Issues | Jobs

Improving our local economy for job growth is Tom’s main focus. He has worked tirelessly to remove excessive regulation and promote legislation which will create local jobs. This year, he voted for the Roofing Efficiency Jobs Act, the GRAPE Act, and the BUILD Bridges Act.

As someone who has created jobs operating four small businesses, Tom knows the pressure of meeting a payroll. Unlike most members of Congress, Tom has signed the front of paychecks – not just the back of them.

Tom has toured and met with the owners of dozens of businesses of all sizes and industries. Four problem areas repeatedly surfaced while talking with the business owners. These barriers to inventing the products and career opportunities of tomorrow are:

1.      Paying down the national debt to create stability. 
Businesses plan for growth years into the future. Uncertainty about the stability of the dollar and credit rating of the United States discourages investments here at home.

2.      Removing egregious regulation and repealing Obamacare. 
Businesses of all sizes are faced with onerous and duplicative federal and state regulations. The government needs to get out of the way of job growth. The tax impact of Obamacare on businesses is already costing jobs, especially in small businesses.

3.      Streamlining the tax code through comprehensive tax reform
The government picks winners and losers within a massive 70,000-page tax code. The less money Washington takes, the more that will be invested locally in development and jobs.

4.      Domestic energy for lower utility prices and protecting our national security
Manufacturing jobs can blossom again in NY only if we harness our domestic resources to provide stable, low utility costs upon which our job creating entrepreneurs- both big and small - can rely on to compete in the world market.  Also, many good-paying jobs and careers will be necessarily created as a result of the development of these resources. Finally, the positive national security ramifications must always be taken into consideration when discussing our domestic energy plan.

Upstate New York has abundant natural resources, outstanding education, and a geographically favorable location for business. We should be working together to get that word out and maximize these precious characteristics of the place we all call home.