Scott voted to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10/hour over a three-year period, and to index the minimum wage to inflation in the future. He also voted in favor of an attempt to have an up-or-down vote on the issue in spite of obstruction from Congressional leadership. The increase would boost the spending power of minimum wage workers, providing more customers for business and driving demand.
Scott also voted repeatedly for measures aimed at extending unemployment insurance, including signing a discharge petition in order to force an up-or-down vote in spite of obstruction from Congressional leadership and cosponsoring the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. Unemployment insurance is a lifeline for those who are struggling to find work, and one of the most effective ways to spur the economic activity.
Congress must lead by example, which is why Scott voted against Congressional raises, extending the existing pay freeze for members at a time when other federal employees were also seeing a continued pay freeze.
Scott is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Make Every Small Business Count Act, which will increase transparency, reduce costs, and ensure opportunities for small businesses to compete. It will give small businesses a better opportunity to receive subcontracts on federal contracts by operating as lower-tier subcontractors. He also cosponsored the Small Business Investment Act, which would extend the accelerated depreciation deduction, an important tool used by small businesses to afford the equipment upgrades that drive growth and generate new jobs.
Scott Introduced the Igniting American Research Act, which would extend the R&D tax credit, make permanent the Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) and increase it to 20 percent, and encourage more collaborative energy and biotechnology research.
The North Embarcadero Visionary Plan: After a 15 year stalemate, as Port Chairman, Scott helped get this project moving again by forging a consensus between the Port, developers, and a group of environmentalists concerned about public access to the waterfront. The result is a plan that triples parks and public spaces along San Diego Bay, and also creates 400 new jobs, economic development and a spectacular new “front porch” along the downtown waterfront.
Solar Turbines Manufacturing Jobs: As Port Chairman, Scott galvanized local leaders to stand with hundreds of local workers against developers to ensure that Solar Turbines stay in San Diego, protecting 3,800 San Diego jobs.
Living Wage Law: As a member of the San Diego City Council, Scott bolstered the Living Wage Law for city employees. He worked to create language that strengthened and expanded the law, and worked to get the votes needed from his colleagues. As a result, it passed unanimously.
Affordable Housing: As a City Councilman, Scott supported the inclusion of hundreds of affordable housing units in his district, representing 20% of all units developed along the Highway 56 corridor. This helped local teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other working families find homes within the District.
Protected Local Small Businesses: As a City Council President, Scott stood up for local business owners and neighborhoods, by supporting a ban on Super Stores in the City of San Diego in order to protect small businesses from being put out of business by national chains.
Brought Jobs and New City Revenue by Helping to Build Petco Park: In 2000, the construction of the downtown ballpark had stopped because of conflicts of interest involving a former councilmember. Scott had campaigned for the ballpark as a community member in 1998, convinced that this would be a catalyst for rehabilitating the blighted East Village area of downtown. As a councilmember, he led the effort to restart the project. He removed the conflicts of interest, the bonds were issued and the ballpark opened. Now the East Village is energized and beautiful, and a part of the city that used to be a drain on city resources is a showcase ballpark that has sparked $1.2 billion in new direct spending and more than 19,000 jobs. Watch Video
Convention Center Expansion Project: As Port Chairman, Scott garnered unanimous support from all five Port cities to secure Port funding for the Convention Center Expansion plan which will result in as many as 6,900 permanent jobs for San Diegans.
Rent Relief for Port Tenants: Scott championed a “Rent Relief” program for Port tenants. The Port let tenants whose revenues were suffering as a result of the national financial crisis defer their rent payments in 2009 so they would have enough cash flow to stay in business. As a result, ALL these business stayed afloat and re-paid the debt!
Jobs for the Building Trades: In 2003, Scott supported the Affordable and Sustainable Housing Expedite Program that provided incentives and quicker and cheaper processing of permits for builders investing in affordable housing projects and “green” projects that used less energy, less water and utilized alternative energy sources such as solar.
Brought Traffic Relief by Completing Highway 56: Thousands of homes in and east of Scott’s district were constructed on the assumption that this critical east-west freeway would be constructed; but in 2000, 15 years after its planned completion, it was still unfinished. Scott committed himself to see this highway’s completion. Working with our regional transportation partners, our local developers and our communities, Scott helped to finish the highway in 2004 and made it possible for thousands of families and employees to move east and west in this congested area.
Reconfigured the Throat: Traffic in and out of La Jolla had been jammed up for decades, with traffic clogged in the second busiest intersection in San Diego, known as the “throat.” The City Council approved the plan to increase green light time in and out of the village while replacing the 90-year-old water pipes that seemed to break and cause floods every six months. Now the intersection conveys traffic efficiently and has been beautifully landscaped – it’s now an appropriate gateway to La Jolla. This project won the 2004 Project of the Year award from the American Public Works Association.
Created the Bird Rock Traffic Plan: When Scott was elected to office in 2000, parts of La Jolla Boulevard had become a dilapidated commercial district, with failing businesses and restaurants, ramshackle buildings, and dangerous speeding traffic. Scott empowered the community to create its own traffic plan, with a nationally known walkability expert he hired to consult with them. Following City Council approval of the plan, Scott used developer fees and a $2 million federal smart growth plan to construct it. Today, Bird Rock is a busy small business district where entrepreneurs have thrived and neighbors gather. It has sparked the creation of dozens of new businesses and hundreds of new jobs.