With a business degree in economics and as a West Michigan business lawyer over the past two decades, Pat Miles has worked with businesses of all sizes.  He understands the global economy. Pat Miles believes Michigan and the United States must produce items for sale -- whether agricultural or manufactured products -- to create wealth and maintain a healthy economy. Otherwise, we will become a service and sales-based economy, have a decreasing standard of living, and lose our middle class.
 
Pat Miles recognizes that as companies grow, their customer base expands.  He desires more Michigan-based companies that are able to manufacture in both Michigan and abroad. He wants to see better access to global markets and more American exports.
 
From his 20 years of private sector experience, Pat Miles knows that small businesses are the job engines in the U.S. economy -- creating 64 percent of net new job growth over the past 15 years. They are where innovations largely occur -- creating 13 times the number of patents per employee that large corporations do.
 
Pat Miles believes Michigan's companies and workers can produce high quality products at good prices that compete with any in the world -- when there is a level playing field.  He supports entrepreneurship and small businesses through specific policy proposals such as:
 
--Improved access to capital through the Small Business Jobs Act and the loan collateral program;
 
--Higher Small Business Administration loan limits with lower fees and less paperwork;
 
--A temporary payroll tax holiday;
 
--Accelerated depreciation on the purchase of American-made equipment and machinery;
 
--Expanded and permanent research and development tax credits;
 
--Federal assistance to convert excess manufacturing capacity to clean energy jobs; and
 
--Fair and reciprocal trade agreements and enforcement.
 
In contrast, Justin Amash fails to provide any specific policies to aid entrepreneurs and small businesses other than generic platitudes about "less government" and "lower taxes."  He even questions the validity and role of the Department of Commerce which not only contains the SBA, but helps enforce trade laws.  Over the past few months, the U.S. Congress has asked the Commerce Department to press China on its currency manipulation.
 
According to his Personal Financial Disclosure form, Justin Amash co-owns Dynamic Source International, which he describes as a Chinese sourcing company for tools. Since 2005, he has been a manager of Michigan Industrial Tools, an importer of Chinese-made tools. [Associated Press, 7/18/2010] While serving in the Michigan Legislature, Justin Amash has opposed tax incentives and tax breaks for companies creating Michigan jobs. He opposes the Michigan Economic Development Corporation which helps community banks and small businesses with the Loan Collateral Program and promotes Michigan job creation. He opposes Michigan Economic Growth Authority grants. He even opposes tax-free renaissance zones -- whether urban, industrial, or agricultural.
 
The Grand Rapids Press said on May 14, 2010 that Amash’s policies on jobs (specifically, introducing legislation to do away with the MEDC and MEGA tax credit programs started under Republican Governor John Engler) would "cripple the ability of Michigan to draw and keep businesses," and "put the state in a terrible spot."
 
Throughout this campaign, Pat Miles has called for fair and reciprocal trade and denounced the Chinese government's currency manipulation which causes Chinese products sold in the U.S. to cost less and American products sold in China to be more expensive. By spending about a billion dollars each day to weaken its own currency, the Chinese government was artificially supporting its exports to the U.S. and giving its companies an unfair cost advantage -- estimated by manufacturing experts to be up to 40% . The current $226 billion U.S. trade deficit with China is the largest we have with any nation.
 
And while Justin Amash is taking advantage of the Chinese government's actions on currency manipulation and creating jobs in China, he voted against hiring Michigan workers first. [SB 293]  Amash even remained a paid employee of Amash Imports, Inc. while serving in the Michigan Legislature.  [Amash Personal Disclosure Statement].  Michigan's Legislature is a full time job and is the third highest paid in the United States.  But that was apparently not enough for Justin Amash, so he kept his $60,000 Amash Imports, Inc. salary yet took State-provided health care benefits. Drawing a salary from an import business while voting against Michigan manufacturing jobs is a clear conflict of interest.
 
In Congress, votes will be taken on issues relating to Chinese currency manipulation, which allows businesses like Justin Amash's company in China to produce cheap tools and sell them in America for a low price. The Miles campaign believes Justin Amash must answer whether he will be personally invested in China, remain an Amash Imports, Inc. employee and support China continuing these practices if elected to Congress.
 
Pat Miles will continue to fight for entrepreneurs and working families -- West Michigan's backbone.