Jobs and Fair Wages

Summary:

I. Introduction

II. Raise the Minimum Wage

III. Paid Family and Medical Leave

IV. Ensure Universal Childcare/Pre-K

V. Help With Transportation

VI. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

VII. Gig Workers and Protecting the Right to Organize

VIII. Help Those With Past Convictions

IX. Eliminate Taxes on Tips for Service Workers

X. GI Bill for Starting a Business 

I grew up under a single mother working three jobs just to make ends meet. I know what it’s like to struggle. My wife and I are struggling now as well. Between my job as a 5th-grade teacher and hers as a housekeeper, we know the pain and stress of living paycheck to paycheck.

(As I write this, January 2025)

Last week, our cat got a UTI that cost us $3.5K. It drained us. Yesterday, our car broke down, and we were told it’s going to cost $2.2K. As I sit here and write this, I have no idea where the money is going to come from to get it fixed. She’ll have to work just to afford getting to work!

I know we’re not alone, and millions of Americans are in even tougher situations. I want to fight for you! I want to fight for us.

In the 1970s, a single blue-collar job was often enough to support an entire family, cover the mortgage, and still leave room for an annual family vacation. Now, even with two earners per household, families still live in fear of the engine light coming on. It’s time to save the American worker. This is how I’ll fight for you:

II. Raise the Minimum Wage:

Right now, the federal minimum wage still sits at $7.25/hr, while Virginia’s is $12.41. Yet, the minimum livable wage is $24/hr. The livable minimum wage is defined as the minimum income needed to cover housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and childcare without falling into poverty.

I propose a federal and state minimum wage of at least $18/hr in the near term with a goal to increase that to $24/hour over the next five years. To offset the problems this could cause small businesses, this policy would be funded through a tax on blue-chip companies like Amazon, which pay virtually no taxes through clever loopholes while bankrupting small businesses. I want to support small businesses by giving them tax breaks and grants. See my Tax Policy that shows how we can accomplish this. We will NOT hurt small businesses! Quite the opposite. We will do everything possible for small businesses. Supporting small business is one of my four primary initiatives for A New New Deal. 

III. Paid Family and Medical Leave

No one should have to choose between earning a paycheck and caring for their loved ones. In the United States, workers are guaranteed zero weeks of paid family leave, while countries like Germany and Sweden offer up to 14 months. It’s time for America to catch up and support working families. I support a national policy providing at least 12 weeks of paid family leave for all workers. Whether it’s welcoming a new child, caring for an aging parent, or managing a personal health crisis, families deserve the time and support to handle life’s most important moments.

Paid family leave is a force multiplier—it strengthens families, increases productivity, and drives economic growth. Every dollar invested returns $2.50 to the economy through stronger communities and healthier households. But small businesses must be protected. This can be achieved through measures similar to those in the CARES Act, such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), and Employee Retention Credit (ERC).

IV. Ensure Universal Childcare/Pre-K

Every family in America should have guaranteed access to free, high-quality, publicly funded childcare and pre-kindergarten. Parents who choose to stay home to raise their children would receive direct monthly support through an expanded Child Tax Credit, recognizing unpaid caregiving as vital work. Cooperative childcare models owned and managed by parents and workers would be prioritized for federal grants, ensuring local control and democratic decision-making.

V. Help With Transportation

In every community, there are people who are willing and able to work but remain unemployed or underemployed simply because they lack reliable transportation. My wife and I went through this ourselves in January '25. At the same time, countless vehicles sit unused in driveways and backyards, often sidelined by manageable repair issues that owners can’t justify fixing. A smart, hybrid solution would allow residents to donate or lease these idle cars to the city based on a cost-benefit analysis—vehicles with lower repair costs and higher long-term value could be temporarily leased under a "loaned car" agreement, while others are permanently donated. The city would cover repairs through partnerships with trade schools or local mechanics and lend the vehicles for six months to jobseekers who need a way to commute to new or existing employment. After six months, cars return to city ownership to serve new participants or be sold to recover costs, creating a sustainable cycle. This model not only reduces waste and improves economic mobility but also builds a shared sense of community investment in solving the transportation gap.

VI. Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

I want to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which will effectively boost take-home pay at zero cost to small businesses. EITC expansions often lead to increased spending in local economies, as workers have more money to cover both essentials and discretionary items. This creates a ripple effect that benefits small businesses.

VII. Gig Workers and Protecting the Right to Organize:

As someone who has personally experienced the inequality of working in the gig economy, I am a strong advocate for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Gig workers are among the most vulnerable yet valuable members of our workforce. They are not relying on welfare; rather, they are actively trying to enter and contribute to the job market, often with limited resources or protections. Despite their vital role in our economy, they are excluded from basic benefits like paid leave, health coverage, and job security. These workers deserve the opportunity to build stable careers. The PRO Act is critical to ensuring they receive the rights and protections they have been denied, helping them thrive while strengthening our economy as a whole.

I am committed to fighting for stronger protections for workers and firmly support the PRO Act, which will empower workers to have a greater voice in their working conditions—without fear of retaliation or discrimination. We must raise the bar for “just cause” protections, ensuring that workers are not subject to arbitrary or retaliatory terminations. No worker should lose their job without a fair and legitimate reason. By strengthening these protections, we can create a more equitable and just workplace for all.

VIII. Help Those With Past Convictions: 

We must do more to re-employ the millions of Americans excluded from the labor market due to a past conviction. Everyone deserves a second chance to contribute to their communities and provide for their families. Addressing this issue could unlock up to $65 billion in annual economic productivity, providing a critical boost to families, businesses, and our nation as a whole. To achieve this, stronger incentives for businesses to hire individuals with criminal records are essential, along with workforce training programs that prepare individuals for meaningful employment. Policies like the Second Chance Act are instrumental in breaking down barriers and creating pathways to opportunity. 

Also, see my Jobs for Those with a Criminal Record for a new initiative I envision to help those with past convictions. 

IX. Eliminate Taxes on Tips for Service Workers: 

Service workers play an essential yet often undervalued role in our economy—making sure our meals, experiences, and daily routines run smoothly. Despite their importance, many rely on tips just to make ends meet, and after taxes, those earnings can be so diminished it’s hardly worth showing up for work. We must eliminate taxes on tips for service workers. This is a rare issue that garners support from both sides of the political spectrum and should be enacted without delay.

X. GI Bill for Starting a Business 

I propose a new option within the GI Bill that would permit veterans and their dependents to apply their benefits toward business creation and entrepreneurship instead of only formal education. This expansion would recognize that education comes in many forms, including real-world experience through business ownership. It would empower veterans to build lasting economic opportunities for themselves and their communities while fostering innovation and job creation.