LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Roger Hauck was joined Wednesday by several members of the Senate Republican caucus in introducing legislation aimed at promoting economic growth and making Michigan a more business-friendly state.
“We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t,” said Hauck, R-Mt. Pleasant. “States with less burdensome regulations and tax policies are outpacing states like Michigan, where taxes are high and bureaucracy continues to strengthen its grip on residents and businesses. Overbearing regulation and high taxes are a lethal combination that significantly impacts the ability to attract talent and businesses and grow our economy.”
The bills include a number of initiatives that focus on businesses and workers, including easing licensing transfers for those licensed in other states but are considering a move to Michigan; streamlining state regulations to eliminate confusing, contradictory guidelines; and reviewing state regulations to determine their effectiveness.
The plan would also eliminate taxpayer-funded programs that put multinational businesses above the needs of residents and local businesses and instead invest in our roads and infrastructure.
“We’re trying to encourage long-term investment, grow our state and boost economic activity, but not do so at the expense of taxpayers,” Hauck said. “The state has given away billions of dollars, and these programs have failed to net the desired and promised results time after time. It’s time to wash our hands of these over-promising, under-delivering efforts and focus on what we know works.”
Hauck’s legislation in the package would reenact the state’s Right to Work law in hopes of opening more doors for residents seeking employment and encouraging more businesses to locate in Michigan.
“Right to Work initially created a lot of opportunities for workers in this state, and I think the recent repeal closed that door and sent us backwards,” Hauck said. “I was a proud union member for nearly three decades. At that time, my union worked to prove its value to workers. We didn’t need a government mandate telling workers to join. Not only does the repeal of Right to Work eliminate opportunities for people seeking employment, but it also allows unions to lower their standards because the government forced this choice on workers. I don’t think that benefits anyone, especially the workers the law claims to favor.”
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