Voters around Central New York are making the economy a top issue once again. Congressional Candidate John Katko Wednesday released a plan that he says would help create more jobs and help businesses do better. He’d propose a simpler tax code for businesses that would help them compete.
“We have the highest tax rates for businesses in the industrialized or developed world…in the world. To me, that’s crazy; how do you compete. What I’m hearing from businesses is no one is looking for some kind of perk. They’re looking for a level playing field. So you’ve got to lower the tax rates. And at the same time you have to close the loopholes so tax lawyers and accountants aren’t more important than people working second shift trying to feed their families.”
Another suggestion would aid people who are un- or under-employed.
“It’s not just for people down on their luck or without jobs, its people that had to make decisions based on family values, caring for the elderly or caring for their children. Those people when they reenter the work force are at a competitive disadvantage because maybe their skills aren’t as updated as they should be. Those people reentering the workforce need a little boost.”
He would try and create incentives for businesses to hire and train such workers, as well as offer flexible work schedules.
JOHN KATKO PROPOSES BUSINESS, TAX AND JOBS ASSISTANCE
Katko’s 7-point plan also includes tax credits to help manufacturers, especially with local innovation; decreased regulations on small businesses; reducing or forgiving student loans for some people; and a permanent tax credit for research that might lead to jobs.
The 24th District incumbent Dan Maffei also favors fewer regulations on small businesses inhis jobs agenda. He’d like to invest more in infrastructure to create thousands of jobs, while rebuilding the nation.
ISSUE OF CONTENTION...AND DECISION
Both campaigns are hearing that economic concerns will be a key deciding factor come Election Day. Katko says in his telephone town halls 80% of people are unsure of the economy. He criticizes Maffei for being weak in this area and losing support of the middle class he’s pledging to help. In return, campaign workers for Maffei say Katko had been silent on the issue of jobs for months. The further criticize the republicans plans as lacking specifics.
Jobless figures just released for August showed Syracuse dipping to 6.1% unemployment, a full percentage point better than the 7.1% of August 2013. But a report on actual jobs showed the region lost 3600 positions in over that same period.
