Issue Position: Jobs

Issue Position

The economic crisis has hurt thousands of families in Clark County and throughout Washington state. While many large companies have found their way out of the financial mess, many families and small businesses are still hurting. We must work together now to do all that we can to help businesses create jobs and build a prosperous future here in our community.

Investments in education at every level -- from kindergarten to community colleges and universities -- help grow our economy, providing workers the new skills they need to make our area a magnet for new businesses and
top-paying jobs.

The Rivers Business Plan:

MEASURED INCENTIVES
Provide business with undeniable reasons to want to come here to set up shop or expand current operations. That way, we can put people back to work and get our economy moving again.

REGULATION
Address the rules and regulations that strangle the business atmosphere of this state when we need that grip to loosen the most. Require the legislature to approve regulatory changes proposed by our state agencies.

PERMITTING
Take action to speed up the process. I fully recognize the need for both safety and environmental concerns to be addressed as part of the process; but charging absurd amounts of money for parking permits that take months to provide is not conducive or cost efficient to business. It costs us jobs and time… and time? That's money.

ACCOUNTABILITY
Of course, we cannot forget that "A deal is a deal" and therefore, keeping an eye on those we extend a deal to make sure they hold up their end of the bargain is key to the success of this plan. It is essential that if jobs are promised, they must be delivered.

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