Rubio and Coons Team Up on AGREE Act

Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) have teamed up to create the "American Growth, Recovery, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Act," more simply known as the AGREE Act. This legislation focuses on policies that both Democrats and Republicans have proposed and endorsed. After all the gridlock in Washington, it looks like this bill, sponsored by Rubio and Coons, might actually start creating jobs in our horrible economy. I commend both Rubio and Coons for taking the first step to introduce a true bi-partisan bill that can be passed by both houses of Congress and the White House.

What is in the bill:

• Provide veterans with a tax credit equal to 25% of the fee associated with starting a franchise up to $100,000.
• Establish an enhanced research credit for domestic manufacturers to encourage job creation at home.
• Reduce barriers to high-skilled legal immigrants looking for work.
• Read the full bill here.

Even though this piece of legislation isn't massive and costly doesn't mean it won't create jobs and help people. For some reason our President has a fascination with huge bills that need to be shoved through Congress. The AGREE Act won't turn the economy around over night, that's not what it's designed to do. The AGREE Act is a bill designed to give relief and help to small businesses that are trying to ride out the tough economy. It looks at the individual worker and business compared to the economy as a whole.

Even though his own jobs plan isn't going to pass, I would love to see the President publicly endorse the AGREE Act. This would give a lot of momentum to this great legislation and show that true compromise is actually possible in Washington. However, I highly doubt President Obama will even acknowledge the AGREE Act simply because he wants there to be gridlock in Washington. If the Republicans and Democrats aren't continuously arguing then he can't say it is Congress' fault for the bad economy. The blame will fall on his administration and hurt the President in the ballot box.

We need more congressmen and women to step up and propose legislation like Coons and Rubio have done. We need to be focused on smaller reforms compared to massive legislation. As Senator Rubio points out, the bigger legislation will be voted on by the American people next November. In a year, the American people will decide what proposals they agree with, and what they think the proper role of government should be. However, we cannot have Congress standing around until then. That is why the AGREE Act is so significant. This is the first step in the right direction.

Introducing of the bill:

Rubio and Coons on AGREE Act on Cavuto: