AL01 candidates talk job creation and the economy

A five-question “Yellowhammer Questionnaire” was sent out to U.S. House candidates in Alabama’s First Congressional District last week. We gathered all of their answers and will be presenting them to you throughout this week — one question per day. The candidates’ answers are presented unedited and side-by-side for easy comparison. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

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TODAY’S QUESTION: Jobs & the economy are clearly the top issues for voters right now. What specific policies do you believe would boost job creation and economic growth in the First Congressional District?

ANSWERS:

Bradley Byrne (Republican)

Our next Congressman must make jobs and the economy the central focus of their work. We need to remove unnecessary regulations and cut high taxes from our businesses and citizens to help put Alabamians back to work. I will fight to protect our Navy contracts and secure funding to deepen and widen the Mobile ship channel to protect and create jobs here at home.

Randy Davis (Republican)

We must develop jobs for all people whether with large or small employers. Currently, we see well trained individuals who are either unemployed or under-employed as well as businesses in need of entry level employees with basic skills. The challenge is matching these individuals with an appropriate position that is mutually beneficial to employee and employer.

With the recruitment of Airbus, ThyssenKrupp Steel, USA, SSAB Americas and Austal Shipbuilding to south Alabama, each company has experienced challenges relative to redundant regulations. We must streamline this process to help minimize lost time before a company can ramp up for operation. My first policy position would be to work with neighboring states to streamline regulations. This can be done through reciprocity and memorandums of agreement. We currently are developing one with the state of Mississippi. It only makes sense that companies use one set of regulations when locating in the southern region. Finally, I introduced and passed the 21st Century Economic program for companies using two hundred and fifty acres or more of land in under-utilized or blighted areas. This legislation can help suppliers, who are looking for lands, benefit from additional tax incentives while creating a higher tax base for the city and county. It could help blighted inner-city properties or rural properties where textile operations once flourished. Additionally, this region is positioned to receive and use Restore Act Funds which will have a major economic impact for years to come.

Chad Fincher (Republican)

The best way that we can help our national and local economy is to repeal Obamacare. This legislation, and the fear it has rightfully created, will cripple our economy, devastate our job producers, and make sure that those looking for work are forced to continue checking the classified ads. I am afraid if something is not done to stop Obamacare it will truly keep hard working Americans away from honest employment, and force businesses to close their doors or remain unprofitable. Beyond Obamacare, I will work tirelessly to cut the red tape and burdensome regulations that puts obstacles in the way of our small businesses. Constant government interference stifles economic growth, and we must get government out of the way. Finally, I will work to simplify the tax code and reduce rates across the board to make sure that our citizens can keep what they earn and put that money back into our local economy.

James Hall (Independent)

There are several issues that I would push for in Washington to positively impact our local economy. I would work to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling and support additional Gulf leases. In conjunction with this, I would fight for the Gulf States to receive a larger share of the royalties paid by oil companies for these leases. I would work to get funding from the Federal Highway Administration to start working on the I-10 Mobile River bridge (if we can finally decide on a site). I feel that improving our local infrastructure (namely the Bridge) is paramount to our future ability to attract new business and industry. I would also continue to champion our efforts to maintain our federal military contracts. They are good for the Country, and they are good for us.

Quin Hillyer (Republican)

For the past several years, I have advocated for a significant reduction in U.S. corporate income taxes, see here. For the economy to grow again and produce real world jobs, not these false ‘shovel ready’ jobs Barack Obama promised us, the private sector must invest in the economy. Currently, there is a heavy, complicated and redundant taxation system. By significantly reducing U.S. corporate income taxes, companies will have more revenue to re-invest, which means increased production and the need to hire more employees. A tax policy with an eye towards growth can help pull this economy out from under the burdens of this oversized federal government and put more Americans back to work.

Jessica James (Republican)

Getting government out of the way is the key to restoring our economy and encouraging private sector job creation. Overregulation, over taxation, and government interference in the free market is what is crippling job growth and economic development.

The first thing we must do is repeal and defund Obamacare. It is the biggest impediment to job creation in this country right now. Business owners are afraid to expand. Entrepreneurs are scared to start new businesses. It has to go.

Second, we need a total overhaul of federal regulations and the regulatory system. Particularly concerning to me are the dozens upon dozens of regulations being enacted by the EPA that do nothing to protect our environment, but cripple our small businesses. We must increase Congressional oversight of the regulatory system by using Congressional authority to repeal burdensome regulations and by requiring Congressional approval for major regulations that have a significant economic impact. I would also support a moratorium on any new regulations that have a significant impact on job creation and economic growth until our economy has fully recovered.

Next, we must move to a fairer, flatter, simplified tax structure that will promote economic growth, reduce taxes across the board, and ensure that all classes of business are treated equally under our tax code.

Finally, and this is very key for the First District, we must move towards energy independence and we must increase energy exploration along our coast as well as inland. This will create tens of thousands of jobs across the country and many thousands of jobs here at home. We must be mindful to do this in a way as to not harm our precious coast—something I know can be done.

Dean Young (Republican)

The government does not create jobs. I would work to shrink the size of the federal government and get the federal government out of the way of businesses, to help them do what they do best which is create jobs.