hire workers and accelerated write-offs for small businesses

STUDENT AID & FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT (March 2010 Became Public Law No: 111-152)
• Largest investment in college student financial aid in history to make education more affordable
• Increased Pell Grants and strengthened community colleges

WALL STREET REFORM  (July 2010 Became Public Law No: 111-203)
• Holds Wall Street and big banks accountable
• Common sense new rules will spur lending to help create American jobs and protect household wealth
• Puts an end to taxpayer-funded bailouts and the idea of “too big to fail”

AMERICAN JOBS AND CLOSING TA X LOOPHOLES ACT (July 2010 Became Public Law No: 111-205)
• Restores credit flow to small businesses by extending key Recovery Act provisions to make small business loans more affordable
• Extends the research & development tax credit to spur innovation and support good jobs
• Strengthens clean American-made energy with tax incentives that create green jobs

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