By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Second District Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) discussed his plans to create jobs for Americans during a visit to Arkansas State University at Beebe on Wednesday.
The congressman said one way to create jobs is by reducing regulations on corporations and small businesses during his Jump-Starting Jobs tour.
Another way Griffin proposed job growth is by lowering corporate tax rates and reforming tax codes to make the U. S. more competitive with other foreign countries for manufacturers.
The congressman encouraged entrepreneurship. He said the patent application office has over 700,000 applications in backlog.
“That is where innovations come from and where jobs are created,” Griffin said.
Griffin wants to increase oil and energy production. He said the problem with wind and solar energy is that, “it’s not going to replace fossil fuels in my lifetime.” He said solar and wind energy is less powerful than fossil fuels.
He wants to expand off-shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Griffin said there are one million jobs in the drilling industry. He said if the U.S. doesn’t produce oil, someone else will, and oil companies will move operations overseas.
Although Griffin has been criticized for discouraging critical comments at his town-hall meetings, he was open to questions from everyone in the audience.
A woman asked the congressman how many $7-a-hour-jobs will be created with changes in regulations. She said 60 people applied for a part-time clerk position at a gas station in Ward.
“Where are people going to get jobs in White, Lonoke and Pulaski counties?” she asked.
Griffin said businesses create jobs and he is against burdensome regulations.
“We need to create an environment where people want to invest in our country,” Griffin said.
The congressman has been criticized for granting tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas.
