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)

Education: An Agenda for Strong Schools

1. Detroit Public Schools/First Class Status

The state has a special opportunity to help the struggling students of Detroit. The school district has lost more than 10,000 students each year in the last three years, largely due to dissatisfied and frustrated parents and students. Many of these students have gone to other school districts and to charter schools.

Detroit is no longer a first class school district. This means two community colleges are able to authorize charter schools within the district. This is a wonderful opportunity not only for Detroit students to receive the individualized attention and curriculum they deserve, but also for Detroit Public Schools to come to the plate and improve its offerings.

The Senate, with a resolution, began the process which has now resulted in the governor appointing a new financial manager for the district. We will do all we can in the Senate to support him in his mission. Once the district is on solid financial ground, it will make it easier for school officials to concentrate on what really matters - the academic performance of the students.

2. Neighborhood Public Schools

We recently introduced an innovative proposal aimed at giving parents and educators more flexibility and choice in how their children are educated. Legislators on both sides of the aisle have expressed interest in developing a wide variety of public schools from which students and parents can choose. We look forward to working with the governor, our colleagues in the House, parents, students, and others who want to ensure that the quality of education in Michigan is first rate.

3. Teacher Training

Research shows teacher quality is the number one factor that influences student performance. We need to focus on improving teacher quality in several areas. A 2007 report released by the National Council on Teacher Quality recommended the following:

Require more preparation of middle school teachers in the subject they teach.
Increase teacher evaluations.
Require college students to demonstrate basic skills before entering a teacher preparation program.
Establish stronger alternative routes to certification with more accountability.
Reform merit pay.
Grant permanent tenure only after a teacher has been teaching for five years.
Judge the quality of teacher preparation programs by the quality of the teachers who graduate from their institution.
Require teachers to earn more credits in math and science.
Test teachers in how to impart knowledge.
Test teacher candidates as to their knowledge of the science of teaching reading.

Such reform would go a long way toward ensuring our students are gaining the knowledge they need to keep up with students from other nations and compete in this global economy.

News items related to Education

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.

Pappageorge Perspective For the week of October 29, 2009 [more]

SENATE PANEL APPROVES PAPPAGEORGES EFFORT TO PRESERVE 20J FUNDING

Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony Wednesday on a measure it approved urging the House of Representatives to override the governors line item veto of nearly $52 million in 20j funding, said sponsor Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy. [more]

ITS HARD TO BELIEVE AFTER SEVEN YEARS AS LEADER OF OUR GREAT STATE THAT THE GOVERNOR STILL DOESNT UNDERSTAND PROPOSAL A AND WHY THE LEGISLATURE HAD TO ENACT SECTION 20J TO PROTECT SCHOOLS ACROSS MICHIGAN.

Pappageorge Perspective for the week of October 22, 2009 [more]

SEN. PAPPAGEORGE URGES HOUSE TO OVERRIDE 20J SCHOOL CUTS

State Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, took steps Wednesday to override the governors misguided veto of nearly $52 million in 20j funding that will affect 12 school districts in Oakland County and another 28 across Michigan. [more]

BISHOP, JELINEK DISMAYED BY GOVERNORS 20J VETO

Senate Majority Leader Michael D. Bishop and Senate Appropriations Chair Ron Jelinek expressed their disappointment Tuesday after the governor chose to veto nearly $52 million in 20j funding, leaving 40 school districts across Michigan in shock. [more]

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