Jobs and the Economy

By Marjorie Margolies

Successful economic policy balances investing in the future and protecting the jobs of today. Marjorie's constant focus in Washington will be bringing good jobs to our district, the Philadelphia region, and to the country as a whole.In Congress, Marjorie will also fight to raise the minimum wage and strengthen workplace equality.

Growing and supporting good jobs is my #1 priority. We need to invest in the future of the economy--biotech, nanotechnology, and transportation, support infrastructure improvements, and ensure a fair day's work is rewarded with a fair wage.

1. Invest in the future of the Philadelphia-area economy--Politicians like to talk about driving innovation to our region, but often fall short on specifics. The Philadelphia region is prime to become an innovation hub in certain sectors like Silicon Valley in California or Austin, Texas. Advantages such as world-renowned research institutions, close proximity to much of the nation's population and capital, and a strong workforce make the Philadelphia region prime to become an increased economic driver with the right investments in public-private partnerships. a. Biotech and pharmaceuticals--While the Affordable Care Act will have the obvious impact of creating greater healthcare access, it will also support research on medicines and treatments. With some of the largest research institutions and pharmaceutical developers in and around the 13th District, I'll work to bring enhanced partnerships between governments, non-profits, and businesses to foster a healthy region--and a healthy economy. b. Nanotechnology--Perhaps no sector in the fields of science and engineering will be more vital in the next 50 years than nanotechnology, and few regions are as poised to become the hub for that technology as Greater Philadelphia. Nanotechnology--or engineering at the atomic level--has unrealized applications for medical advances to creating new sources of energy. With such pioneering potential in the field, we will need advocates to help advance these causes and create the tech corridor of tomorrow here in the Philadelphia region. c. Logistics and transportation--With over 40% of the US Population living within a one day's drive of the 13th District, we can not only develop new products--we can help bring them to market. Additionally, upon completion of the Delaware River dredging project, Philadelphia will be one of only three ports on the Eastern Seaboard prepared to accept new, larger ships from the widened Panama Canal in 2015. We must continue to invest in the underlying infrastructure and complete the dredging process--which is expected to bring 8,000-12,000 additional jobs and untold economic generation to our region. As a leading regional hub, we will also be in position to export more "Made in America" goods as our manufacturing sector rebounds.

2. Infrastructure Investment-- While the economic impacts of the construction jobs that infrastructure improvements create are critical, there are real and lasting impacts these projects could have if done with an eye toward tomorrow. a. Bring the current roads and bridges up to code--With over 4,000 structurally deficient bridges in Pennsylvania, our immediate concern must be working with PennDOT and local municipalities to improve the safety of these structures. In critical situations like these, local, state, and federal officials must collaborate for crucial, and creative, investments. b. Improve public transit--If you live in the 13th District, chances are you have sat in traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway at least once--and probably many more times. With limited capability to expand roads, public transit can provide greater, reliable access in and around the 13th District. I would fully support a SEPTA plan with community approval to bring rail to King of Prussia, an area which employs over 25,000 people in and around the mall, and sees nearly 27 million visitors a year to the mall and Valley Forge Park. c. Increase tourism infrastructure--With 85,000 jobs and nearly $9 billion in economic impact from tourism each year, the Philadelphia area must continue to grow its capacity for--and draw from--tourism. This includes public-private partnerships in high tourism areas, and forward thinking infrastructure projects--such as decking I-95 at Penn's Landing to create a tourist district, connecting Old City to the Delaware.

3. Increase fair day's pay--Growing our economy has little impact if it doesn't assist in growing the middle class. I support the following efforts to ensure our working and middle classes are treated with fairness by fostering an economy that works for all of us. a. Level the playing field--I will support any and all legislation which strengthens the ability of men and women to be treated as equals in the workplace. b. Increase the Minimum Wage and index it to cost of living--I believe we should increase the federal minimum wage, but I also believe we need to index it to cost of living, rather than waiting to have the votes in Congress. Prior to the 2006 Congressional elections, Americans had to wait far too long for an increase in the minimum wage. I'd like to remove the politics and create a federal minimum wage that increases routinely depending on our GDP. c. Tax relief for the middle class--Our nation's middle class is the driver of our economy. As such, I'll fight to reduce the tax burden on middle and working class families while simplifying the tax code. I'll support closing loopholes for off-shore accounts and ensure greater fairness in how we tax businesses.

4. Grow our small businesses--Small businesses are the backbone of a strong economy. We need to increase capital to our small businesses and give them opportunities to grow. a. Incentivize lending--While the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 made many strides to grow lending opportunities for small businesses, there is room to continue growth. Through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative, we have already seen nearly $2 billion of supported loans and investments go to 4,600 U.S. small businesses, 80% of which have less than 10 employees. Through this program, an estimated 53,000 jobs have been saved or created. Through more investment, we can continue to grow these opportunities and expand entrepreneurship in and around the 13th District. b. Increase government contracts--The Federal government's investment in small business must begin with its own backyard--ensuring small businesses have a fair chance to bid and compete for government contracts. c. Incubate Entrepreneurship--According to a 2009 Bureau of Labor Statistics Report, nearly 1 in 9 Americans is self-employed, including 5.2 million women entrepreneurs. So often, self-employment is the foundation of future small businesses which expand and bolster our economy. We must continue to support opportunities for education, training, and legal services for budding entrepreneurs, as well as grow the percentage of women, minority, and veteran owned businesses, both in the district and throughout the country.

5. Investing in a competitive workforce--A vibrant economy needs the engine behind it--it's workforce--firing on all cylinders. To adequately prepare our current labor force and our future workers, I believe the following investments are necessary: a. Increase STEM education--To meet the growing need of tomorrow's workforce, we need greater resources allotted toward Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for our students. Additionally, as many of these graduates will be the business leaders of tomorrow, we must grow participation in STEM education from a more diverse background of individuals. b. Renew our manufacturing prowess--American manufacturing is far from dead--we're now in the position to rebound. Congress must continue to advocate for fair trade laws that give American companies the ability to compete for manufacturing dollars in the global economy. c. Increase career and technical training education--While the innovation economy may drive the jobs of tomorrow, we will need the well-trained service and trade employees to keep the economic engine running. For those high school students not destined for college, we must provide the toolset to grow competence in the trades for tomorrow's workforce. d. Fully fund our public schools--Governor Corbett has continually cut public education funding from Pennsylvania's public schools with no vision for an improved system. Much of the plan contained in the document above requires an educated workforce--and that requires investment. That begins with Pre-K education, smaller class sizes, and good teachers. We must give our schools the resources they need to improve today, and our economy tomorrow.