I support an increase to the federal minimum wage by increasing it to $10 nationwide. People who work full-time jobs should not have to struggle to support their families. Accomplishing this would make progress towards shrinking the inequality gap in our society. Wages have failed to keep pace with increases in costs and productivity in this country. This stagnation makes it difficult for working-class Hoosiers to get ahead.
Instead of creating conditions for all Americans to thrive, Republicans want to pass a tax cut for the extremely wealthy. This will not help working-class Americans like those in the 6th District. The wealth that has accumulated in the past few decades has failed to trickle down to fix the problems of those most in need in our country. To help them, I believe in prioritizing the needs of America’s, and Indiana’s, economy by fighting to keep manufacturing jobs close to home and work to build our own infrastructure. We cannot aid other countries, if we do not first aid ourselves.
Indiana has lost a minimum of 5,000 manufacturing jobs since 2016 and I will fight to make sure that even more continue to stay here. I want to create a future where Hoosiers in the 6th District can not only have jobs secure from outsourcing and automaton, but ones where they can prosper.
Gary says:
I would like to suggest there not be a minimum wage but that there be a commitment to establishing a livable wage. This would need to start on the order of $20 an hour or its salaried equivalent. Be adjusted for inflation. To make this viable for business there should be matching reductions in the matching funds employers pay out now. And tax deductions for small businesses that also encourage such standards being adopted.
It must be remembered that all taxes are only paid by the final consumer of a product. So reductions in taxes at the higher levels in the process will reduce the costs down the line. The increase in tax income will come by having more above the poverty line, paying taxes and being able to do more then just survive. Also if those with two or three jobs can live on one job them there are more jobs available. And these would be jobs that those who cannot currently take such jobs could now do so. Combined with a continuing education program job mobility would allow better opportunity for financial upgrades through the working classes.
Giving these new additions to income families could be guided and be able to latch into investments and afford all the insurance coverage that so many cannot obtain on their own. Reducing the drain on Medicare and Medicaid. And increasing the Social Security accumulations to get the system more on balance.
These efforts should be tied into separating the National Deficit from future budgets. Make it a stand alone pay down project. Equal in its threat to out national security to a military invasion. But instead of seeking volunteers or drafting out physically fit, we get out financially fit to tackle the reduction. Allow them to apply their ability to make money moving money to removing the deficit. Encourage them to be allowed to make a profit, based upon results, of course.