Building Economic Opportunities
For the past 40 years, our country tipped the scales toward the richest Americans and wealthiest corporations in the hope that their wealth would trickle down to everyday working families.
Unfortunately, we now know that plan only hurt working Americans. The only winners were the top 1%, where millionaires became billionaires, while the middle class lost ground, despite working harder and more productivly.
We’ve seen that when we prioritize working class economics through investments in our infrastructure, supporting education and worker training, and holding corporations responsible for predatory practices, our economy can grow faster, stronger and more equitably than ever.
That’s what the Opportunity Economy is about – where every worker has the chance to succeed.
Rebalance our Tax and Regulatory Structure
We need to shift tax and regulatory policies back to prioritizing working class families while also ensuring our economy remains strong and American companies have a competitive regulatory environment to thrive and grow while ensuring that profitable corporations pay fair taxes.
I support legislation to restrict off-shoring profits to avoid federal taxes. I also support the policies to protect consumers by ending predatory practices by corporations and banks, including eliminating junk fees, exploitive marketing practices and predatory lending.
Help Lower the Cost of Living
As the economic effects of the pandemic are subsiding, supply constraints are easing and inflation is cooling, but the financial pain for working families and agricultural communities continues.
The price of a bag of potato chips now costs $7, and basics like meat, produce and staples are as much as 30% more than before the pandemic – much of this from corporate greed.
I support legislation to prevent price gouging in times of national crises and a windfall tax on companies whose profits surge during economic distress. I also believe the FTC and DOJ need to adopt stronger guidelines to insure mergers and acquisitions do not eliminate competition or hurt consumers.
Restore Labor Rights
Organized labor built the working class but in recent years, labor unions have been in decline thanks to the conservative movement that has worked for the past 40 years to dismantle the labor movement. As with the trickle-down tax policies, I will work to restore the freedom to join a labor union and prevent states and corporations from hindering the right to organize.
Last year, Michigan repealed the “right to work” law that was designed to defund labor unions and weaken the rights of workers to unite and organize for better wages and a safer work environment.
We need to support the U.S. Department of Labor oversight for fair wages, anti-discrimination and anti-union activities and pass a federal prevailing wage law and ban the “right to work laws” designed to defund unions.
We also need to fight for a living wage for adults in the workforce and support prevailing wage laws to lift-up workers who do not have access to labor unions.
Investing in America’s Opportunity Future
We need to invest in America’s workers and economic growth by supporting Pre-K and secondary education, and help lower the costs for college and university tuition, which are America’s primary pathway to personal economic improvement.
I also support bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act as examples of how smart, strategic public investment can bring high-paying jobs our district.
Unfortunately, my opponent Lisa McClain, voted against the bi-partisan infrastructure bill – the FIRST major investment in our nation in over 20 years, and yet she took credit for new construction spending in our district.
Bring High-speed Broadband to MI-9
Throughout most of the rural areas Michigan, many homes do not have access to high-speed broadband Internet, which are increasingly necessary for streaming television, phone and business connections.
I support leveraging ARPA grants to help communities bring high-speed rural broadband to the residents of MI-9 to help them better connect and compete for the 21st Century.
I also support leveraging ARPA funds to help install public EV fast-charging stations throughout the district to help bring zero-carbon EVs to the region and to help Michigan’s automotive industry compete in the global EV market.
Making Positive Change
Whether you donate $1 or $100, your support will help send Clint to Congress where he will put working people first in creating shared solutions for Michigan’s 9th District. Let’s defeat extreme partisanship and restore normalcy to DC! Clint is running for Congress to bring positivity, hope, and practical solutions to Michigan’s 9th and to our country.