Legislative Principles

1. Businesses that demonstrate a verifiable commitment to long-term sustainability and worker dignity should be identified and targeted for tax breaks and other fiscal incentives.
2. State government should work with educational institutions and businesses to identify future higher paid occupations and prepare Oregonians for those positions.
3. Higher education and community college systems should help small business be successful.
4. Government should support a quality higher education system to produce the scientists, engineers, and other highly qualified individuals that can fill the higher paying jobs that new technologies will produce.
5. Tax breaks, incentives and exceptions to land use regulations should not be given to businesses that pay low wages, have poor benefit packages, or damage the environment.
6. We support regulation of the credit card and payday loan industries so that vulnerable citizens are not exploited.

Action Items (Principle #3 only)

3. Higher education and community college systems should help small business be successful.
   
   1. Provide technical assistance on business planning, marketing, and financial management
   2. Train workers to be ready to meet new demands of an ever changing and demanding international economy.
   3. Identify and guide entrepreneurs toward market niches that provide living wage jobs.