WV-GOV Democratic primary candidates on jobs

by: Clem Guttata

Mon Mar 21, 2011 at 09:43:39 AM EDT

What do the 5 major Democratic primary candidates running for WV Governor have to say about jobs on their campaign websites?

Jeff Kessler

Drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus shale has already created 3,000 new jobs, and economists predict tens of thousands more jobs can be created in our state. As Governor, I will be committed to ensuring that West Virginians will have the training and skills to be hired in those positions.

Further, I am committed to making sure West Virginia benefits for providing the nation with such abundant resources. Specifically, I am proposing the West Virginia Future Fund, a 25% endowment fund on the severance tax collected from natural gas so that money can be saved and invested in West Virginia's future. This endowment money can be used to ensure that by 2020 West Virginia's education system is the best in the nation. Additionally, our Future Fund will permit us to diversify our economy and permit us to provide tax relief to our citizens and business.

Creating jobs and boosting economic development have also been cornerstones of my legislative agenda. I sponsored the Economic Development Grant Committee and tax increment financing legislation that led to the Cabelas project in Wheeling, Power Alley Park in Charleston, Pullman Square in Huntington, new schools in the eastern Panhandle, and the Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute in Morgantown. I also helped draft West Virginia's medical malpractice law and Workers Compensation reform legislation.

John D. Perdue

Small businesses are struggling because the big banks and Wall Street have choked off credit to small businesses. I will propose creating a Small Business Bank and seeding it with $50 million from the state and a similar amount through inducing private institutions and investors to participate. The bank should be managed by an independent board of experienced professionals who are insulated from political influence. This bank can be a job creating engine for West Virginia.

West Virginia has the ability to reap more than $6 billion from the Marcellus Shale. I support a plan to return a portion of those proceeds directly to state taxpayers either through a tax break or a dividend check similar to what is done in Alaska

Natalie Tennant

We will tear down the rules of the old economy and build the strongest, smartest infrastructure possible for the new economy of West Virginia. We don't have to do things the same old way. West Virginians deserve better. When I became Secretary of State, I didn't just settle for seeing things done the same old, wrong way. I saw that our businesses were struggling so I cut the unnecessary red tape to make it easier for small business owners to do what they do best - make money and create jobs.

• We will get our people back to work in jobs with dignity and a good wage. I will fight every day to make sure West Virginia is the best place in the country to do business whether you're a small business or a large manufacturer. We have the best workers from Marion County, to McDowell, to Morgan County and they deserve the best jobs.

• We will be aggressive in moving our economy forward by investing in biosciences, research and development, innovation for long-term technological advancement.

• We will expand Internet broadband access to all corners of West Virginia, using the federal stimulus funds that have already been allocated for this effort.  Empowering our businesses to use the Internet is critical to West Virginia leading in the 21st Century economy.

• We will continue our commitment to an energy-based economy and our coal and natural gas industries. We will also look to innovation to keep our economy moving forward by investing in clean coal technologies and other alternative energy sources.

• We will ensure our small businesses stay in the business of doing business by opening up lines of credit, cutting red tape and training our entrepreneurs to use technology to spur new ideas and grow their business.

• We will reignite our tourism efforts through new branding of West Virginia.  We can bring more vacationers to West Virginia and create jobs.

The largest division Tennant oversees as Secretary of State is business and licensing. The work she does there is vital to the economy of West Virginia and literally keeps businesses running. As a small business owner herself, Tennant knows the importance of ensuring that business in West Virginia thrives. Tennant has made efficiency, access, and cutting red tape hallmarks of her tenure as Secretary. In 2010, as the result of Tennant's commitment to making the Secretary of State's Office more business friendly, the number of online filings nearly doubled to more than 16,000.

Rick Thompson

West Virginia businesses need a level playing field on which to compete. That's why Rick Thompson led the fight to cut $235 million from business taxes over the last five years. As Governor, he'll continue to roll back taxes that put West Virginia companies at an economic disadvantage to their competitors in other states.

Experts agree that Fortune 500 companies will not create the majority of new jobs, but rather, small to mid sized businesses. As Governor, Rick will refocus our economic development on supporting the expansion of existing West Virginia businesses, as well as attracting high tech, high wage jobs in the energy and technology sectors.

In the past, West Virginia industries competed for business with other companies within our region. Today, they compete with businesses and industries around the globe. As Governor, Rick will propose the creation of a West Virginia World Trade Center to help West Virginia businesses expand operations internationally and increase import/export potential. Such a center could provide one-stop shopping for international trade, particularly in the mining and energy sectors, within our state.

Tax rebates and other incentives are powerful tools for attracting and expanding businesses, and West Virginia already has many such programs. As Governor, Rick will begin a top to bottom assessment of these economic incentives to determine which programs are working and which are not. In addition, he'll make sure such incentives are linked to performance standards, so that if companies don't deliver, they'll be required to repay the incentive amount fronted by West Virginia taxpayers.

One of the first actions taken up by the new House was abolishing the business franchise tax by responsibly phasing it out, which Thompson had always viewed as unfair.  At the same time, he ended an anti-worker trend, which had developed in the previous years.  By all accounts, the House of Delegates changed from a place of bickering where legislation went to die, to a body that shaped policy and set a direction.

Today, Rick Thompson is running for Governor.  He doesn't need a job, and he would rather spend his Saturday mornings bow-hunting than giving speeches.  (When he does give a speech, he's often asked to follow it with his guitar and a song.)  Those who work in the Capital know that Rick Thompson lacks the ego and the desire for power, too often present in politics today.  His vision for the office is one of responsibility and service.  More than anyone else, Speaker Thompson has dealt with the diverse and often-competing agendas brought to Charleston from across the state and has proven that he can find a balance and build consensus.

Thompson says, "There's a mindset to hold on to what you have instead of moving forward, and someone needs to break that thinking and set an agenda."  His agenda is straightforward - forming a vision for what West Virginia will look like fifty years in the future, from the state's education system to its industry and infrastructure.   "We've been coal, and though there's plenty of it left, there is plenty more to West Virginia.  We have the location, the resources, and the people.  If we can look beyond coal and put politics aside, we will be uniquely positioned as an epicenter for America's future growth and opportunity."

Earl Ray Tomblin

We can accomplish great things in West Virginia. The building blocks are in place for unprecedented prosperity and job growth. I believe we can make changes in our government that will help the private sector to create jobs.

I have spent my entire public life making government a partner with the private sector to attract new industry to West Virginia, and building bridges between business and labor to create jobs. As Governor, I'll make jobs my number one priority. I will go anywhere, do anything, and spend every waking moment focused on expanding the number of good jobs for the people of our State.

We have a natural advantage here in West Virginia - we have the hardest working, most dedicated workforce in the world. Now is our time.  

Now is our time to promote West Virginia as a great place to do business.  Companies like Toyota, Hino, Coldwater Creek, and Macy's believe in West Virginia. And if we believe in ourselves, it's just the tip of the iceberg.  Now is our time to make sure that government does not throttle job creation - but instead enables it.   As Governor, I'll fight for lower taxes, fair and reasonable regulation, and schools that are second to none in preparing our children to compete and win in the world economy.

If we keep our focus - on jobs - everything else will fall into place.

I go to work every day thinking about how to create jobs, ready to fight for opportunities for you and your family. Is there something else we should be doing to create jobs? Let me know - I won't leave a single stone unturned.

Growing up, Earl Ray sold eggs and rabbits, bussed tables, and mowed lawns. He went to WVU, and was elected the youngest member of the State House of Delegates. He bought a local restaurant, worked nights until closing, helped on the family farm in the morning and spent days as a legislator for Logan County.  

No wonder Earl Ray understands the importance of good paying jobs and encouraging private sector growth. That's what his whole life has been about.

As a public servant he has made government a partner with the private sector to attract new jobs and industry to West Virginia.