Jack knows that we need to get past politics as usual, and that forward progress comes about when we have honest discussion of difficult issues.  It’s not enough to take “yes or no” positions on issues; we need creative ideas that will bring about real change. 

Jack has begun releasing proposals for some of the thorniest issues facing Wake County and North Carolina.  We are publishing them here to start a conversation.  Feel free to email your thoughts to issues@JackNichols.org.  As your State Senator, Jack will listen and will work toward solutions that make sense. 

Click a link to go directly to a policy proposal:

• Jack's Economic Empowerment Agenda

• Jack's Plan to end structural conflict between School Board and the County Commission

 PLAN TO END THE BICKERING BETWEEN THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE COUNTY COMMISSION

Jack Calls for the School Board and County Commission to be elected by the same Districts at the same time 

            Raleigh- Citing the contentious relationship that often exists between the Wake County School Board and County Commission, State Senate Candidate Jack Nichols today proposed sweeping reform in how both Boards are comprised and elected.

            Nichols would: 

“The friction that has existed between the County Commission and the School Board has often been more about politics than what is best for our children,” Nichols said. “This proposal will increase citizen participation, and provide an incentive to both Boards to communicate more and work together.”

 Nichols, the only candidate with local government experience, pointed out that Wake County is now bigger than a Congressional District, and that recent proposals to elect all of the School Board at large would discourage regular citizens from getting involved, and put more power in the hands of special interests.  “That would make running for the School Board cost prohibitive for many qualified individuals who would serve us well,” Nichols said. 

Nichols also noted that moving School Board elections to even years would put them at the bottom of an already long ballot when voters are paying more attention to national and state issues.  Nichols said, “Local government is that closest to the people and has the most impact on our daily lives.  When it comes to issues like our schools and how we plan for growth, it makes sense to have these elections in off years, where they can get the attention they need and deserve.”

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AGENDA: 

Helping Working Families Break the Cycle of Poverty

We have a moral obligation to make it possible for the working poor to support their families.  While the minimum wage is scheduled to increase again in July, 2008 and July, 2009, further steps should be taken to have government and business support economic growth and stability for families.  As we face economic uncertainty, we must also ensure that small businesses remain competitive and able to provide good pay and benefits to all workers. 

To break the cycle of poverty, we must use a combination of programs so that all workers can earn a living wage. We need to:

ü           Expand funding for Smart Start and child day care assistance so that parents can go to work while their children receive quality child care;

ü           Expand the tax credits small employers receive for offering health insurance to their employees;

ü           Eliminate the Unemployment Insurance waiting period;

ü           Expand the new Earned Income Tax Credit at the State level, sponsored by Senators Dan Clodfelter, Janet Cowell and others.  This program returns tax money to low-income workers with children and at the federal level has brought millions of families out of poverty.

All people who work full time should be able to support a family.  While 2.5% of all hourly workers were paid at the minimum wage or less, over 900,000 North Carolinians have income low enough that they are receiving Food Stamps.  State unemployment is five percent and climbing. Because Smart Start is not fully funded, only half of the children on the waiting list can receive child care assistance; those families cannot go to work without child care.  Because one out of six North Carolinians do not have health insurance, they must rely on Medicaid rather than health insurance from their employer.

Increasingly, businesses are not able to pay the high cost of health insurance for their employees and, each year fewer employers have employer-sponsored health care insurance.  The result is an extraordinary financial burden on low wage workers and causes an over-reliance on emergency care.  We cannot wait on the Federal Government. By supporting small business health insurance coverage, we can increase preventative care, reduce insurance costs, and promote worker health. 

            Nine years was too long a delay for a minimum wage increase. If the Federal Government does not continue to increase it, I will support future increases in the State minimum wage.  It must be done with consideration to current economic conditions so as not to have unintended consequences.  

The minimum wage is an important component of economic empowerment, but we must take a more comprehensive approach to helping workers break out of the cycle of poverty.  This Agenda is a good place to start.