Economy, Trade & Tariffs

An economy that works for everyone who works.

I believe in an economy that rewards hard work, supports small businesses, and invests in long-term growth — not short-term stock bumps. That means building a strong foundation right here in Western North Carolina while making sure America stays competitive on the global stage.

Let's enact smart trade policies that protect American workers without isolating us from opportunity, investments in infrastructure that create good jobs, and policies that support innovation and entrepreneurship — not just corporate consolidation.

The goal isn’t left or right. It’s forward.

I'm an investor. My net worth, and my ability to pay my bills and put food on the table for my family is 100% dependent on my ability to look forward, invest wisely, and get real returns. I'll bring this same mentality to the U.S. House, investing in education, infrastructure and strategic regulations to keep us on top in this world of competition.

In contrast-

The current bill which just passed the House of Representatives with Chuck Edwards's proud support brings severe cuts to public services for food stamps and Medicaid, and gives paltry, token tax breaks to middle income earners, which are nowhere near enough to account for our share of tariffs, let alone the loss of benefits and the overall economic damage of pulling so much federal funding out of Western North Carolina.  https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/05/21/winners-losers-trump-big-tax-bill/83744635007/

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill will increase the deficit by $3.3 trillion. That's $9500 for every man, woman and child in the United States, or $21,450 for each active taxpayer. Yes, that's you.

But it's a huge win for millionaires and billionaires, with massive tax breaks. Per the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, more than two-thirds of the total cuts would go to those with annual incomes of about $217,000 or more. Those few with incomes of $1.1 million or more would get nearly a fourth of the total cuts.

And that's AFTER House Republicans cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (food stamps), that are the largest in the programs’ histories.

Accountable.US, a nonpartisan watchdog group estimates 14 million people may lose health coverage, while 3 million households may lose food assistance. 

And don't forget tariffs- these are taxes that everyone pays. The idea that importers will pay them is not only ridiculous, but impossible. Their margins are so low that they will be forced to raise prices, or sell their products elsewhere.

Education to strengthen our economy –

This is not a place to try to save money. The reason America is on top in the world of technology, science, finance and creativity is because we invest in education from the ground up. Every American child needs a strong, scientifically supported education to achieve prosperity and further the success and competitive edge for our nation.

In this regard, politics has taken precedence over research and common sense, as well as the proven expertise of educators. Early child education experts agree that children under the age of six need to be learning how to work together and how to be a part of a structured classroom. Dive into any text on what makes a great manager, a great innovator, and a successful entrepreneur, and the common theme is that these basic soft skills are the foundation of success. The ill-advised no child left behind testing system focuses almost solely on reading, writing and math, wasting valuable formative time that could be spent learning the truly important basic skills necessary for real success. 

Moving further, our children and young adults need education in managing finances, managing a household, understanding validity of news sources and information, and accurate and uncut lessons from our history as a people.

By high school graduation, our system should either provide the first basic year of college already complete, or a real-life, solid and applicable trade to let these young adults go directly into the workforce or work their way through college. Or both! I find the prejudice against trades such as builders, plumbers and electricians, versus professions such as law or medicine, to be absolutely inappropriate. In fact, I pay my plumber more than I pay my doctor.

Doing these things will require more money to improve ratios and equipment (Please refer to tax policy to see where this comes from), but will mostly involve the simple task of removing politicians from direct management of schools, and replacing us with actual educators, researchers and scientists, who are the ones who should be driving these programs.

Infrastructure and strategic regulations- We need to be actively maintaining our roads, bridges and basic transit systems so that people can get to work and make money without spending hours choked up in traffic. We also need to fix our broken logistical infrastructure, including permitting systems, business services, and business regulation, to make sure that we are protecting individuals and the environment, without destroying business, especially small business.

My inside view of housing and development shows me how badly poorly written regulations stifle businesses and raise housing costs, while failing to serve the protective purpose of these regulations. For example, zoning, building and storm water regulations in and around Asheville and Buncombe County actively encourage larger scale development using more land, and discourage high density development (which the Sierra Club strongly recommends for preservation of our wildlands). These same regulations force developers to leave ground exposed for longer while waiting for permits, and add an incredible amount of expense which not only cuts into profits, but substantially increases the cost of new housing in the area that is already not affordable.

If I'm entrusted with a role in the U.S. House, I will work across the aisle to streamline regulations for all business, while making sure that they serve their protective purpose. I'll also make sure they don't pick on small businesses who cannot afford thousand dollar per hour Geotech engineers to grease the wheels and make the system work.

Tariffs- don't believe the hype. Tariffs are taxes. The idea that manufacturers are going to pay our tariffs for us is not only false, but completely impossible. Actual profit margins after operating expenses tend to be below 5% for most large-scale importers. They may be able to shave one or 2% out of that and still be profitable, but beyond that point, they must either raise prices, or sell their products elsewhere. You can't get blood from a turnip, and there is simply no means for them to pay our tariffs for us.

While tariffs can be a powerful tool for manipulating economic relationships between countries, they are only a powerful tool when wielded with precision, consistency and purpose. Since he took office, Trump has changed his tariff policies over 50 times. Some didn’t last a day. The short-term repercussions are obvious, with increased prices and decreased availability, but the long-term repercussions  mean other nations making trade deals with each other, and shutting out the US market since we are no longer a stable source of income. These changes will cost the US economy dearly for years, or perhaps decades to come if the U.S. House does not immediately take back tariff power, as directed by the U.S. Constitution, and drive our tariff policy with economic science, intellect and strategic consistency.