3rd Congressional Candidates on the Economy

Many recent polls have shown that the number one concern for many Americans in the economy, which means jobs and the cost of living. This is particularly true for those who live in Michigan, where poverty rates continue to increase and unemployment stands between 13 – 15%.

Considering the seriousness of the economic crisis we thought it would be worth looking at where the 3^rd Congressional District candidates stood on this issue. The election is just six weeks away and there has been very little coverage of the 3^rd Congressional race. The Grand Rapids Press has only run 2 stories on this race since Labor Day, one on a debate between Miles and Amash, while the other article looked at GOP endorsements for Miles.

Since there has been no coverage of the candidate’s position on the economy and jobs since the Primary Election in early August we are relying on what they have posted on their websites.

Justin Amash (R) says he believes in the “free market” and places most of the blame on government taxes and government spending.

“Government actions to restrict trade, prop up failing companies, and discriminate against non-union workers have blocked real innovation and damaged the economy. Federal stimulus programs, combined with government efforts to manipulate the money supply, simply add to our skyrocketing debt and fuel further inflation. Government cannot “create” jobs—it can only shuffle jobs and resources from one place to another. Innovation and entrepreneurship create jobs, and both are blocked when the government tries to dictate artificial outcomes in society.”

Based on the rhetoric that the Amash campaign is using, he is advocating for a more Libertarian approach to the economy, where government should just get out of the way and allow the market to “create jobs.” However, such a position does not hold up when one looks at the impact that government deregulation of the economy has had with the economic crash since 2008.

Pat Miles (D) is putting his emphasis on helping small businesses, which he claims is what really creates jobs. Miles plan to “fix” the economy is:

• Lower small business taxes and increase their access to capital so they can create jobs.

• Allow companies which purchase American-made equipment or machinery to accelerate their depreciation expense to receive larger tax deductions and a faster return on their investment.

• Work to institute a temporary payroll tax holiday for small businesses to encourage companies to hire more workers, and to get money back into workers’ pockets.

• Expand research and development tax credits to spur innovation.

• Support new technologies and invest in the conversion to a clean energy economy to ensure the next generation of breakthroughs and manufacturing in this growing industry happens here in West Michigan (and reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil).

• End tax breaks for big corporations when they ship American jobs overseas.

• Insist on fair and reciprocal trade agreements since West Michigan workers and products can compete with any in the world when there is a level playing field.

While it is encouraging that Miles was to see fair trade agreements it does not say that he would work to repeal or reform NAFTA or CAFTA, both of which have caused job loss in Michigan. It also seems clear that Miles supports more tax breaks for businesses so that it will “spur innovation” and “create jobs,” even though he provides no evidence that that is what tax breaks for businesses will do.

Interestingly enough, even though Miles is backed by some area unions, he says nothing about what he would do for working people. There is no mention of his stance on the Employee Free Choice Act, workers wages or benefits, nor the devastating levels of poverty that working class people are subjected to under the current economy in Grand Rapids.

The Libertarian candidate for the 3^rd Congressional seat, James Rogers, takes a traditional Libertarian point of view – minimize the government’s role in the economy. Part of this Libertarian approach means no government subsidies to energy companies and no bailouts.

Ted Gerrard, the US Taxpayers Party candidate, put his emphasis on reducing the federal budget. He also says the government should:

“Reduce spending by 10% across the board; Government sells all interests in private companies (GM, Fanny, Freddy); Enforce immigration law, fully implement E verify for SSN’s; Equal environmental standards for all products sold in the US; and Human Rights standards for all products sold in the US.”

Like the other candidates Gerrard does not even mention working people, current unemployment and poverty levels in West Michigan.

The Green Party candidate, Charlie Shick, believes that job creation would occur with the repeal of “every free trade agreement in which the US in entered, unless the partner nation observes labor and environmental laws on par with our American system. Without this well of slave labor at their disposal, manufacturers and other industries would once again return to the American workforce.”

Shick also says that if elected he would bring the platform of the Green Party to DC, which has a much more progressive stance on economic justice and basic rights for all. Part of that platform would call for diverting much of the current military budget towards meeting basic family needs such as housing, health care and education.

Regardless of where people stand on the economy, it is clear that there is little public debate about it coming from any of the candidates.