It starts with jobs

Even those who are lucky enough to have work have been playing against a stacked deck. Too many haven’t had a wage increase in more than 10 years, yet it was their hard work and investments in our country that bailed out those who recklessly tanked our economy. Big corporations and Wall Street banks are thriving again. Last year, they made more than $1.6 trillion in profits, the largest margin since the Commerce Department started tracking corporate profits more than 60 years ago.  

This disparity in the greatest country in the world is unacceptable. We must come together to make this economy work for all Americans. Republicans, Democrats, Indepedents, business and labor must unite to create jobs that will help rebuild the middle class. Not just any jobs, but good jobs that can support a family, plan for a secure retirement and create a better future for our children.

There is no greater investment in this country than getting Americans back to work. We must implement bold new incentives for corporations to start hiring, including tax credits for those employers that make it a priority. And just as we reward corporations who do right, we must penalize those who do not. Taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize profitable corporations that rely on eliminating jobs or sending them overseas.  

We also need a renewed commitment to strengthening our nation’s crumbling infrastructure to create new jobs, stimulate state and local economies and increase tax revenues. That means working to expand investments in projects that increase our energy efficiency, protect our environment and ensure America leads the way in creating a 21st century economy. These initiatives will create jobs for today and even more in the future. 

Fixing our broken immigration system – to meet the needs of the country, immigrant workers and the demands of globalization – must also be a priority. The need for reform is urgent, not just for immigrants, but for all of us. Until it’s a reality, our flawed immigration system will continue to drag our economy downward.

The demands of the American people couldn’t be clearer – it’s time to get to work on building a more fair economy that rewards work and puts more money in people’s pockets. The most effective way to build sustained economic growth and to reduce the deficit is by investing in America and rebuilding the middle class.

Throughout our history, we’ve overcome great challenges by pulling together and working as one nation to put our country and the dreams of our children first. In that tradition, we challenge lawmakers to put aside the partisan squabbling, roll up their sleeves and put America back to work. The stakes are too high and the consequences are too great to wait.