NORFOLK, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Running as an independent, Justin Gandino-Saadein on Monday announced his candidacy for Virginia's 3rd Congressional District - the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a Democrat.
If elected, Gandino-Saadein will work to raise the minimum wage, reduce taxes on small business owners and improve medical care and other vital services for military veterans, according to a press release.
"We are doing our constituents of Virginia's 3rd District a disservice by not diligently working to improve wages," Gandino-Saadein said. "Americans deserve the opportunity to maintain an appropriate, independent standard of living in exchange for gainful employment."
A recent study done by the Center for Economic and Policy Researcher revealed 40 percent of Americans now make less money with minimum wage than in 1968 when adjusted for inflation.
Had the minimum wage kept pace with gains in economic production, it would equal $16.54 per hour in 2014, according to the press release.
One way to make an increased minimum wage work, Gandino-Saadein believes, is to reduce corporate tax burden on small business owners at the same time, making it easier to reinvest capital into local economies.
A Marine Corps veteran, Gandino-Saadein says he is committed to fighting reductions in veteran pay and benefits. Developing new innovative ways to use the nation's military equipment and infrastructure is his goal for reducing spending rather than putting veterans and their families on the fiscal chopping block.
"It continues to surprise me how leaders choose to hurt the very individuals that dedicate their lives to this country," Gandino-Saadein said.
From Legal Newsline: Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com.
Virginia independent announces candidacy for U.S. House seat, focuses on minimum wage
