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Capps M.I.A. on the Economy

Friday, November 2, 2012
By Abel Maldonado, Santa Maria

The Santa Barbara Independent recently wrote, “It’s urgent that Capps — a strong vote in support of the environment, education, health care, and equal rights — be reelected.”

As has been the case throughout this entire campaign, the one issue that was missing from the conversation and the rationale to re-elect Lois Capps was anything about jobs and the economy.

What she has said about the economy in this campaign is the out-of-touch statement that “We are doing much better” than we were four years ago.

Let’s look at the facts:

• California’s unemployment rate of 10.2% is the third highest in the nation.

• $5.5 trillion has been added to our national debt since 2009 - that’s a $16,000 increase in your share of the national debt since 2009.

• More than 46 million Americans are living in poverty – that’s a record high.

• Median household income has declined by more than $4,000 since 2009.

• 1,035,000 construction jobs lost since 2009.

• The cost of family health care premiums has increased by $3,065 since 2009.

• More than 1 million seniors are jobless and have been unemployed for more than six months.

• 283,000 jobs have been lost by women since 2009.

All-the-while, Lois Capps voted for the largest tax increase in history that will hit 5 million middle-class Americans.

Make no mistake about it – this election is about one thing: creating jobs.

Given that, can anyone tell the people of the 24th Congressional District what exactly Lois Capps will do to create jobs and strengthen our economy?

Where’s her plan? Where are her ideas? How is she communicating them?

On the most important issue facing our nation, Lois Capps has been M.I.A.

No matter what people want to say about this campaign - at the end of the day - the one thing they cannot say is that I did not offer up specific ideas on how to get the economy moving forward again. I have outlined eight specific policy initiatives I will introduce and fight with all my heart to pass should I be fortunate enough to represent you in the Congress next year.

I believe we need to repeal the dangerous cuts to defense that Lois Capps helped put in place. I believe we need to provide meaningful tax relief for small businesses, which Lois Capps opposed. I believe we need to repeal the tax on medical devices that threaten local enterprises like Hardy Diagnostics in Santa Maria. That’s the same tax that Lois Capps helped write. I believe we need certainty and consistency in the tax code so job creators can plan for the future. Lois Capps thinks we need more regulations from Washington bureaucrats. I think we need to get Washington out of the way. Which way works better? The choice is up to you.

Abel Maldonado is a 24th Congressional District candidate

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