Improve our nation's economy and sustain job creation.

By Mike Thompson

Jobs are my number one priority, and that's why I am fighting for a jobs plan in Congress that invests infrastructure, energy, education and research. My plan puts people to work now, puts our economy on solid ground for years to come.

My plan would invest more than $300 billion in our roads and bridges by passing a long-term transportation bill. This is one of the best investments you can make to create good-paying jobs. For every $1 billion we invest in infrastructure improvements, more than 30,000 jobs are created. We shouldn't leave jobs on the table by failing to make these investments.

My plan would also fund dredging projects, creating jobs for the people who do the dredging and helping our local economy by making our marinas, ports and harbors more accessible for business.

In addition to creating jobs by rebuilding our infrastructure, we have to plan for the future. That's why growing our new energy economy is a cornerstone of my jobs plan. New sources of clean and renewable energy can be to the 21st century what coal, oil and gas was to the 20th century.

Our district is already an energy leader. We need to build on that. By making the smart investments that my plan calls for, we can help make sure renewable energy and all the jobs that come with it + jobs in construction, design, development, engineering, maintenance, and manufacturing + are a foundation of our economy for generations to come.

Finally, my plan calls for investment in education, including K-12, higher education and career education. Education is the one essential element to our nation's long-term economic success. To compete in a global market, we must continue producing the world's best entrepreneurs and innovators. To continue producing the world's best entrepreneurs and innovators, everyone must have the opportunity to get a quality education.

We can do this all without adding a dime to the deficit. My plan is entirely paid for and decreases the national debt by asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share.

Infrastructure, a new economy rooted in new energy, and education + these are foundations of job creation, economic growth, and a strong and secure middle class for years to come.