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News stations are flooded with reports of rising gas rates and dropping home sales affecting Nevada's economy. How will your policies and plans affect our states economy, specifically Northern Nevada?
<b>Joe Biden</b>
There are three important steps we must take immediately to promote economic growth - both in Nevada and the rest of the country: (1) end the war in Iraq and adopt a responsible policy toward Iran and the Middle East; (2) deal with the mortgage crisis by keeping people in their homes; and (3) get health care costs under control.
First, end the war in Iraq and stop exacerbating tension in the Middle East. Second, deal with the crisis in the housing market. Third, get health care spending under control. There are some fundamental problems with this Administration's economic policy – and its starts with their foreign policy. At almost every turn, this President has increased the pressure on the middle class – the economic engine that drives our economy.
We are spending over $1 billion a week on Iraq – instead of investing in alternative energy innovation or education. So the first thing I would do is end the war in Iraq without leaving chaos behind. Tensions in the Middle East – particularly this Administration's irresponsible saber-rattling with Iran – are fueling high energy prices. We are paying a security premium on oil of between $15-$30 a barrel. That is having a direct impact on people's pocket books. I would focus on building and sustaining an international coalition that makes clear to Iran everything it stands to lose if it continues to pursue its course.
We must deal with the mortgage crisis – there is no upside in driving people out o their homes. Two million people are in danger of losing their homes. If they do it will be a shock to the housing sector and blow to our economy. I would implement a comprehensive solution that keeps people in their homes by: allowing bankruptcy judges to modify loans including interest rates and repayment timeframes; cracking down on predatory lenders, unscrupulous brokers and abusive penalties that trap people in bad mortgages; encouraging lenders to modify loans and freeze interest rates – beyond the rate freeze proposed by this Administration; strengthening the Federal Housing Administration's ability to counsel families facing foreclosure and help them refinance with federally backed loans; expanding the ability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase loans and stabilize the mortgage market; and ensuring that rating agencies are doing their jobs.
Finally, we have to have a national strategy to get health care costs under control. Health insurance premiums have increased 80 percent since 2000. And that cost is being passed on to hard working Americans. Many employers are dropping health care altogether. That is why providing catastrophic coverage is a corner-stone of my health care plan. One employee with $100,000 in health care expenses can push premiums up for everyone – by stepping in and helping to cover costs over $50,000 we can keep premiums from rising at an unsustainable rate.
<b>Hillary Clinton</b>
When I am President, one of my top priorities will be to manage responsibly our country’s economic challenges in the face of deepening anxiety about our economic outlook. I will be ready to lead on day one of my Presidency and I will focus on rebuilding America’s middle class. Today, as the price of oil moves toward $100 a barrel, we are even more dependent on imported oil than we were on September 11, 2001. And middle-class families are the ones paying the price. The average family is spending roughly $2,000 more a year on energy costs – including electricity, home heating and gas – than it was in 2000. That is the equivalent of a $2,000 tax on families. I believe that we should release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the Northeast Heating Oil Reserve to send a signal to the market and ease concerns about low crude oil stocks that are driving prices higher. I also believe that we should enact legislation to make gasoline markets more transparent and make gas-price gouging a federal crime. To ensure that we become energy independent in the long run, I will work to transition our economy toward renewable energy sources, with renewables generating 25 percent of electricity by 2025 and with 60 billion gallons of home-grown biofuels available for cars and trucks by 2030.
There is no doubt that today’s housing crisis is hurting millions of American families. There have been 1.6 million foreclosure filings so far this year – a figure that is expected to climb as adjustable rate mortgages reset – and home prices are declining too. As President, I will take several steps to address these problems. I will establish a $1 billion fund to assist state programs that help at-risk borrowers avoid foreclosures; expand Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s foreclosure prevention efforts, and direct them to help families replace unworkable mortgages with more stable ones; and allow state housing finance agencies to issue an additional $2.5 billion per year in tax-free bonds whose proceeds would be used to help families refinance unworkable mortgages. And I plan to strengthen the Federal Housing Administration so that it provides an alternative to the high-risk subprime market and to pass legislation to punish scam artists who prey on homeowners facing foreclosure.
<b>Chris Dodd</b>
Homeownership is the very cornerstone of the American Dream, yet today millions of hardworking Americans are struggling to find homes they can afford. As residents of a state with one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country, Nevadans know all too well that many homeowners have fallen victim to predatory lending practices that have resulted in debt, distress, and far too often, bankruptcy and foreclosure. The shortage of affordable homes, the erosion of fair lending practices, and the resulting sharp increase in foreclosures, are deteriorating the quality of life for millions of Americans, undermining our communities and the economy, and jeopardizing the American Dream of homeownership.
America needs a President who will do everything in his power to confront the current mortgage crisis, help people keep their homes, and keep the opportunity for homeownership alive for generations to come. I have a comprehensive plan to preserve and promote homeownership. As President, I will:
1. Increase opportunities for homeownership by stabilizing the mortgage and financial markets
2. Protect homeowners from unscrupulous lenders and provide assistance to victims of predatory loans so they can keep their homes
3. Increase affordable housing so that no American is ever forced to move away from the communities in which they work or live because they can’t afford their mortgage or rent payments
4. Reduce the scourge of homelessness, especially for children and families”
<b>John Edwards</b>
Gasoline prices are now near an all-time record high. I have a plan to fight rising gas prices by promoting greater competition in the gasoline market. I have called for an immediate investigation into the causes of higher gasoline prices, including the anticompetitive structure of the oil industry, and for stronger enforcement of laws to ensure free and open competition. I have also proposed a plan to create a New Energy Economy with biofuels, electric and hybrid vehicles, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.
The oil industry - which has written our nation's energy policy for years -- receives $2 billion a year in tax breaks for drilling they would undertake anyway. It also collects $1 billion a year in sweetheart oil leases in public waters. I have called on Congress to repeal these subsidies and reinvest the savings in affordable, clean, and renewable energy.
To jumpstart our investment in the future, I will create the $13 billion-a-year New Energy Economy Fund, financed by the sale of greenhouse gas pollution permits and the repeal of subsidies for oil companies. The New Energy Economy Fund's investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency technology can create an economic boom across the nation, creating more than 1 million jobs. Many of these jobs must be performed locally and cannot be offshored.
By requiring 25 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025 - building on bold initiatives like Nevada's requirement that 20 percent of its electricity come from renewable energy by 2015 - we'll increase demand for wind turbines, solar panels and biomass engines. We'll also promote new businesses that can provide on-site power production. Taking all these steps will require additional workers in these sectors who will need new skills to participate in the new energy economy. I have proposed a Green Collar Jobs program to train 150,000 workers a year in cutting-edge energy jobs, ensuring that we can make this transition and that the resulting economic growth is widely shared.
Nevada is primed to become a leader in the production of wind and solar energy. Nevada has some of the best solar resources in the world. In fact, by the end of 2007, Nevada will have more installed solar watts per capital than any other state. And it has some of the richest geothermal resources in the world. As a result, geothermal is the most mature renewable energy industry in Nevada. By investing in renewable fuels, we'll create new jobs in rural American farming and we'll need workers to process and transport biofuels. We'll also reenergize our hard-hit manufacturing sector.
To help the estimated 40,000 families facing foreclosure in Nevada this year, I will create a Home Rescue Fund to help families get more affordable mortgages. The Fund would work through non-profits, government agencies and community financial institutions. I will also let bankruptcy judges modify mortgages, as they can other debts, to help families keep their homes.
I will pass a national law to prohibit the worst abuses in the mortgage market. The law will reach non-bank lenders and mortgage brokers and strengthen underwriting standards to ensure that borrowers receive affordable loans suited to their means. I will also create a new federal regulatory agency whose only job is to protect consumers from abusive financial services products.
<b>Mike Gravel</b>
My focus on a crash program of alternative and renewable energy based policy will give birth to new industry in Nevada and create jobs for Nevadans. Additionally, with the great geo-thermal potential of northern NV, this fledgling industry can blossom under my energy policy.
<b>Rudy Guiliani</b>
Strengthen America's 21st Century Workforce: Education is power in an information economy. American workers must be the best trained and prepared workforce in the world in order to successfully compete in the global economy.
• Promote science and mathematics through technical certification or an associate degree.
• Advance successful training programs leading to competitive skills the market demands.
• Allow early withdrawal from retirement accounts for qualified retraining programs.
• Expand the number of H1B Visas for skilled foreign workers to meet market demand.
Create "Global Prosperity Initiative": Bringing more countries and people into the global marketplace will make America safer and create new markets for our products worldwide. America must promote higher living standards around the world, help reform the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to encourage pro-growth policies, and distribute foreign aid in ways that reinforce good governance and economic freedom, similar to the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Aggressively Advance Free Trade: Rudy will tear down the walls to free trade and create new markets for American-made products. He will protect America's innovations and intellectual property by enforcing our trade agreements aggressively.
• Reduce corporate tax rates and regulatory burden so that Americans can better compete in the global economy.
• Reform the excesses of Sarbanes-Oxley that are driving our corporations overseas to list on foreign exchanges.
• Reenact the Presidential Fast-Track Trade Promotion Authority and complete the Doha Development Round.
<b>Barack Obama</b>
Rural Nevada faces new challenges unlike anything we have witnessed in modern history, but there are also real opportunities for innovation and progress
There are several steps I would take to bolster Northern Nevada’s economy.
First, in Nevada, more than 87 percent of the land is federally owned. I will ensure that our local governments are fairly compensated for losses to their tax base through the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program.
Small businesses are the engines of Northern Nevada’s economy. I will support entrepreneurship and spur job growth by establishing a small business and micro-enterprise initiative for rural America. The program will provide training and technical assistance for rural small business, and a 20 percent tax credit on up to $50,000 of investment in small owner-operated businesses.
I’ll work to connect Northern Nevada. Some 15 percent of Nevada homes have no access to high-speed Internet at all. Currently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) collects fees from phone companies that it uses to subsidize lower-cost service in rural areas. As president, I will work with the FCC to reform this program so that it supports affordable broadband coverage across rural America.
The mining industry plays an important role in Nevada’s economy, employing some 12,000 people. I will work to update the Mining Law of 1872 to require fair compensation for the use of federal land and clean up abandoned mines. Rewriting this Civil War-era law to reflect 21st century priorities must also provide greater business certainty for mining companies and the communities that depend on them.
The housing crisis is having a huge impact in Nevada. Nevada has the highest foreclosure rate in the country. In addition to taking important steps to prevent mortgage fraud from occurring in the future, I will establish policies to help Americans currently facing foreclosure through no fault of their own. For instance, in communities where there are many foreclosures, property values of innocent homeowners are often also negatively impacted, driving them toward foreclosure, too.
One of the most important things we can do for Nevada’s economy is to set America on the path to energy independence. High gas prices not only hurt people in Nevada who often have to drive long distances, they also hurt our economy. I have a comprehensive energy plan that will raise fuel economy standards, invest in emerging clean energy technologies, and require that more of our electricity comes from renewable sources. We can not only liberate ourselves from dependence on foreign oil, and combat the sources of climate change, we can also create millions of jobs in the process.
<b>Ron Paul</b>
My policies would strengthen Nevada’s economy by ending the federal government’s flawed monetary system. I will work to strengthen the dollar and end the federal regulations that make it so hard for businesses to flourish.
I will also work to restore a free market in energy. Erase the federally-mandated advantage, and the market in alternatives will flourish. We can become energy independent and drive down the cost of gas by getting federal interference and subsidies out of the energy market. To immediately address the rising cost of gas, I have introduced the Affordable Gas Price Act (H.R. 2415) into Congress that would suspend federal fuel taxes when the price rises above $3.00 a gallon.
<b>Bill Richardson</b>
Our country faces a great economic challenge. Increasingly, highly-skilled workers across the globe are competing for -- and winning -- the most desirable jobs available. Many of these workers come from nations with governments that have made the three essential choices that grow economies and create jobs:
1. They are choosing to invest in the future rather than spending extravagantly on present-day consumption
2. They are investing in science and technology, and
3. They are investing in their workers through education and workforce development
I have a plan to meet these challenges by encouraging innovation and expanding economic opportunity.
Under President Bush, our country's national debt has skyrocketed to a record-breaking $9 trillion, with interest payments on the debt reaching $404 billion last year alone. Our next President must have the discipline to rein in spending so that we may return to the budget surpluses we experienced during the Clinton Administration. As Governor, I consistently demonstrated fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets, and as President I will restore America's financial strength.
If America is to retain its leadership in the global marketplace, it must renew its emphasis on science and technology and establish new incentives for innovation. As President, I will achieve this through an aggressive combination of tax credits, Green Jobs programs, and the establishment of 250 Math, Science, and Innovation Academies throughout the country.
A highly skilled, well-paid workforce is central to sustained job growth and a healthy economy. Our country must establish a strong foundation of improved education and a workforce development system that's streamlined and targeted to the needs of the 21st century economy. We will make this happen through tax credits that offer incentives for good-paying jobs in all sectors and regions of the country, including manufacturing and rural areas.
Nevada, with its wind, its sun and its wide open spaces, has the potential to be one of the nation’s leading producers of renewable energy – wind, solar, geothermal. That means good jobs that can’t be outsourced, it means reduced dependence on foreign oil and lower energy costs, and it means a cleaner environment. We’ve already started building in New Mexico, and as President, my plan for renewable energy will have tremendous economic benefits to Nevada and the rest of the country.
<b>Mitt Romney</b>
All Americans enjoy a vastly improved standard of living thanks to the dynamic power of our economy. Most now have cell phones in their pockets and Internet-connected computers in their homes. Medical advances have provided drugs and procedures that save lives and allow for better treatment of chronic ailments. The American people do face challenges, but all benefit from an expanding economy. The best way to help Nevada, and the rest of the country, is to implement pro-growth policies that will help the economy to grow faster.
First, I will cut taxes. Keeping taxes low is crucial to the health of our economy, which is why I have pledged not to raise taxes. I will make the Bush tax cuts permanent, abolish the Death Tax, and bring down marginal tax rates. I will implement a middle class savings plan, which eliminates all taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains for middle class Americans. People should be able to save their money tax-free. I also believe that we need to lower our corporate tax rate if American companies are to remain competitive in the global economy.
Second, I will promote free trade. Protectionism might feel good for a few years, but it would virtually guarantee a decline to a second-tier economy in the near future, with a second-class standard of living. I will keep trade barriers low and insist that Congress give me the "Trade Promotion Authority" they are currently denying President Bush, so that I can work to establish new free trade agreements with our partners. I will also make sure that free trade is a two-way street, so that foreign markets remain open to our goods and services and respect the intellectual property rights of our companies.
Third, I will make it easier for American companies to compete in the global economy. Above, I mentioned the need to bring corporate taxes in line with the rest of the world. We must reform the excessive regulatory burden on our companies – things like the Sarbanes-Oxley internal control requirements, which impose millions of dollars of costs on any company that wants to be publicly traded. I will reinstitute a regulatory relief board to cut back on the regulations that choke off growth. We need comprehensive federal tort reform to prevent frivolous and excessive tort claims which hurt our economy and drive up prices. And we must strengthen our own work force by giving our children a better education, especially in math and science, and by attracting the best and the brightest from around the world through legal immigration.
<b>Joe Biden</b>
There are three important steps we must take immediately to promote economic growth - both in Nevada and the rest of the country: (1) end the war in Iraq and adopt a responsible policy toward Iran and the Middle East; (2) deal with the mortgage crisis by keeping people in their homes; and (3) get health care costs under control.
First, end the war in Iraq and stop exacerbating tension in the Middle East. Second, deal with the crisis in the housing market. Third, get health care spending under control. There are some fundamental problems with this Administration's economic policy – and its starts with their foreign policy. At almost every turn, this President has increased the pressure on the middle class – the economic engine that drives our economy.
We are spending over $1 billion a week on Iraq – instead of investing in alternative energy innovation or education. So the first thing I would do is end the war in Iraq without leaving chaos behind. Tensions in the Middle East – particularly this Administration's irresponsible saber-rattling with Iran – are fueling high energy prices. We are paying a security premium on oil of between $15-$30 a barrel. That is having a direct impact on people's pocket books. I would focus on building and sustaining an international coalition that makes clear to Iran everything it stands to lose if it continues to pursue its course.
We must deal with the mortgage crisis – there is no upside in driving people out o their homes. Two million people are in danger of losing their homes. If they do it will be a shock to the housing sector and blow to our economy. I would implement a comprehensive solution that keeps people in their homes by: allowing bankruptcy judges to modify loans including interest rates and repayment timeframes; cracking down on predatory lenders, unscrupulous brokers and abusive penalties that trap people in bad mortgages; encouraging lenders to modify loans and freeze interest rates – beyond the rate freeze proposed by this Administration; strengthening the Federal Housing Administration's ability to counsel families facing foreclosure and help them refinance with federally backed loans; expanding the ability of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase loans and stabilize the mortgage market; and ensuring that rating agencies are doing their jobs.
Finally, we have to have a national strategy to get health care costs under control. Health insurance premiums have increased 80 percent since 2000. And that cost is being passed on to hard working Americans. Many employers are dropping health care altogether. That is why providing catastrophic coverage is a corner-stone of my health care plan. One employee with $100,000 in health care expenses can push premiums up for everyone – by stepping in and helping to cover costs over $50,000 we can keep premiums from rising at an unsustainable rate.
<b>Hillary Clinton</b>
When I am President, one of my top priorities will be to manage responsibly our country’s economic challenges in the face of deepening anxiety about our economic outlook. I will be ready to lead on day one of my Presidency and I will focus on rebuilding America’s middle class. Today, as the price of oil moves toward $100 a barrel, we are even more dependent on imported oil than we were on September 11, 2001. And middle-class families are the ones paying the price. The average family is spending roughly $2,000 more a year on energy costs – including electricity, home heating and gas – than it was in 2000. That is the equivalent of a $2,000 tax on families. I believe that we should release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and the Northeast Heating Oil Reserve to send a signal to the market and ease concerns about low crude oil stocks that are driving prices higher. I also believe that we should enact legislation to make gasoline markets more transparent and make gas-price gouging a federal crime. To ensure that we become energy independent in the long run, I will work to transition our economy toward renewable energy sources, with renewables generating 25 percent of electricity by 2025 and with 60 billion gallons of home-grown biofuels available for cars and trucks by 2030.
There is no doubt that today’s housing crisis is hurting millions of American families. There have been 1.6 million foreclosure filings so far this year – a figure that is expected to climb as adjustable rate mortgages reset – and home prices are declining too. As President, I will take several steps to address these problems. I will establish a $1 billion fund to assist state programs that help at-risk borrowers avoid foreclosures; expand Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s foreclosure prevention efforts, and direct them to help families replace unworkable mortgages with more stable ones; and allow state housing finance agencies to issue an additional $2.5 billion per year in tax-free bonds whose proceeds would be used to help families refinance unworkable mortgages. And I plan to strengthen the Federal Housing Administration so that it provides an alternative to the high-risk subprime market and to pass legislation to punish scam artists who prey on homeowners facing foreclosure.
<b>Chris Dodd</b>
Homeownership is the very cornerstone of the American Dream, yet today millions of hardworking Americans are struggling to find homes they can afford. As residents of a state with one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country, Nevadans know all too well that many homeowners have fallen victim to predatory lending practices that have resulted in debt, distress, and far too often, bankruptcy and foreclosure. The shortage of affordable homes, the erosion of fair lending practices, and the resulting sharp increase in foreclosures, are deteriorating the quality of life for millions of Americans, undermining our communities and the economy, and jeopardizing the American Dream of homeownership.
America needs a President who will do everything in his power to confront the current mortgage crisis, help people keep their homes, and keep the opportunity for homeownership alive for generations to come. I have a comprehensive plan to preserve and promote homeownership. As President, I will:
1. Increase opportunities for homeownership by stabilizing the mortgage and financial markets
2. Protect homeowners from unscrupulous lenders and provide assistance to victims of predatory loans so they can keep their homes
3. Increase affordable housing so that no American is ever forced to move away from the communities in which they work or live because they can’t afford their mortgage or rent payments
4. Reduce the scourge of homelessness, especially for children and families”
<b>John Edwards</b>
Gasoline prices are now near an all-time record high. I have a plan to fight rising gas prices by promoting greater competition in the gasoline market. I have called for an immediate investigation into the causes of higher gasoline prices, including the anticompetitive structure of the oil industry, and for stronger enforcement of laws to ensure free and open competition. I have also proposed a plan to create a New Energy Economy with biofuels, electric and hybrid vehicles, and more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.
The oil industry - which has written our nation's energy policy for years -- receives $2 billion a year in tax breaks for drilling they would undertake anyway. It also collects $1 billion a year in sweetheart oil leases in public waters. I have called on Congress to repeal these subsidies and reinvest the savings in affordable, clean, and renewable energy.
To jumpstart our investment in the future, I will create the $13 billion-a-year New Energy Economy Fund, financed by the sale of greenhouse gas pollution permits and the repeal of subsidies for oil companies. The New Energy Economy Fund's investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency technology can create an economic boom across the nation, creating more than 1 million jobs. Many of these jobs must be performed locally and cannot be offshored.
By requiring 25 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025 - building on bold initiatives like Nevada's requirement that 20 percent of its electricity come from renewable energy by 2015 - we'll increase demand for wind turbines, solar panels and biomass engines. We'll also promote new businesses that can provide on-site power production. Taking all these steps will require additional workers in these sectors who will need new skills to participate in the new energy economy. I have proposed a Green Collar Jobs program to train 150,000 workers a year in cutting-edge energy jobs, ensuring that we can make this transition and that the resulting economic growth is widely shared.
Nevada is primed to become a leader in the production of wind and solar energy. Nevada has some of the best solar resources in the world. In fact, by the end of 2007, Nevada will have more installed solar watts per capital than any other state. And it has some of the richest geothermal resources in the world. As a result, geothermal is the most mature renewable energy industry in Nevada. By investing in renewable fuels, we'll create new jobs in rural American farming and we'll need workers to process and transport biofuels. We'll also reenergize our hard-hit manufacturing sector.
To help the estimated 40,000 families facing foreclosure in Nevada this year, I will create a Home Rescue Fund to help families get more affordable mortgages. The Fund would work through non-profits, government agencies and community financial institutions. I will also let bankruptcy judges modify mortgages, as they can other debts, to help families keep their homes.
I will pass a national law to prohibit the worst abuses in the mortgage market. The law will reach non-bank lenders and mortgage brokers and strengthen underwriting standards to ensure that borrowers receive affordable loans suited to their means. I will also create a new federal regulatory agency whose only job is to protect consumers from abusive financial services products.
<b>Mike Gravel</b>
My focus on a crash program of alternative and renewable energy based policy will give birth to new industry in Nevada and create jobs for Nevadans. Additionally, with the great geo-thermal potential of northern NV, this fledgling industry can blossom under my energy policy.
<b>Rudy Guiliani</b>
Strengthen America's 21st Century Workforce: Education is power in an information economy. American workers must be the best trained and prepared workforce in the world in order to successfully compete in the global economy.
• Promote science and mathematics through technical certification or an associate degree.
• Advance successful training programs leading to competitive skills the market demands.
• Allow early withdrawal from retirement accounts for qualified retraining programs.
• Expand the number of H1B Visas for skilled foreign workers to meet market demand.
Create "Global Prosperity Initiative": Bringing more countries and people into the global marketplace will make America safer and create new markets for our products worldwide. America must promote higher living standards around the world, help reform the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to encourage pro-growth policies, and distribute foreign aid in ways that reinforce good governance and economic freedom, similar to the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Aggressively Advance Free Trade: Rudy will tear down the walls to free trade and create new markets for American-made products. He will protect America's innovations and intellectual property by enforcing our trade agreements aggressively.
• Reduce corporate tax rates and regulatory burden so that Americans can better compete in the global economy.
• Reform the excesses of Sarbanes-Oxley that are driving our corporations overseas to list on foreign exchanges.
• Reenact the Presidential Fast-Track Trade Promotion Authority and complete the Doha Development Round.
<b>Barack Obama</b>
Rural Nevada faces new challenges unlike anything we have witnessed in modern history, but there are also real opportunities for innovation and progress
There are several steps I would take to bolster Northern Nevada’s economy.
First, in Nevada, more than 87 percent of the land is federally owned. I will ensure that our local governments are fairly compensated for losses to their tax base through the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program.
Small businesses are the engines of Northern Nevada’s economy. I will support entrepreneurship and spur job growth by establishing a small business and micro-enterprise initiative for rural America. The program will provide training and technical assistance for rural small business, and a 20 percent tax credit on up to $50,000 of investment in small owner-operated businesses.
I’ll work to connect Northern Nevada. Some 15 percent of Nevada homes have no access to high-speed Internet at all. Currently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) collects fees from phone companies that it uses to subsidize lower-cost service in rural areas. As president, I will work with the FCC to reform this program so that it supports affordable broadband coverage across rural America.
The mining industry plays an important role in Nevada’s economy, employing some 12,000 people. I will work to update the Mining Law of 1872 to require fair compensation for the use of federal land and clean up abandoned mines. Rewriting this Civil War-era law to reflect 21st century priorities must also provide greater business certainty for mining companies and the communities that depend on them.
The housing crisis is having a huge impact in Nevada. Nevada has the highest foreclosure rate in the country. In addition to taking important steps to prevent mortgage fraud from occurring in the future, I will establish policies to help Americans currently facing foreclosure through no fault of their own. For instance, in communities where there are many foreclosures, property values of innocent homeowners are often also negatively impacted, driving them toward foreclosure, too.
One of the most important things we can do for Nevada’s economy is to set America on the path to energy independence. High gas prices not only hurt people in Nevada who often have to drive long distances, they also hurt our economy. I have a comprehensive energy plan that will raise fuel economy standards, invest in emerging clean energy technologies, and require that more of our electricity comes from renewable sources. We can not only liberate ourselves from dependence on foreign oil, and combat the sources of climate change, we can also create millions of jobs in the process.
<b>Ron Paul</b>
My policies would strengthen Nevada’s economy by ending the federal government’s flawed monetary system. I will work to strengthen the dollar and end the federal regulations that make it so hard for businesses to flourish.
I will also work to restore a free market in energy. Erase the federally-mandated advantage, and the market in alternatives will flourish. We can become energy independent and drive down the cost of gas by getting federal interference and subsidies out of the energy market. To immediately address the rising cost of gas, I have introduced the Affordable Gas Price Act (H.R. 2415) into Congress that would suspend federal fuel taxes when the price rises above $3.00 a gallon.
<b>Bill Richardson</b>
Our country faces a great economic challenge. Increasingly, highly-skilled workers across the globe are competing for -- and winning -- the most desirable jobs available. Many of these workers come from nations with governments that have made the three essential choices that grow economies and create jobs:
1. They are choosing to invest in the future rather than spending extravagantly on present-day consumption
2. They are investing in science and technology, and
3. They are investing in their workers through education and workforce development
I have a plan to meet these challenges by encouraging innovation and expanding economic opportunity.
Under President Bush, our country's national debt has skyrocketed to a record-breaking $9 trillion, with interest payments on the debt reaching $404 billion last year alone. Our next President must have the discipline to rein in spending so that we may return to the budget surpluses we experienced during the Clinton Administration. As Governor, I consistently demonstrated fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets, and as President I will restore America's financial strength.
If America is to retain its leadership in the global marketplace, it must renew its emphasis on science and technology and establish new incentives for innovation. As President, I will achieve this through an aggressive combination of tax credits, Green Jobs programs, and the establishment of 250 Math, Science, and Innovation Academies throughout the country.
A highly skilled, well-paid workforce is central to sustained job growth and a healthy economy. Our country must establish a strong foundation of improved education and a workforce development system that's streamlined and targeted to the needs of the 21st century economy. We will make this happen through tax credits that offer incentives for good-paying jobs in all sectors and regions of the country, including manufacturing and rural areas.
Nevada, with its wind, its sun and its wide open spaces, has the potential to be one of the nation’s leading producers of renewable energy – wind, solar, geothermal. That means good jobs that can’t be outsourced, it means reduced dependence on foreign oil and lower energy costs, and it means a cleaner environment. We’ve already started building in New Mexico, and as President, my plan for renewable energy will have tremendous economic benefits to Nevada and the rest of the country.
<b>Mitt Romney</b>
All Americans enjoy a vastly improved standard of living thanks to the dynamic power of our economy. Most now have cell phones in their pockets and Internet-connected computers in their homes. Medical advances have provided drugs and procedures that save lives and allow for better treatment of chronic ailments. The American people do face challenges, but all benefit from an expanding economy. The best way to help Nevada, and the rest of the country, is to implement pro-growth policies that will help the economy to grow faster.
First, I will cut taxes. Keeping taxes low is crucial to the health of our economy, which is why I have pledged not to raise taxes. I will make the Bush tax cuts permanent, abolish the Death Tax, and bring down marginal tax rates. I will implement a middle class savings plan, which eliminates all taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains for middle class Americans. People should be able to save their money tax-free. I also believe that we need to lower our corporate tax rate if American companies are to remain competitive in the global economy.
Second, I will promote free trade. Protectionism might feel good for a few years, but it would virtually guarantee a decline to a second-tier economy in the near future, with a second-class standard of living. I will keep trade barriers low and insist that Congress give me the "Trade Promotion Authority" they are currently denying President Bush, so that I can work to establish new free trade agreements with our partners. I will also make sure that free trade is a two-way street, so that foreign markets remain open to our goods and services and respect the intellectual property rights of our companies.
Third, I will make it easier for American companies to compete in the global economy. Above, I mentioned the need to bring corporate taxes in line with the rest of the world. We must reform the excessive regulatory burden on our companies – things like the Sarbanes-Oxley internal control requirements, which impose millions of dollars of costs on any company that wants to be publicly traded. I will reinstitute a regulatory relief board to cut back on the regulations that choke off growth. We need comprehensive federal tort reform to prevent frivolous and excessive tort claims which hurt our economy and drive up prices. And we must strengthen our own work force by giving our children a better education, especially in math and science, and by attracting the best and the brightest from around the world through legal immigration.
