Economy/Jobs

Panel Discussion with Women CEOs.

Touring a small business in Colville, WA.

Visit from Greater Spokane, Inc.

I support policies that empower the private sector – especially small businesses – to create jobs and spur economic growth.  Small businesses are responsible for 70% of America’s jobs, and when government grows – as it has under President Obama– it crowds out growth in the private sector.  We need to simplify the tax code, stop burdensome government regulations, reduce government spending, and balance the budget.  That will give small business owners the confidence they need to invest, innovate, and expand. 

Unfortunately, President Obama and his allies in Congress have pursued a different agenda.  In 2009 and 2010, they pushed through a $787 billion stimulus bill, added $3 trillion to the national debt, blocked domestic energy production, and ignored the will of the people by passing a radical, job-killing health care reform bill.  The results speak for themselves.  Since President Obama took office, we have lost 2 million private sector jobs while government jobs have grown, we are in the midst of the longest streak of high unemployment since the Great Depression, and the average person's stay on unemployment - about 40 weeks - is the longest in U.S. history. 

During the past year, I have co-sponsored dozens of bills to reverse these trends and grow our economy - many of which passed the House but remain stuck in the Senate - including legislation to repeal the government takeover of health care, the REINS Act, the Energy Tax Prevention Act, and the "Path to Prosperity" budget (which would cut $6 trillion in projected government spending over the next decade). I am also a strong advocate for the Balanced Budget Amendment.  In November 2011, the House voted on the amendment, and while it received the support of a majority of my House colleagues, it fell just short of the two-thirds majority required for passage. We will continue to push for another vote soon. 

Looking ahead, I will continue to advocate for policies that unleash the power of free minds and free markets; and I will continue to oppose policies that take money out of the hands of hard-working taxpayers to reward the special interests.

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