Elizabeth Dole

“ In the Senate, I strive to respect and uphold those traditions that have made our state great, while at the same time working towards a future that is more prosperous and more secure for every North Carolinian.
One of my top priorities is to ensure that international trade agreements are free and fair, so that our workers can remain competitive. If we open our markets to other countries, they must conduct business on a level playing field. ”

“ I also support health insurance reform that allows small business to join together to form Small Business Health Plans. Roughly 45 million Americans are uninsured, and approximately 60 percent reside in a family employed by a small business. Small business health insurance reform would allow these employees to obtain the same economies of scale, bargaining clout, and administrative efficiencies now available to employees in large corporations and union health plans. ”

“ In addition to an educated workforce, we’ve got to have a healthy workforce. But ever-rising health care costs are putting real financial strains on individual consumers and businesses that provide employee coverage. It is essential that we address the availability and affordability of health care. We must empower families to make health care decisions based on their specific needs and allow them greater choice over how their health care dollars are spent. And, we must work to improve transparency and efficiency to better meet consumers’ needs. ”

“ My Senate work is guided by this plan to foster a pro-business climate, in North Carolina and across the nation, that will create jobs and grow our economy – by reducing taxes and other regulatory burdens, by educating and training a highly-skilled workforce, by building and updating infrastructure, and by ensuring affordable, accessible energy and health care. ”

“ I am very sympathetic to a number of concerns about some free trade policies and proposals, but I also believe that fair trade agreements can provide many benefits for both businesses and consumers. After all, America represents less than five percent of the world’s potential consumers – so opening up foreign markets can and should give our companies much greater export opportunities for their goods. ”

“ Our nation faces an escalating crisis that threatens the very future of our world-renowned health care system. North Carolina is one of 17 states the American Medical Association has declared a state in crisis – meaning that each day more North Carolinians are losing access to critical care. Sky-rocketing medical liability insurance premiums are forcing physicians to abandon their practices, and the cost of defensive medicine, or the tests and treatments doctors perform to avoid lawsuits, is estimated between $70 billion and $126 billion a year. ”

“ In addition to fair trade policy, our businesses need a simple, fair and stable tax policy. Our future economic strength hinges on companies growing and creating new North Carolina opportunities and jobs, and there is no question that tax stability encourages companies to look ahead and make sound long-term business decisions. ”

“ In addition to bringing a little common-sense to our tax system, government must also be sensible when it comes to regulating businesses. We should be constantly evaluating the regulations imposed on business. ”

“ For the better part of the last century, our traditional industries of tobacco and textile and furniture manufacturing were the foundation of North Carolina’s prosperity. But in recent years, the forces of the global marketplace have triggered an economic transformation in our state. ”

“ As businesses in North Carolina become more and more globally competitive, our workforce must also be up to the challenge. Many of the lower skilled jobs are moving offshore and the new jobs that are being created require highly skilled workers. In fact, the Labor Department estimates that 80 percent of new jobs created over the next decade will require post-secondary education. ”

“ Another important tool for increasing coverage is expanding the use of Health Savings Accounts. HSAs provide Americans with greater control over their individual health care decisions, and strengthening these accounts will allow more people to save tax-free dollars to pay for their health care expenses.
Energy costs and accessibility also are a significant concern for businesses and consumers. In North Carolina, we have some of the finest energy companies in the world. ”

“ As energy prices go up, so do the costs for businesses. Two years ago, with my support, Congress passed the first comprehensive energy plan in over a decade, which has expanded energy development and conservation. ”

“ Additionally, we need to implement the broad use of health information technology. We are behind in this area. Health IT can reduce health care costs up to 20 percent per year – by saving time and reducing duplication and waste. For example, electronic medical records can help reduce errors, improve quality, and allow health providers to use critical information about patient care more effectively. ”

“ And as we rely on them more and more to produce North Carolina’s skilled workers, they must have the resources to meet the growing demand. In the Senate, I have introduced legislation to assist and strengthen our community colleges. My bill will help them better prepare students for the jobs of the 21st century. ”

“ And as we saw last week during the Administration’s talks with the Chinese delegation, China remains resistant to appreciating its currency value...and the patience of manufacturers and Congress has run out. China must take decisive action or face negative consequences. ”

“ While businesses need to have internal control procedures for financial reporting, having outside auditors certify these controls has proven to be excessively expensive. In fact, many businesses have informed me that this requirement costs more than 10 percent of their profits! ”