Working to protect our economy

“Every effort must be made to encourage our businesses and protect the great quality of life we have here. State government should ease business fees and restrictions that are discouraging a consumer-driven economy.”

We need to provide incentives to bring more jobs to Clark County. I will try to work with other legislators to make these incentives a reality so that our residents can work here, rather than drive across the river for employment.

As a business owner I have created jobs in the private sector. High taxes and fees contribute to our high unemployment rate. Employers simply are stretched to the max. In Olympia, I would propose to exempt the first $50,000 of B&O taxes to give businesses a better chance to succeed and create jobs.

Working to protect our pocketbooks

“I’m in this campaign because of high taxes. That’s why I’ve signed a NO NEW OR INCREASED TAX PLEDGE. Our tax dollars should be protected from runaway spending. My first priority will be to repeal the state’s portion of property taxes and return that function to the county level. That alone will save about 25% on your annual tax bill.”

Working to protect our health care

“True health care reform begins with giving the patient more ownership and involvement in decisions and purchases. Government intervention only raises consumer pricing and restrains competition.”

I am a middleclass advocate and feel that everyone should have health insurance. I have spent years volunteering with the Shriner’s hospital and have seen many families get help from this private organization.

Affordable health insurance needs to be more prevalent in Washington. I will advocate for more affordable health care through the private sector. This can be accomplished by having private health insurers compete for your business. I also understand that citizens on a fixed income or who have a low income may not be able to afford healthcare, and will work to find a bipartisan solution to help provide them a healthcare solution.

Currently there are dozens of government mandates that health insurance companies have to follow in our state. Because of this, a huge majority of providers have left the state, creating higher prices due to lack of competition and fewer health care choices. If government meddling would stop, health insurers would return to Washington state and we’d see health care costs go down and options go up.

Working to protect our choice of transportation

There are too many unanswered questions about the proposed Columbia River crossing and I am against paying tolls. I’m not in favor of light rail, either. Transportation funding should go to those projects that do the most good for the most people using them.

I will focus on a state transportation policy that focuses on highway congestion relief. I will work to

• Prioritize and fund road projects that will reduce traffic congestion
• Prioritize and fund freight mobility projects that will maintain economic competitiveness
• Invest in a safe and efficient transportation system that is accountable to taxpayers
• Maintain Funding for the state auditor to conduct independent performance audits of transportation agencies
• Encourage the contracting out of transportation programs that can be done more efficiently by the private sector
• Create innovative ideas to reduce highway construction cost
• Work on streamlining the environmental permitting process while maintain current environmental standards and protections
• Use environmental mitigation dollars to preserve agricultural land
• Work to exempt highway construction materials and labor from sales/use taxes
• Support public/private partnerships to build transportation projects

Social Issues

Joseph is pro-life and pro-family.