The Issues - The Three "E's"

The Economy

We all know that Michigan has the potential to be great once again. But we have experienced six consecutive years of job losses. This trend is predicted to continue for two more years. The numbers are staggering. Most of these losses have been in manufacturing.

Despite the continued bleak outlook for manufacturing, Michigan’s economy will add jobs in other sectors, mostly in services. Gains will occur in private education, health services, financial sectors, and health. Health services have been one of the major industries to have grown throughout the extended downturn in the Michigan economy. The Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA) estimates that more than half of Michigan’s 83 counties have more than 1000 health care jobs each. The U.S. Bureau of Labor reports each health care job puts $55,000 into the local economy. Oakland County, second only to Wayne County, holds over 82,000 direct health care jobs that total $4 billion with wages, salaries, and benefits.

An innovative program developed right here in Oakland County by our County Executive, L. Brooks Patterson, has been enormously successful since it’s inception in June 2004. Oakland County’s “Emerging Sectors” program seeks out companies in high-tech and high-growth areas to come to Oakland County. The results of Patterson’s program credits 59 businesses with locating, expanding, or remaining in the county, 8,480 new jobs, and bringing $919 million in local investments.

Growing the economy is absolutely necessary, but so is fiscal responsibility. As a state government, we need to start living within our means. I believe in sound, old-fashioned fiscal restraint. Reducing and reforming state government can solve most of our state’s financial problems. That does not mean balancing the state budget on the backs of taxpayers. I would follow the Republican path set forth by Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and the House Republican leadership. I applaud the work he and his team have done thus far with the cuts and reductions.

The state budget could be reined in significantly by enacting certain budgetary reductions. Such reductions could include, but not be limited to the Michigan Department of Corrections. The prison budget consumes twice as much of the State General Fund budget in 2007 than it did two decades ago – a staggering 2 billion dollars. A Mackinac Center Study suggests that opening competitive bidding on non-security services, such as food services, could save the state $192 million. Some place the savings even higher. Wage concessions within the Department of Corrections bringing Michigan in line with the national average would provide an estimated savings of an additional $150 million. There are many reductions leading to savings that can and should be made.

Michigan needs to start living within its means. It’s been done in the past and we can do it again with hard work, cooperation, and bipartisan fiscal restraint.

Education

As a former public school teacher and coach, to say, “I support public education,” is an understatement. I SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION!!!! I have met with the Superintendent of Waterford Schools and we have developed an excellent working relationship. I have no doubt that the Waterford School District in on the right track and we will continue to see good results from our local school system.

While the current assessment tools are valuable for evaluating our curriculum and determining accountability, I believe we also need to look at the entire educational picture. Taking a look at where we are with test scores, and where we’ve been, we have made excellent progress in Waterford School District. However, MEAP and Merit scores are only one measure of a school’s success. I plan on maintaining a very close and positive working relationship with Waterford educators, administrators, school board members, and local education advocates to insure continued student achievement and student growth.

As a former teacher, I recognize that Michigan must look to the future and find innovative but practical ways to fund the decreasing state K-12 Education appropriation, without jeopardizing our children’s learning and growth in this global competitive economy. To adequately prepare our children for the global economy that we are reading and hearing so much about, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members must take an active role in this process. I pledge to be a catalyst in this arena and to work closely and in a “Can Do” manner to accomplish our goals.

The Environment

Michigan needs to look forward to a new Environmental Future. Michigan is blessed with one of the greatest natural resources – freshwater lakes. Nearly 20 percent of the world’s fresh water is in the Great Lakes. Indeed, the Great Lakes define our state. And the 43 rd District is known as the “Lakes District.” But, these great resources are being threatened. In 2006 there were more beach closings and advisories than at any other time in the 17 years that these data have been tracked. Water quality in the 43 rd district is generally good, but we have all seen the appearance of Zebra mussels, non-native seaweed species, algae blooms, and bacterial growth. The Clinton River watershed has been designated an Area of Concern (AOC) and corrective actions are now underway. We need to be ever vigilant against the threats of industrial pollution, invasive species, and unregulated use of our waterways.

Invasive species alone have already caused tremendous damage to our water’s ecosystem. A new invasive species is identified in the Great Lakes at the rate of one every eight months. It is estimated that invasive species have cost state residents and businesses more than $10 billion in the last decade. We must make every effort to stop these invaders.

Some might say that strong environmental stewardship is not consistent with the goal of aggressive growth, but this does not have to be the case. The health of our lakes and waterways directly affects tourism, a leading state industry, and impacts our quality of life as well. Good stewardship of our waterways today will save expensive clean-ups in the future. And history tells us that economic prosperity - rooted in private property, free markets, incentive and entrepreneurship - is the key to future environmental improvements. We need to support progressive environmental policy in the context of economic revitalization.

One of the reason so many of us cherish our residency in the 43 rd District is we can WORK, LIVE, and PLAY all in the same community. I want to maintain our community’s natural beauty for generations to come.