My Platform:  Work to create a statewide minimum wage of $11.50 per hour, consistent with the recently enacted requirements of Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and the District of Columbia.  Offset the added cost to business by reducing the corporate tax rate. Pay for this by raising income and estate tax rates on our more affluent citizens, so that the net effect of increased business wage expenses, reduced business taxes, and more progressive personal and estate taxation would be to shift state resources toward our most economically vulnerable residents. Offset increased business wage expenses with reduced business taxes.

 

My Experience:  As a successful businessman and economic development official, I would offer decades of national experience to advance the cause of an increased minimum wage and to combat the arguments of legislative opponents who falsely claim that raising the wage will hurt our state’s employers.

 

I can therefore be a leader of legislative efforts in Annapolis to advocate for a higher minimum wage.