Policies

The present economic outlook for far too many is bleak; too many of our fellow citizens are facing economic hardship and stagnation. State lawmakers need to find a multilateral approach that simultaneously enhances the economic potential of both labor and business owners. Steps can be taken in Lansing to promote higher wages, job security, and education for our workforce while generating new markets, enacting regulatory reform, and pursuing responsible taxation for Michigan's small business owners. For example, we are losing approximately 4% of our farms yearly in the agricultural sector. If it continues, we could lose up to 40% of our agricultural production capability in a decade. This is due to several factors, including the difficulty for smaller family farms (approximately 80% of farms in Michigan are 200 acres or less) to compete, the increasing rate of farmer retirements, the high financial burden of starting and maintaining a farm, and a lack of market opportunities. State lawmakers in Lansing must find a path forward to counter this dangerous and irresponsible trajectory. There should be broader dialogue about ways to reenergize our agricultural capacity and support those who play a vital role in our state's economy. Some areas that must be considered include enhancing financial incentives for new farming operations, loan forgiveness for those who have made farming their career, and increasing our internal market capacity, including increased direct sourcing of farm-to-school pipelines. In conjunction with the above regarding agriculture, other regulatory reforms and financial investment can regenerate Michigan's economy for Michiganders. There needs to be a thorough review of all regulatory statutes and administrative rules to eliminate any redundant or outdated codes that hinder economic development. Other issues should also be considered. For example, why should a responsible 16/17-year-old, under proper supervision, be prevented from serving alcohol in a licensed establishment if they have fulfilled all appropriate training? Why should the legal burden fall upon a business or property owner for someone else's lack of self-responsibility? Michigan should also create the potential for more direct enterprise investment in Michigan entrepreneurship, as former governor candidate Mayor Duggan proposed, similar to his Motor-City Match initiative. The fruits of Michigan's economy should belong to the people of Michigan! To support all of this, we need to bolster and harden our infrastructure so we have the vital energy and transportation/distribution networks that a growing economy will need. Overall, Michigan's roadways and energy grid rank among the lowest in the nation. This must be vastly improved not only for economic reasons, but also for emergency management and overall quality of life, both of which are essential to Michigan. We must do everything we can to increase the safety and durability of our roadways, and the reliability of our power grid. Michigan's Legislature must investigate new technologies of self-healing, composite, and highly durable roadway materials. As for the power grid, while our region is on track to have an abundance of energy production by 2030, we are still plagued by horrific reliability. An issue that could be resolved by seriously investing in subterranean line mitigation supported by creative labor development and management.

Primary

Education is one of the primary foundations of our society and is paramount in determining the success of its citizenry. Because of the challenges we face today, the people of Michigan need to invest and become more creative in educating future generations. For example, we need to reduce the student-to-instructor ratio in classrooms. Currently, the average ratio reported by the Michigan Department of Education is 23:1. This should be reduced closer to 18:1. While variation does exist, it is greatly dependent on several socio-economic factors, including ethnicity, district operational funding, and curriculum position, which dramatically affect the quality of instruction and subject retention for the students. This needs to become more standardized across our educational system. While it will take time to acquire the appropriate long-term professional staff, we have other options to help mitigate the issue, increase the potential for future recruitment, and proactively recruit the next generation of educational professionals for our future. Many school districts have mentoring programs in which academically strong secondary students assist others. Such programs could serve as the framework for a larger statewide initiative to improve instructional quality in our classrooms. Part of this initiative can involve collegiate credit for such mentorship. In addition, an official credentialing of their service and scholarship incentives could be created for participants to use as they begin their post-secondary education, especially if they choose to enter the field of education. The benefits of such mentorships can be further enhanced by expanding or supporting student-facing cohorts, often referred to as "looping." This would be particularly beneficial in primary educational settings, where students tend to encounter initial barriers to information and skill retention, as well as most of the social and cultural turmoil associated with peer socialization. Such student-centered systems create environments that reduce student anxiety, maximize retention, and shorten annual reeducation periods. For teachers, it provides an opportunity to develop more robust, multi-year instructional strategies to maximize their students' future potential and lead to stronger curriculum standards.

Secondary

The importance of strong secondary education cannot be underestimated. Not only is it the period in which students refine what they have previously learned, but it is also when they begin to apply basic skills towards a potential career. We need to expand the number of curriculum pathways and opportunities for our students, regardless of the paths they choose. This includes specialized programs for those who have demonstrated aptitudes in various fields of study; increased opportunities for dual enrollment and five-year hybrid programs (for both college-bound and CTE students) so they can get ahead in life; and creating navigable pathways for young student-parents to complete their education.

Post-Secondary

Post-secondary education, no matter the route taken, is a costly endeavor. It is of primary importance for Michigan that we do everything that we can to promote a robust, educated, and capable workforce for the future. We must do everything we can to minimize the financial strain on those seeking a degree or professional certificate. Legislation must be passed to significantly reduce or eliminate any practices by universities, colleges, or professional schools that promote or operate in a predatory fashion. For example, a more realistic cost calculation for students can include basic needs such as rent, food, and travel expenses in their education planning. In addition, state appropriations for educational institutions could be contingent upon performance-based metrics, including tuition review and the elimination of non-tuition-based mandates.

The average American, and subsequently Michigander, is under non-voluntary video surveillance anywhere from 34 to 75 times a day, with a total duration of about 90 minutes to several hours. While some scenarios warrant video surveillance for public safety and personal home security, many do not, and the footage collected is used to commit acts of malfeasance. Unfortunately, we live in an ever-growing surveillance state, and what is left of our liberty is up against the ropes. This is compounded by the erosion of our constitutional rights through other governmental and administrative incursions upon what was once sacred. Legislators in Lansing must do everything possible to combat this growing trend; they must, and can, bring balance to personal liberties while maintaining appropriate measures for effective public safety. For example:

• Any further deployment of FLOCK cameras and other government surveillance equipment must be limited and mission-specific. They should not be deployed for the widespread netting of personal information in the public sphere. In addition, statutory law should be strengthened to shorten the data retention period to a maximum of 14 days and limit access to only necessary law enforcement officials.
• The Senate and House bills regarding dynamic pricing introduced in 2025 need to be fast-tracked to protect hardworking Michiganders from corporate predatory practices.
• The Michigan Legislature must pass a resolution demanding that the United States Congress severely limit the CBP 100-Mile Border Enforcement Zone, including its geographical range, and enforce the protections granted within the 4th Amendment.
• Section one of MCL Section 750.227 needs to be amended so that fixed-blade knives of three inches or less are lawful to carry concealed. There should be no difference between the legality of a fixed blade and a folding knife.
• For business and property owners in Michigan, we need to resurrect the "Open and Obvious Doctrine" to protect them from frivolous legal jeopardy caused by the blatant irresponsibility of transgressing individuals.
• The "Open Fields Doctrine" is too often abused by intrusive governmental activities and must be limited in some way in Michigan to enhance the protections guaranteed within the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution for all property.
• Michigan must establish what is often referred to as the "Purple Paint Law." This ensures that property owners have access to a simple, environmentally friendly, and durable method for safely marking their property boundaries.
• The Michigan Legislature must amend the Termination of OIL and Gas Interests in Land Act and the Dormant Minerals Act (1963), so that severed mineral rights must revert to the present property owner and their inheritors, without penalty, even if a governmental body holds the interests.
• To ensure all can enjoy "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," Michigan must enhance the penalties for hate crimes, as dictated in MCL Section 750.147b.

Housing is a fundamental necessity not just for maintaining an ample local and regional workforce but also as a human right. We need more affordable housing across the state. Around 50% of households struggle with housing costs, and this must change. Policies must be generated to address the physical housing shortage and state lawmakers' need to rescind the state preemption against local rent stability/control, along with the passage of the Tenant Empowerment Package and Renters Bill of Rights legislation presently under review. Housing revitalization should be a major part of this endeavor. We should not concentrate just on new housing projects. The Michigan Legislature should strengthen the Michigan Saves Loan Loss Reserve Funding to stabilize the market for smaller loans under $100,000 for individual home unit revitalization projects. In addition, the regulation of short-term rentals can be improved. The tourism industry is vital to the economic viability of our region, and short-term rental properties play a significant role in that economy. However, there is also a cost. The industry contributes to the growing issues surrounding housing availability, affordability, and workforce retention in our region. State legislators should develop and implement statewide standards that balance the economic needs and the communities involved, providing local governments with the tools to determine the best course for their localities.

Michiganders continue to face not only growing healthcare costs but a decrease in the availability of providers. It has unfortunately become the norm for most adults to experience or face the potential of having to decide whether to seek essential medical treatment. Coupled with the decreasing number of healthcare networks in the state, the likelihood of someone having access to or receiving necessary care becomes more problematic. Since Medicare for all would take nearly a decade to implement, even if fully enacted today, our elected officials need to take a stand and effectively address these trends in three major steps. First, we must improve access to Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements so our small businesses can recruit, maintain, and expand their employee pools. Second, following Mayor Duggan's campaign proposal, legislation must be passed to standardize the claims process across all insurance providers and cut administrative costs. Third, Michigan must take a serious review of the service improvements and long-term cost-saving benefits of creating its own Healthcare Marketplace. Plus, they must enact more state regulations to curb healthcare system monopolization so we can benefit from a more competitive market that helps manage costs and increase treatment availability. These are just a start, but they should be on the minds of all lawmakers as potential ways to enhance the quality of life of all who live in Michigan.