Under the guidance of the Republican Lead Legislature, Kent County and the State of Michigan have seen a steady decline in new business and an exodus of existing businesses within our state. This declining trend has been increasing consistently since 1997. Now that we are entering an election year, the Republican Party is saying that they are working to protect existing jobs and bring new jobs to our State. If there is such deep concern for our jobs, my question is, why have they waited until the problem has become a very serious hardship and our unemployment rate has reached 7.4% before they have reacted to this serious economic problem.

I would like to know where their concerns were when we lost over 10,000 jobs in Kent County over the past 30 months? I see no proactive participation on their part. How many Senators or Representatives have been out working to bring new businesses to Michigan, asking business leaders what they can do to help stem the losses of good paying jobs and health care? The Republican leadership has only the same old yarn, “cut taxes, reduce our citizens standard of living and ‘Raise the fee’s associated with…”, this is their legacy of leadership. Are you able to live with more of the same?

When you elect me as your next Michigan State Senator, I assure you that I will be in continuous contact with our local governmental leaders and conduct regular discussions with existing and new business entities to provide legislation that will foster working relationships to keep existing jobs and bring new opportunities to our district because I believe in, People First!!

I will immediately propose legislation to reward those businesses that hire local constituents for employment and reward those new businesses that enter our market. I will offer legislation to provide training credits for each employee hired. I will offer legislation providing for equipment, employee training and new construction tax credits for expansion of existing and new businesses.

These credits will be available as long as the employer supports the community. If said employer leaves the state or the country, they will repay ALL credits inclusive of Taxes at the applied rate. They will also be required contractually to pay penalties that will be legislatively determined for leaving the community/country. Further, if they leave the U.S., they will be required to provide Health Care and re-training for two (2) years after the close of business to all employees, because I believe in People First!!

Around 1993, H. Ross Perot made a comment about job growth in the next decade. I think the quote was, "a giant sucking sound of jobs leaving our nation". We are hearing that sound right now in Kent County and other portions of our country! Let us look at Old Kent Bank. Very few people benefited from the sale of our regional bank that placed its profits and expertise right back into our community. The main beneficiary of the sale to Fifth / Third Bank of Cincinnati was Chairman of the Board, Mr. Gillett. If I recall, he received $936 million dollars. The Board of Directors all did very well for themselves also. What about the 1500 jobs that were lost? This sale definitely was not in the best interest of the community. When jobs are sacrificed in the best interest of the Shareholders, only the few with the most outstanding shares benefit. The Board of Directors acted in their (own), best interest, ran away with windfall profits from the hard work, and dedicated work force of this community that allowed Old Kent Bank so successful. 

Now those profits and earnings are going to the community of Cincinnati and those jobs lost here are benefiting that community. When Old Kent was sold, our community lost its prestige and Regional Financial identity. Further, we have the same issues with Michigan National Bank and Union Bank. What makes this a shame is that we lost competition. Competition is what drives our society and provides checks and balances to various markets. Kent County was a Regional Financial leader. Kent County is no longer a Regional Financial power and we are at the mercy of other regions dictating the financial rates that are available to our community.