LANSING - Today Senate Democrats introduced a package of bills that would give Michigan workers priority for jobs on state-funded projects, and call for stronger penalties for those who hire undocumented workers.

“We have thousands of dedicated and diligent workers right here in Michigan who are anxious to get to work rebuilding our state’s future and turning our economy around,” said Sen. Glenn S. Anderson, a lead sponsor of the Hire Michigan First package. “Any construction or development project being supported by state money and incentives should be going directly towards the creation of Michigan jobs. The Legislature should stand up for Michigan workers by taking this package up immediately.”

The bills in the Hire Michigan First plan call for:

• Awarding state tax breaks and other economic development incentives to companies that hire the most Michigan residents. This rule would apply to projects handled by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and other state-funded programs, including the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, the Renaissance Zone Act, and others.

• Encouraging transparency and accountability by requiring companies that take economic development incentives to report on who they hire to ensure that Michigan residents are given priority.

• Discouraging the hiring of undocumented workers by canceling state contracts and tax incentives for companies that employ illegal labor, requiring them to pay back incentives they received and barring them from future contracts.

In the past year alone, Michigan has lost more than 69,000 jobs and our unemployment rate is the highest in the entire nation. While the legislature has passed several successful initiatives to attract companies to our state and grow their businesses here, Senate Democrats believe that we need to take that extra step to make sure those businesses are employing Michigan workers.

“With so many workers struggling to find employment, it is crucial that as new jobs are created, Michigan workers are given priority to be hired over workers from other states or countries,” said Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi. “Jobs funded by Michigan taxpayer dollars should go to create jobs for Michigan workers.”

# # #