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Mike Huckabee on Jobs

Republican AR Governor


3 million jobs left since 2001, but not due to trade

While we have lost over 3 million manufacturing jobs since the 2001 recession, estimates of those lost because of globalization range from 12% to 33%, so most have disappeared for other reasons. Moreover, the reemployment experience of workers who lost their manufacturing jobs because of trade is no different from those whose job loss had nothing to do with trade. Outcomes in finding new jobs at equivalent wages depended heavily on the business cycle & other factors, such as education levels. Those who are better educated do the best in finding equivalent or even better-paying jobs. Those who are older and less skilled are more likely to end up in lower-paying jobs. The unemployment rate for high school dropouts tends to be 4 times higher than that of college graduates.

One solution obviously is to prepare our children and grandchildren for the work world of the 21st century, and we must do that. As governor, I set up back-to-basics programs in math and reading that improved test scores dramatically

Source: Do The Right Thing, by Mike Huckabee, p.131-132 , Nov 18, 2008

Continue farm subsidies for low prices & competitiveness

We take for granted that our food is not only plentiful and diverse but also inexpensive. As a percentage of income, we spend about half of what people in other developed countries do, which gives us an enormous economic advantage. We have so much more money to spend on discretionary items. Part of the reason process are low is that subsidies keep production at high levels, so keeping American farmers in business is not just good for them but for all of us.

What can government do to help our farmers? We must continue subsidies because our farmers compete with highly subsidized farmers in Europe and Asia, and they face fixed costs (land, equipment, seed, supplies) whether or not they produce a crop. Subsidies insulate farmers from natural disasters like droughts, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes, as well as from sudden spikes in the price of fuel, feed, and fertilizer.

Source: Do The Right Thing, by Mike Huckabee, p.209 , Nov 18, 2008

No class warfare: talk to both rich & poor

Q: You are talking somewhat less about faith here in New Hampshire and more about economic populism, looking out for the little guy. Some conservative critics say this sounds like Democratic class warfare.

A: Not at all. It is not class warfare. Look, I’m not about wanting to make rich people poor. I just would like to see that poor people have a chance to get rich. If we have an economic system that ignores the fact that $3-a-gallon gasoline really does hurt a working class family, health care costs going up double digits, really affects people’s lifestyle--we’ve got people who, when asked how’s the economy doing--they just say, “It’s just doing terrific.” The macro economy is doing great. You can take a look at the stock market, and it looks great. But translate that down to the factory worker who loses his job, take that down to the single parent for whom every day is a struggle to keep food on the table, and our party had better be talking to those people, because there’s a whole lot of them.

Source: 2008 Fox News interview: “Choosing the President” series , Jan 6, 2008

Excessive taxes, red tape, and litigation cause job losses

When you have excessive taxation that penalizes the productivity of a company; you add to that excessive regulation, which means that you’ve got more red tape than is possible to get through. As president I can part the red tape. We’ve got too much litigation. When a company goes into business, particularly small business, from which 80 percent of all American jobs come, most small business people can’t fight off the potential liabilities that they come from all of the lawsuits and litigation.
Source: 2007 Des Moines Register Republican Debate , Dec 12, 2007

Unions more prominent to fight high CEO salaries

Q: Are unions good for America?

A: The real fact is, unions are going to take a more prominent role in the future for one simple reason: A lot of American workers are finding that their wages continue to get strapped lower and lower while CEO salaries are higher and higher. And the reality is that when you have the average CEO salary 500 times the average worker, and you have the hedge fund manager making 2,200 times that of the average worker, you’re going to create a level of discontent that’s going to create a huge appetite for unions. So unions are the natural result of workers finally saying, “Look, I can’t go from a $70,000-a-year job to a $15,000-a-year job and feed by family of four.” That’s when unions are going to come back in roaring form.

Source: 2007 Republican debate in Dearborn, Michigan , Oct 9, 2007

Blacks still face racism & unequal opportunity in job market

Q: In 2006, the unemployment rate of Black high school graduates was 33% higher than the unemployment rate for white high school drop outs. What do you think accounts for that inequity?

A: Part of that is it is that there is still racism in this country, & the opportunities aren’t the same. Some of it has to do with the fact that there are people who unfortunately still look at a person’s face & their skin, and that’s something that government can’t change, but leadership certainly can speak to. One of the things all of us need to be aware of is that there isn’t an equal opportunity for every American yet. There just isn’t. We could say there is, but it’s not true. And the reason answer is to make sure that there are not only educational opportunities that bring equality, employment opportunities that ensure that people have the same chances as anybody else.

Source: 2007 GOP Presidential Forum at Morgan State University , Sep 27, 2007

No “sexual orientation” in Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Q: I own a motion picture film lab that came under fire by the Arlington Human Rights Commission because I refused to duplicate objectionable pro-homosexual material. Would you protect business owners like me from being forced to violate our moral conscience by vetoing the so-called “Employment Non-Discrimination Act” that would add the phrase “sexual orientation” into federal law?
Source: [Xref Keyes] 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate , Sep 17, 2007

Supports farm subsidies & fully-funded crop insurance

Source: Campaign website, www.mikehuckabee.com, “Issues” , Sep 1, 2007

More R&D & tax incentives for small farmers.

Huckabee co-sponsored the Southern Governors' Association resolution:

Source: Resolution of Southern Governor's Assn. on 2002 Farm Bill 01-SGA5 on Sep 9, 2001

Repeal the federal unemployment "temporary surtax".

Huckabee signed the Southern Governors' Association resolution:

Source: Resolution of Southern Governor's Assn. on FUTA 01-SGA7 on Feb 27, 2001

Other candidates on Jobs: Mike Huckabee on other issues:
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Page last updated: Feb 24, 2012