Although this election cycle has been nasty and personal at the national level, complicated by COVID-19’s infestation of the entire country including the White House, a U.S. Supreme Court nomination and protests over systemic racism, other issues crucial to business are on the line.
NH Business Review asked the major party candidates running this year for four key offices about seven topics: labor and employment, taxes, housing, healthcare, infrastructure, energy and COVID-19. Answers are unedited unless they exceeded the word limit. Biographical information is also included.
Annie Kuster
Ann McLane Kuster was first elected to the House of Representatives in November of 2012.
Prior to taking office, she served as a longtime community activist and adoption attorney. She played a key role in creating New Hampshire’s UNIQUE College Savings Program to help parents save for their children’s education, as well as the Medication Bridge Program to provide medicine to low-income families.
In Congress, she drafted her 2018 Jobs and Opportunity Agenda, a blueprint of legislative proposals to expand economic opportunity in New Hampshire by bolstering apprenticeship and vocational training programs, addressing the costs of higher education, investing in infrastructure, increasing affordable housing, and supporting working families with paid family leave and child care programs.
She graduated from Dartmouth College in 1978 as part of the college’s third class that included women students, and from Georgetown University Law Center in 1984.
Annie and her husband, Brad, an environmental lawyer, now live nearby in Hopkinton where they raised their two sons, Zach and Travis.
Steve Negron
Steve Negron is the 2020 Republican nominee for New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District. In 2018, he ran for the same seat. He is the founder, president and CEO of Integron LLC, a small minority, disadvantaged and veteran-owned company in Nashua.
He believes the following: “Washington cronies are leading us down a dangerous path, ignoring the rule of law and responsible for the real effects of trillions in debt, including the skyrocketing costs of healthcare. Just like you, I live with the effects of their politics every day. Beginning today we are building our future together!” Steve and his wife, Terry, currently reside in Nashua where they have lived for 29 years and raised their three children.
COVID-19
Do you support current restrictions on businesses to prevent the spread of Covid-19? What else would you do? Do you support a mask mandate? What kind, and how it will be enforced?
Kuster: Across New Hampshire, Granite State businesses have come together to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by requiring patrons to wear masks, encouraging outdoor restaurant seating and retail shopping, and taking additional measures to keep our state safe. These policies have been effective in New Hampshire and should remain in place until widespread vaccine distribution is available.
Negron: The current restrictions on businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are a state issue. I am running for federal office but, if I were not running for federal office, I would not support the current restrictions. I believe they need to be lessened. While we know there is a universe which needs protection, I believe responsible business owners can and would protect those who wish to frequent their establishment, but at the same time keep their businesses afloat. I would allow the businesses to start the process to reopen sooner rather than later.
I do not support a mask mandate. I support people’s individual liberties. I trust in individuals being responsible to protect the vulnerable without a mandate.
What kind of additional stimulus package do you support, especially for small businesses? And how would it differ from previous packages?
Kuster:We all know that not every small business has been able to make it, and too many business owners have unfortunately had to close their doors as a result of the economic downturn this year. That’s why I have called for extending funding and loan capacity for the Paycheck Protection Program, which has helped over 24,000 businesses in New Hampshire and steered more than $2.5 billion into our business community to keep operations afloat.
I was pleased to vote for the HEROES Act, which includes a number of provisions that would make it easier for businesses to have their loans forgiven and expands eligibility, so that more businesses can get the relief they need. In addition, I have supported extending unemployment benefits for Granite State workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, because we know that workers are the lifeblood and backbone of our business community.
Negron: As a fiscal conservative, spending money is something I bristle at. I believe instead of additional stimulus money, let’s allow small businesses to reopen. However, if the economy has not yet been allowed to reopen, I would support small businesses’ access to loans at very favorable terms. I believe the initial stimulus package, targeted to helping small businesses, was right. given the prevailing economic circumstances.
Should businesses receive any special liability protection?
Kuster: As Congress continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that we strike a balance with respect to liability that deters frivolous and expensive lawsuits that have little merit while preserving the ability for Granite Staters who may have contracted COVID-19 from negligent actors to exercise their legal rights under the law.
Negron: I think they should protect certain businesses from COVID-19 related lawsuits. Further, these protections may help businesses defend lawsuits from employees, customers and vendors alleging exposure to COVID-19, but they should not shield employers from COVID-19-related discrimination, disability or leave-of-absence claims, or lawsuits alleging violations of wage and hour laws.
Labor and Employment
What should the minimum wage be? Why?
Kuster: The federal minimum wage should be gradually increased to $15 per hour over a five-year span, and earlier this year I was proud to vote for the first time in a decade to boost the minimum wage for Granite State workers. New Hampshire is the only state in New England with the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, meaning that workers who earn this wage have suffered a 17% pay cut over the past decade due to inflation and higher living costs.
A recent study showed that one in four women are considering reducing their work hours or switching jobs because of COVID-19. We need to ensure that wages are high enough to bring people back or encourage them to stay in the labor force as we recover from the pandemic. We’ve seen some retailers like Target and Costco already increase their minimum wage to $15. Through job training and workforce development, we can make higher wages sustainable for employers.
Negron: The minimum wage is a legal minimum for workers. It means workers are guaranteed a certain hourly wage. The minimum wage was never intended to be a living wage but rather an entry-level wage with advancement to higher levels of wage earnings over time. The problem with mandating a minimum wage of $15 is it drives behaviors. Less people will get hired and the costs of mandating a $15 minimum wage will eventually be passed onto the consumer.
Should federally-enhanced unemployment benefits and expanded eligibility for benefits continue? For how much and how long and why?
Kuster: As our economy continues to recover, I have supported extending the emergency unemployment assistance that unfortunately expired on July 31 due to Senate Republican’s inability to pass legislation. This assistance helped unemployed Granite Staters pay for groceries, prescription medications, utility bills and so much more. Congress should advance a bipartisan compromise that extends this assistance through the end of the year to prevent a cascade of housing foreclosures, eviction notices and widespread hunger that we are already seeing at our local food banks.
Negron: No. The $600 weekly federal benefit should not be extended through Jan. 31, 2021. We need to begin to safely reopen our economy. Our goal should be to get America back to work while helping those who can’t in a more targeted and efficient way. The CBO said if enhanced unemployment benefits continued through January 2021, about five recipients out of six would receive benefits that exceed the weekly pay they could expect to earn from working. If additional unemployment benefits were given in a very targeted way, three to six months would be appropriate all the while trying to get those individuals off unemployment and back in the workforce.
Do you support paid family and medical leave? To what level and in what form?
Kuster: The outset of the COVID-19 pandemic immediately exposed a weakness within America’s economy — the lack of paid sick leave for millions of American workers. I have supported expanding paid sick and parental leave to workers to ensure they can meet the needs of their families and remain at home when they fall ill. New Hampshire has a proud heritage of embracing hard work and rolling up our sleeves with grit and determination to get a job done. These efforts are only strengthened when we afford workers with the ability to spend time with newborn children and stay home from work when they are sick — particularly in the middle of a global pandemic.
Negron: No, I do not. The well-intentioned — but unfunded and unsustainable — Family and Medical Insurance Leave, a proposed entitlement program, cannot meet families’ unique needs. I would rather consider a flexible and accommodating policy instead of crowding out employer-provided family leave with a one-size-fits-all federal program.
Taxes
Do you think that current state business tax rates or federal corporate rates remain the same, go up or go down during your term?
Kuster: I oppose raising taxes on working-class Granite Staters, and have long advocated for a fairer tax code that supports working families and small businesses in New Hampshire. This means creating a tax system that supports investments in domestic manufacturing and job creation in the United States. I have also been a strong supporter of simplifying taxes for small businesses and working families and cutting red tape, so that it’s easier for everybody in New Hampshire to file their returns and collect a refund.
Negron: They certainly should not go up but, if tax rates go down, then commensurate spending must go down as well.
What other changes would you propose in other taxes that affect business?
Kuster: Unfortunately, corporate loopholes and special interest deductions mean that the wealthiest corporations often don’t pay their fair share of taxes. This undermines our ability to pay for investments in infrastructure, rural broadband, veterans housing and so many other priorities. In Congress, I have introduced legislation that would create tax incentives to encourage companies to partner with education providers to develop workforce training programs for skills they need. These are the kind of policies we need to advance to level the playing field for small businesses, and in Congress I will keep fighting to ensure our tax system works for New Hampshire.
Negron: I would look at tax incentives for small businesses, such as tax incentives for hiring New Hampshire graduates as well as veterans.
Housing
What would you do to increase the availability of workforce housing?
Kuster: One of the most pressing issues facing Granite State workers is access to affordable housing. The high cost of housing in New Hampshire is a deterrent to attracting the workforce we need to fill job openings and meet the demands of our 21st-century economy. In Congress, I have supported legislation that would increase the number of Low Income Housing Tax Credits that our state would receive every year. Furthermore, I supported bipartisan passage of the CARES Act, which ensured that New Hampshire would receive over $70 million to expand access to affordable housing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Negron: I would incentivize more builders like Jack Franks of Walpole, president of Avanru Development Group, who has shown the ability to provide affordable housing which are noted for its speed of construction, quality of work and the cost, as well as energy efficiency. These builders, with the right access to capital and incentives could provide this type of workforce housing because without housing, the economy won’t continue to grow.
Infrastructure
Tell us your plan to improve infrastructure, and what should be the top priority: roads, rail, broadband, the grid or another concern?
Kuster: It only takes a car ride down the road after a rough winter for Granite Staters to know that our infrastructure is in desperate need of repair. I have been proud to support legislation that would make sweeping investments in rural infrastructure and boost the likelihood of expanding commuter rail up to New Hampshire from Boston. Our focus on infrastructure investments should focus on above-the-ground projects as well as underground projects like drinking water enhancements. Furthermore, comprehensive infrastructure upgrades must include the expansion of rural broadband and adequate cell service to support the demands of our 21st-century economy.
Negron: The biggest concern, and it was exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, is the access to high-speed internet. It was shown to be a serious lack of capability. With the expansion of tele-meetings, telemedicine and distance learning, for all ages, broad-band is a necessity and must be addressed going forward.
Healthcare
What have you done and will you do to lower healthcare costs for businesses?
Kuster: I was proud to help introduce legislation this Congress that would dramatically lower the cost of prescription drugs for Americans and seniors by allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of drugs with companies, creating significant savings for beneficiaries. This legislation also caps out-of-pocket costs for American families, which will create savings for both individuals and businesses that offer employer plans.
Furthermore, I have supported legislation that would create a Medicare buy-in option for every American who wishes to gain health coverage through the program. We know that the vast majority of people who use the Medicare program are happy with its service and I believe opening up enrollment to a larger segment of the population will offer an affordable, quality care option for people nearing retirement age in New Hampshire and across the country.
Negron: Healthcare costs is the single largest line item in a company’s budget. We need affordable and accessible healthcare for our employees. As a small business owner, I know the full effects of providing healthcare for my employees. Three things must happen: transparency in costs; reduce barriers to entry for more insurance carriers to come into the state; and innovation. Innovation breeds competition and competition lowers costs.
Energy
What specific measures would you support or oppose to lower the economic and environmental costs of energy?
Kuster: This year, I released a Clean Energy Agenda which outlines a number of policies — most of them bipartisan — that I am advocating for in Congress to combat climate change and pave the pathway for a clean energy future. This agenda includes measures to adopt a clean energy standard which will ensure that our electric grid is powered by clean energy sources, to expanding the deployment of renewable energy and ushering in a new generation of clean transportation policies that will decarbonize our economy.
Negron: Energy costs in the state of New Hampshire are some of the highest in the nation. I fully support all forms of renewable energy. We must be judicious and prudent as to what energy sources could and should be used in New Hampshire.
Bob Sanders can be reached at bsanders@nhbr.com. These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.
