Mitrano Rolls Out Details of Economic Development Plan She’d Follow if Elected to Congress

PENN YAN – Democratic Congressional Nominee Tracy Mitrano (D-Penn Yan) outlined her economic plan for the State’s 23^rd Congressional District.

During a conference call on Tuesday, Mitrano provided details for her a economic development proposal, which organized around five pillars:

• Healthcare—Mitrano said her platform includes a commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare for all people, including lowering the age of eligibility for Medicare and maintaining a strong commitment to the Children’s Health Insurance Program, commonly known as CHIP. She favors a system in which the federal government is in a position to negotiate on behalf of consumers and as a Congressional representative, she would be a strong advocate for reforming high pharmaceutical drug prices.
• Education—Mitrano says she is a strong proponent of expanding educational opportunities in the regiona and believes that the public schools should always be excellent and start early. She supports universal Pre-K and Head Start programs, and her economic plan calls for for federal support for vocational, trade, and certificate programs. She is firmly committed to making four year, graduate and professional degrees obtainable through interest-free loans.
• Infrastructure—Believing the a district’s infrastructure must ensure that it is equipped for the demands of a 21st-century economy, Mitrano’s main infrastructure priority is guaranteeing rural broadband throughout the district. Mitrano believes that the federal government must support these investments, just as it did decades ago with electrification and the telephone in rural areas. Internet access is no longer something used only by computer programmers and millenials, and Mitrano wants all farmers, business owners, professionals, and individuals in the district to be able to rely on it for their various enterprises.
• Sustainability—Mitrano believes that for economic growth to be long-term, it must be sustainable, and her platform promotes practices that conserve the natural resources of the Southern Tier, both for this generation and future ones. Mitrano backs federal anti-fracking legislation on the grounds that the method is harmful to both the environment and biological life. She also supports federal-state alignment to address water-quality issues and is an advocate for more funding for clean-up of the West Valley Demonstration Site in Cattaraugus County.
• Tax Reform—Highly critical of the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act, which was passed by the Republican-controlled House and Senate last year, Mitrano believes that the law’s cap on state and local tax (commonly known as SALT) deductions amount to a “Do Not Enter” sign around the 23rd district. She said she believes that preventing companies from taking more than $10,000 in SALT deductions will significantly discourage investment in states with high property taxes, such as New York. For that reason, she wishes to see this part of the tax code reversed.
  Mitrano also believes that the Republican tax law unfairly fails to make tax cuts for middle and working class permanent, privileging wealthier Americans, who received long-term cuts to their taxes under the legislation. If elected to Congress, she would advocate for reform to the tax code that would make it more fair for everyone.

Mitrano said that a healthy, well-educated workforce is the foundation of any strong, well-functioning economy and so far, her opponent – incumbent Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning) – has failed to deliver economic growth to the residents of the state’s 23^rd congressional district.

“Let’s be clear. He has been in office now for eight years – four cycles – and he has not brought economic development to the district. If he did, if he had, we would be experiencing it now with the rest of the country,” Mitrano said.

Mitrano added that her economic platform aims to strengthen the community in order to make the Southern Tier a robust and attractive place for economic development and private investment.