Senate Republican Priorities
and Achievements

Budget: Right-sizing government and Growing Michigan's Economy

The first step to government's economic recovery is an honest acknowledgement of the crisis. Denial is no longer an option, and reliance on tired old solutions and political rhetoric will not change our fortunes. Staying the course is only going to make matters worse and prolong our journey to the road to recovery. (more)

Elimination of MBT Surcharge

Senate Republicans sent a message this year to Michigan job providers to let them know how important they are to re-energizing our state's economy. We encouraged them to keep their businesses here with our recent passage of a bill to eliminate the onerous Michigan Business Tax surcharge. Senate Bill 1 phases out the 21.99 percent MBT surcharge over a two-year period - cutting the surcharge by half to 11 percent in 2009 and eliminating it by 2010. (more)

Workforce Training and Jobs

With our state's unemployment rate nearly 50 percent higher than the rest of the country, we must do everything we can to help put people back to work and facilitate job creation. Michigan has been in a one-state recession for the past six years and our state's economy is undergoing a change that is fundamental and long lasting. As this process plays out, the need to have a trained and capable workforce will grow and remain a top consideration for employers and entrepreneurs deciding where they want to locate. (more)

Health Care Reforms

Currently, Michigan is home to an estimated 1.1 million residents who do not have health insurance, which is equal to 11.5 percent of the state's population. This number is likely to increase unless the economy improves.

Michigan Senate Republicans understand many residents are afraid that they may not be able to afford health insurance. In the last legislative session we tried to address these concerns before they became an issue for the people of Michigan, but unfortunately, the House did not agree. (more)

Eliminate Bureaucracy

Senate Republicans will continue to do everything to make our state a leader in the nation for job growth. One of the most important factors a business considers when deciding where to locate or expand its operations is the time, cost, and ease of compliance associated with a state's regulatory climate.

Senate Republicans will continue our fight to eliminate bureaucracy and make Michigan an inviting place to do business. We will work with job providers to reform the regulatory structure in Michigan and to put pressure on the administration when the actions of a department are costing us precious jobs. (more)

An Agenda for Strong Schools

Senate Republicans firmly believe that the success of our great state will depend almost entirely on whether Michigan has the kind of education system that provides our children and future generations with the skills to succeed in the fiercely competitive and ever-evolving global economy. Literally and figuratively, we simply cannot afford an education model that has grown out of a 20th century industrial and agrarian society. Just as we must diversify our economy, we must challenge ourselves to innovate and to create a diverse and comprehensive approach to educating our children. We are focused and committed to a long-range plan to build strong schools that reflect a dynamic, efficient and high-performance 21st century learning environment. (more)

Protecting Water and Natural Resources

Michigan's natural resources are one of the state's most valuable assets. It is imperative that they be preserved and protected. Senate Republicans will continue our strong leadership role in protecting our water and our environment.

Efforts to conserve Michigan's natural resources are not new for Senate Republicans. For more than five years, we have been leading the way to develop proactive legislation to protect the Great Lakes, promote alternative energy, and expand recycling in Michigan. (more)

Keeping People in Their Homes

Senate Republicans will take action to ensure families are not taxed out of their homes in these tough economic times.

Property values in Michigan have declined steadily over the past two years. Most homeowners have seen the values of their homes drop 15 percent to 25 percent. Property taxes, however, have actually increased over the same period.

We will lead the charge to fix the constitutional provision that allows property taxes to increase while the value of your home decreases. (more)

Making Neighborhoods Safe

Senate Republicans served on a bipartisan workgroup comprised of members of the governor's administration, the House, and the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center to determine how the state might reduce corrections spending while reinvesting in measures that will make communities safer and stronger. The workgroup produced a bipartisan package of policy options that gives Michigan a real chance to achieve needed cost savings and prevents crime at the same time. (more)

From the Senate Floor

Michigan Senate Republicans Floor Statements

Senator Cropsey refutes false statements by the governor and other democrats that the Senate has not acted on revenue generating legislation for the K12 budget.

Recent Blogs from Senate Republicans

Royal Oak Superintendent Dr. Thomas Moline hit the nail on the head when recently testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee in support of my resolution urging an override of the governors veto of 20j funding. (read)

Elimination of MBT Surcharge

Job providers across the state are suffering due to the burdensome MBT surcharge. Since tax burden leads directly to unemployment, reducing the surcharge will help improve Michigan's economy and create jobs.

When the surcharge was created in October 2007 Michigan's unemployment rate was 7.5 percent. Today's unemployment rate stands at 12.9 percent, a full 45 percent above the national average of 8.9 percent.

The Senate passed the measure to repeal the surcharge last session, but the House Tax Policy Committee failed to even consider it. Senate Republicans urge their colleagues in the House of Representatives to take immediate action and quickly pass this crucial piece of legislation.

News items related to Elimination of MBT Surcharge

SENATE FINALIZES K-12 BUDGET; ENACTS MBT SURCHARGE RELIEF

Senate Republicans have balanced the state budget, returned $100 million to our schools and provided desperately needed tax relief to Michigans job providers impacted by the MBT surcharge." [more]

CASSIS REFORMS KEY TO RESOLVING K-12 BUDGET AND ELIMINATING MBT SURCHARGE

Senate Republicans Thursday passed a 2010 School Aid budget that provides stability for schools and includes significant savings and budget reforms to phase-out the Michigan Business Tax surcharge and give needed relief to job providers. [more]

RICHARDVILLE SUPPORTS K-12 BUDGET AND VOTES TO ENACT MBT SURCHARGE RELIEF

The Senate has approved a budget for Michigan schools that reduces the per pupil cut to approximately $165. Michigan is experiencing tremendous economic challenges, so we had to face the reality that cuts had to be made. The positive news is that the cut is less than previously proposed." [more]

BISHOP FINALIZES K-12 BUDGET; ENACTS MBT RELIEF FOR JOB PROVIDERS

Senate Republicans Thursday passed a 2010 School Aid budget that provides stability for our schools and includes significant savings and budget reforms to phase-out the Michigan Business Tax surcharge and give needed relief to job providers. [more]

SEN. KAHN SPONSORS AMENDMENT TO BRING JOBS TO REGION

State Sen. Roger Kahn today sponsored a decisive amendment to legislation designed to help Saginaw Future attract companies centered on the solar technology at Dow and Hemlock Semiconductor. [more]

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