The Economy & Small Business

Over the course of the Bush administration, a handful of Americans have prospered while the middle class has suffered. Too many hardworking families are struggling to make ends meet and are frustrated with the direction of the country. Quality of life is declining for too many Americans. We must turn back the failed policies of the Bush administration and grow our economy in a way that promotes opportunity and keeps the promise of the American dream alive for all hard-working Americans.

Over the past eight years, the current administration has taken our national economy from a record-high surplus to an unprecedented deficit of $490 billion. Our government owes $9.6 trillion in debt, a quarter of which is owned by foreign countries. Every year, more and more American money leaves our borders and goes to countries which do not share our love of democracy and freedom. Companies are outsourcing more and more jobs from our citizens to foreign countries. For the past few years, China and India have been growing their middle classes while ours is left holding the bill.

As our families struggle to meet rising food and fuel prices in this recession, more money goes to the failed war in Iraq. Big oil companies continue to rake in record profits while our families cannot afford the cost of gas. Home foreclosures hit America’s families everyday. The bottom line is that this administration has neglected opportunities to promote economic growth and to help our businesses compete. John Adler understands that we have to reorganize our federal government’s spending priorities. For far too long, the priorities of Baghdad have trumped those of Burlington, Camden, and Ocean Counties.

It is time for us to make life more affordable for the middle class and restore the health of the economy for us and our children. As your Congressman, John Adler will lead the charge in helping to move us out of this recession. John Adler will fight to:

• Provide targeted tax cuts for the middle class and expand affordable healthcare, to help them weather this difficult time and provide a desperately needed boost to our economy
• Invest domestically in alternative energy solutions, which will provide our citizens with jobs well into the future and end our dependence on foreign oil
• Support increased higher education funding and enhanced educational opportunities in science and math to help prepare the next generation for the competitive demands of the 21^st Century
• Support trade agreements that further America’s economic interests and include sensible labor and environmental standards to protect our workers and our planet
• Boost unemployment assistance and expand job training for displaced workers to help the unemployed get back on their feet and equip them to obtain stable, good-paying jobs.

Although the last several years have marked a low point for our nation, the promise and potential of our great land endures. The middle class is the backbone of our society. John Adler will fight to help it prosper.