THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 10, 1995 TAG: 9510100243
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
The wrong reply was attributed to Mark A. Yatrofsky, Green Party candidate for the 88th House District, in Sunday's Election '95 questionnaire on job security. The questions posed to the candidates are repeated below, with Yatrofsky's answers.
To what extent should the state offer incentives to companies to locate in the commonwealth?
I am very skeptical of special incentives to draw new companies to Virginia, because those incentives are generally funded with the tax dollars of current citizens and businesses. If, on the other hand, we should stick to the basics of promoting education, art and culture, transportation, recreation, health and safety; and strive for excellence in each of those areas, then we will be providing inducements not only for new companies to move here, but for current citizens and businesses to stay. We also avoid creating resentment among the ``natives'' toward the ``newcomers'' receiving the preferential treatment.
What can the state do to give the working poor a better chance at making a livable wage?
We should increase the state minimum wage to $6 per hour and expand the law to cover more workers; promote the establishment of safe and affordable child-care facilities with sliding-scale fee schedules for all working parents; provide tuition aid to low-income people seeking to improve their standard of living through remedial, vocational and higher education; and eliminate the sales tax on food, which falls most heavily on those with the lowest incomes (which includes many senior citizens, as well as the working poor). ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Yatrofsky
by CNB