Jobs and Taxes

Joe receives the Champion of Commerce award.Constituents who have met me while knocking doors, at candidate forums, or other events along the way, know that I say there are three things that need to happen to help get Michiganders back to work. 

1. Stop Spending!

First, our state government needs to stop out of control spending.  Our state budget for this year is expected to be around $47 billion and our federal budget is no better off with projected deficits of $40-50 trillion over the next ten years.  We need to take a holistic approach to spending by cutting back and living within our means, just like the rest of Michigan’s citizens are doing everyday in this economy.  In addition, further taxes which only seek to continue to increase government spending on the backs of our hard working residents are not needed- which is why I fought and opposed the Granholm tax increases of years past.  

2. Healthy Tax Structure

Second, our businesses need to have a healthy tax structure.  The current Michigan Business Tax that was haphazardly developed is a job killer in this state.  We cannot attract new businesses in this state or even help our current small businesses as long as this tax as well as the 22% surcharge is in place. 

3. Reduce Regulations

Third, it is my belief that to truly allow jobs to flourish in Michigan, Lansing needs to get out of the way.  We need to work on reducing overly burdensome regulations that stifle progress and instead create an environment that fuels the economic engine in our state which include small businesses.

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During my terms as a state representative, I worked to stop harmful “job killing” legislative initiatives such as expansion of mandated insurance benefits, retroactive lawsuits for personal injury attorneys and expansion of the sales tax to more services.  In 2008, I was pleased to accept the “Champion of Commerce Award” from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce on behalf of those efforts.