Michigan's Senate Republicans

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

The leaves have all fallen from the trees, the temperatures are dropping and soon the snow will be flying it must be time for one of my favorite holidays: Thanksgiving. (read)

AGRICULTURE AND BIOECONOMY: Senators VanWoerkom (C), Gilbert (VC), Birkholz, Gleason (MVC), and Whitmer
Clerk: Jordan Hankwitz, 605 Farnum Bldg. Phone (517) 373-1635

APPROPRIATIONS: Senators Jelinek (C), Pappageorge (VC), Hardiman, Kahn, Cropsey, Garcia, George, Jansen, Brown, McManus, Stamas, Switalski (MVC), Anderson, Barcia, Brater, Cherry, Clark-Coleman, and Scott
Clerk: Connie Burgess, S-324 Capitol Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-6960

BANKING & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Senators Richardville (C), Sanborn (VC), Cassis, Stamas, Hunter (MVC), Clarke, and Olshove
Clerk: Teri Ambs, 205 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-3543

CAMPAIGN & ELECTION OVERSIGHT: Senators McManus (C), Brown (VC), Jansen, Jacobs (MVC) and Olshove
Clerk: Regan Teat, S-2 Capitol Bldg. Phone (517) 373-1725

COMMERCE & TOURISM: Senators Allen (C), Gilbert (VC), Stamas, Clarke (MVC), and Hunter
Clerk: Christopher Glass, 820 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-2413

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & REGULATORY REFORM: Senators Sanborn (C), Richardville (VC), Allen, Gilbert, Thomas (MVC), Hunter, and Jacobs
Clerk: Leta Howard, S-310 Capitol Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-7670

EDUCATION: Senators Kuipers (C), VanWoerkom (VC), Cassis, Whitmer (MVC), and Gleason
Clerk: Paula Englin, 1005 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-6920

ENERGY POLICY & PUBLIC UTILITIES: Senators Patterson (C), Brown (VC), Birkholz, Kuipers, Richardville, Olshove (MVC), Clarke, and Thomas
Clerk: Scott Jones, 505 Farnum Bldg. Phone (517) 373-7350

FAMILIES & HUMAN SERVICES: Senators Jansen (C), Hardiman (VC), and Jacobs (MVC)
Clerk: Amanda Comment, 520 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-0797

FINANCE: Senators Cassis (C), Gilbert (VC), Pappageorge, Jansen, Jacobs (MVC), Cherry, and Whitmer
Clerk: Traci Gorman, 905 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-1758

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & REFORM: Senators Bishop (C), McManus (VC), Cassis, Kuipers, Prusi, (MVC),Clarke, and Olshove
Clerk: Trevor VanDyke, S-106 Capitol Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-2417

HEALTH POLICY: Senators George (C), Allen (VC), Patterson, Sanborn, Clarke (MVC), Gleason, and Jacobs
Clerk: Holly Nester, 320 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-0793

HOMELAND SECURITY & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES: Senators Brown (C), Garcia (VC), Richardville, Pappageorge, Hunter (MVC), Olshove, and Thomas
Clerk: Kendra Everett, 405 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-5932

HUNTING, FISHING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION: Senators Barcia (C), McManus (VC), Cropsey, Allen and Prusi(MVC)
Clerk: Jennifer Barnes, 1010 Farnum Bldg. Phone (517) 373-1777

JUDICIARY: Senators Kuipers (C), Cropsey (VC), Sanborn, Patterson, Stamas, Whitmer (MVC) Clarke, and Basham
Clerk: Marnie Wills, 1005 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-6920

LOCAL, URBAN & STATE AFFAIRS: Senators Van Woerkom (C), Birkholz (VC), Allen, Gleason (MVC), and Basham
Clerk: Derek Bajema, 605 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-1635

NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS: Senators Birkholz (C), Van Woerkom (VC), Patterson, Basham (MVC), and Gleason
Clerk: Joy Brewer, 805 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-3447

SENIOR CITIZENS & VETERANS AFFAIRS: Senators Allen (C), Pappageorge (VC), Garcia, Olshove (MVC), and Basham
Clerk: Christopher Glass, 820 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-2413

TRANSPORTATION: Senators Gilbert (C), Kahn (VC), Van Woerkom, Basham (MVC), and Gleason
Clerk: Caroline Liethen, 705 Farnum Bldg. Phone: (517) 373-7708

STATUTORY STANDING COMMITTEES

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES: Senators Pappageorge (C), VanWoerkom, Kuipers, Barcia, and Clarke
Representatives Spade (C), Lipton, Constan, Rocca and Stamas
Clerk: Colleen Curtis, Phone: (517) 373-6476

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: Senators Bishop (C), Patterson, Allen, Cropsey, Prusi, and Thomas
Alternates: Senators Brown, Sanborn, and Hunter
Representatives Dillon (C), Cushingberry, Brynes, Angerer, Elsenheimer and Hildenbrand
Clerk: Susan Cavanagh, Phone: (517) 373-0212

LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENT BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Senators McManus (C), and Clarke
Representatives Cushingberry and Smith
Retirants: R. Robert Geake (C) and George McManus, Burton Leland and Gary Randall
Deferred Vested Member: John Jamian and Triette Reeves
Defined Contribution Member: Donald Gilmer
Clerk: Sylvia Hatcher, Phone: (517) 373-0575

MICHIGAN CAPITOL COMMITTEE: Senators George (C), Garcia, Brown, and Brater
Representatives Griffin (C), Bauer, Nerat and Wayne Schmidt
Contact: Steve Benkovsky, Phone: 373-1972

SENATE FISCAL AGENCY BOARD OF GOVERNORS: Senators Bishop (C), Jelinek, Pappageorge, Prusi, and Switalski
Clerk: Ellen Jeffries, Phone: (517) 373-2768