Issues

Working Families

I have owned multiple small businesses over the years, including several fishing boats and medical practices. I understand the stresses small business owners face to be good employers while providing excellent customer service and still maintaining a profitable bottom line. 

I will fight for working Alaskans and Alaskan small business owners. I know first-hand how hard most people work to earn the money that puts food on their family’s table. Everyone deserves to be paid what their labor is worth. 

Alaska needs to promote jobs with a livable wage, quality benefits, and safe working conditions. Labor unions facilitate all three of those goals.

I am a fierce advocate for organized labor and working families. I oppose any legislation that works to weaken unions and working families and will begin working immediately to shore up and strengthen our struggling pension system.

The cost of health care is most often the largest share of overhead for Alaskan businesses.  This is one of the primary reasons I am running for Congress and – with my background as a physician – I will work hard to reduce health care costs in order to create a prosperous economy that directly benefits Alaskan business owners and working families.

Human capital is key to a vibrant economy and growth in the small business community. Further, economists have shown that education and diversity (melting pot) are among the most important factors in growth rates for small businesses. I strongly support investments in these areas, as noted in my Jobs Plan and elsewhere in my platform.