By John Kosich
Knowing the 2012 debate nationally will be over jobs and the economy, Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) Tuesday rolled out the Senate Republican Jobs Plan, a national version of the plan that he ran on and won in 2010.The plan, which Portman previewed with newsnet5.com last week, calls for a balanced budget amendment to the constitution and a statutory spending limit in an effort to "begin living within our means," he said.
Other planks of the plan call for reforming tax codes to spur economic development and encourage business growth. Unburden the economy from Washington regulations. Creating a competitive workforce by stopping card-check and reforming federal retraining programs.
"This is a pro-growth, pro-jobs plan that will create the environment necessary to get Americans back to work and ensure American businesses are competitive globally," said Portman, in a statement.
The jobs plan also calls for reforms that would lead to an increase in exports that would create more jobs and power that growth through lifting restrictions on drilling on the outer continental shelf.
No growth is possible though without controlling health care costs which the plan aims to do by repealing Obamacare and putting in its a place a series of reforms that would allow for purchases of insurance across state lines, provide additional risk pools for small businesses and enact meaningful changes to medical malpractice.
"Families and small businesses are weighed down by record debt and deficit, high taxes, burdensome regulations, and a costly health care plan that raises costs and costs for job creators.
"The Senate Republican Jobs Plan puts us on a path to an environment where families and small businesses can succeed, not just get by," Portman said.
