Earlier this month, I launched a new website to provide a forum for Michigan residents looking to Buy Michigan First! The website encourages residents to support Michigan’s small businesses, protect and create local jobs and revitalize our economy by purchasing Michigan-made products and …
The Blueprint: An economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work
October 30, 2008 – 2:44 pm
Over the course of this campaign, I have focused on a single key issue: how to rebuild Michigan’s economy and get our people back to work. As part of this effort to shine a spotlight on Michigan’s economic challenges and opportunities, over the last eleven weeks I’ve laid out a comprehensive plan – one week [...]
First, do no harm: ending the political delays that harm Michigan's economic outlook
October 23, 2008 – 7:32 pm
(Part 11 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work) With all the challenges facing Michigan’s economy, the first thing the legislature needs to do is to make sure it’s not making a difficult situation even worse. Michigan citizens deserve a state legislature that is willing [...]
Common-Sense Regulation
October 9, 2008 – 2:23 pm
(Part 9 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work) There has been a lot of talk recently, both nationally and as part of the local political discussion, about the proper role of regulation. To some, regulation – any regulation – is always bad, an ideological [...]
Building a globally competitive workforce
September 25, 2008 – 6:00 pm
(Part 7 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work) Last summer, on a business trip out east, I decided on the way home to get off the interstate and travel some of the state highways and county roads that wound through the small towns I [...]
New Energy for Michigan
September 18, 2008 – 12:28 pm
(Part 6 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work) This week’s installment of our plan to get Michigan moving again focuses squarely on renewable energy issues and their potential to help get Michigan’s economy back on track. I know I’ve covered much of this before, [...]
Where We are Different
September 17, 2008 – 2:44 pm
For the past 2 years, legislators in Lansing have been dragging their feet about whether or not to pass the renewable energy portfolio standard. C’mon already! Time and time again I have highlighted the importance of Michigan’s investment in renewable energy. The faster we pass this legislation; the sooner companies will be given the go-ahead [...]
A Broadband Agenda for Michigan
September 11, 2008 – 2:07 pm
(Part 5 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work) In 1935, President Roosevelt issued an executive order creating the Rural Electrification Administration; Congress followed Roosevelt’s lead the following year by passing the Rural Electification Act, called one of the most important elements of the New [...]
Putting People First: Investing in Michigan's Working Families to Bring Prosperity Back to Michigan
September 4, 2008 – 5:19 pm
(Part 4 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work) This past Monday we celebrated Labor Day. For many people, Labor Day marks the end of summer, or a chance to enjoy a three-day weekend. For politicians and the media, Labor Day is the semi-official start [...]
Yes, Michigan! Promoting Michigan Tourism to Grow Our Economy
August 28, 2008 – 2:13 pm
(Part 3 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work) Over the last two weeks we’ve focused on the importance of fundamentals and promoting Michigan’s competitive advantages to get Michigan moving again. This week I’m highlighting the need for greater investment in tourism promotion as a [...]
