MARTIN BAKER U.S. CONGRESS
MISSOURI'S DISTRICT ONE
It's About Time
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Welcome to martinbakerforcongress.com
During your visit here, you will find out more about me and the policies and views I feel will help our District return to its rightful place as the Gateway of our State. Studies and figures have shown that 44% of the economic activity of our state is generated through the Saint Louis area. That equates to more than the economic activity of 20 states, but here in parts of the district you really wouldn't know that. Since 2008, nearly 82 thousand jobs have been lost in the area and our District has felt the brunt. But the pain goes back even farther: in 2006, 1445 jobs were shuttered in Hazelwood at the Ford Plant; 1320 of those jobs were hourly wage jobs. Northwest Plaza in St Ann was, at its peak, the largest enclosed mall in the state of Missouri, with 9 anchor stores and 210 stores within. Today it is at less than 8% capacity and current plans are to tear down the bulk of its structure. These are examples of why our District has had a steady population decline.
While the State overall has grown its numbers, our District, due to lack of jobs or opportunity for growth, has seen our people leaving in droves to our surrounding districts. Some have moved out of the state altogether, like Chevrolet did in 1981 when it took the Corvette plant at Union and Natural Bridge and its 1000 jobs to Kentucky. We cannot continue down that path. We must have long term solutions to foster private sector job growth, Educational opportunity, and freedom to continue to not only keep our jobs here, but to bring others back. We cannot wait until the 3rd quarter of 2014 when most forecasts see those jobs returning, we must have plans in place NOW. I advocate working with local and state leaders to foster growth through fewer regulations and lower taxes to inspire companies to again invest in the First District.
I do not have all the answers to every problem that hurts our area, which is why I ask to hear from YOU. I want to hear your views, your problems, and your issues which you feel are keeping your families and our district from moving forward. Without the people and their input, we cannot truly respect or understand their plight; and without understanding, how can it truly be addressed? For far too long, Government has told us what is best for us, which never should be the case. Your government works for you, not the other way around. The time has come for us all to go to Washington. I expect to be held accountable to my constituents and will never be more than a phone call, email, or Town Hall meeting away.
Thank you for visiting my website and I look forward to your comments,
Martin D Baker
