To be pro-Hispanic, Congress must be pro-growth

Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

For: Cesar Grajales

Posted Jan 24, 2023, 6:51 am EST

Politicians often lament the fact that they can “campaign in poetry” but have to “rule in prose.” After all, it’s always easier to make promises than laws. But with our current politics poisoned by partisan rancor and our economy threatened by another recession, 2023 is the perfect time for lawmakers to unite our divided country around an agenda to make our economy flourish.

That’s certainly what Hispanic voters want, according to polls. People care more about jobs, wages and the cost of living than political rhetoric.

And with good reason.

The most recent federal jobs report, from December, again showed signs of concern. Inflation is finally coming down too, but so has rising wages. Leading economists continue to predict job losses and a full-blown recession later this year.

The natural temptation for Republicans and Democrats will be to sit back and blame the other side when things go so wrong. But the American people, especially Hispanics, are more interested in preventing bad news from breaking out in the first place. They want Congress to step up, not point fingers.

The good news is that there are common-sense policies at hand to meet these challenges head-on while uniting the country in a common cause, helping each other.

First, inflation. As long as prices continue to rise faster than wages, any economic recovery will only be on paper, not in people’s wallets. And as long as Washington continues to spend $1 trillion more than it generates each year, inflation will continue to steal income from workers.

To get federal spending back under control, Congress must adopt a new unified budget that combines policy goals, spending, and tax revenue into a single process.

Next, Congress must fight for the small businesses that drive the most growth, hiring, and innovation in our economy. I eat? First, by making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 permanent, to remove the specter of sudden tax increases that now hangs over the economy. And second, ensuring small business access to capital.

Two bills, the Small Business Empowerment and Development Act and the Small Business Capital Release Act, would work together to reduce regulatory constraints on small businesses seeking to obtain microcredit.

Another overdue reform is the Employee Rights Act, which guarantees the rights of workers to secret union elections and to opt out of any union political contribution to causes and candidates they oppose.

None of these bills touch on hot cultural issues. Neither would create much of a stir on social media or on the news wire. All they would do is create and protect jobs, stimulate entrepreneurship and innovation.

Hispanics and all Americans are not interested in left and right, but above and below. Instead of trying (and failing) to be the engine of the economy, Washington should get out of the way and let investors, businessmen, and workers take the wheel.

That may be more difficult for politicians who tweet memes and launch talking points. But it would be much better for them, the rising country and communities, which will determine the future of America.