Dedicated to improving the business climate in Michigan and creating jobs

I’d like to see Michigan return to the days when our state exported products, not jobs! To make our state competitive again, Lansing must stop penalizing businesses with excessive taxes and regulations.

I will work to:

• Eliminate the MBT surcharge tax.

• Oppose unnecessary regulations that impose burdensome “compliance” costs on businesses.

• Make Sure state regulations do not exceed federal levels, which creates more costs to businesses.

• Lower the costs of doing business in Michigan.

Downsize government –not the private sector

It is unconscionable, particularly during a time of economic hardship, for the public sector to increase at the expense of the private sector.

I am committed to: 

• Shrinking the state workforce by 5-10%, following the example of the Secretary Of State, who through retirements and no new hires, shrunk her staff by   20% and improved customer service.

• Reducing state employee compensation to reflect the average compensation of employees in the private sector.

• Eliminating lifetime healthcare benefits for state legislators.

• Adjusting the premium contributions for state employees to match the national average of those in the private sector.

• Overhauling the state revenue projection program to give legislators more accurate numbers by which to set state budgets.

• Changing state law to require the adoption of a two-year budget which will help project on-going costs of programs.

• Adopting no new programs unless others are eliminated or revenues grow.

• Supporting restructuring government spending to protect important government services, while not increasing the tax burden.

Stabilize the education programs in Michigan.

As school board member, I respect the constitutional responsibility of the state of Michigan to provide public education for grades K-12 . Although I support the state’s role in establishing uniform standards of education, the means to measurable outcomes should be left to the local school districts. The education of our children is a joint effort between our schools and parents. It is not the responsibility of our schools to teach students what to think, but rather how to think. Our schools are no place for partisanship but should be examples of community-wide cooperation. 

I also believe that the private and home schooling options are an important part of any balanced educational program.

West Michigan Values

In West Michigan, we love our family, our church and our small town values. As State Representative, I will take those values to Lansing and fight for what’s right!

I am:

• 100% Pro Life

• A Member of the NRA

• A strong believer in our 2^nd Amendment rights

• A husband to Amy and father to Eric, Jason, Matt and Caitlyn

• A lifelong resident of West Michigan