What You Should Know About Me | Education | Energy & Economy | Fiscal Responsibility | More Info

What You Should Know About Me

I am Effective — in my first term in the House, no Democrat passed more bills than I did. In the Senate, I passed more bills into law than any other Democrat by a wide margin. I was elected Caucus Chair in the House, and appointed Democratic Leader on Senate Appropriations, the most powerful committee in the legislature. I introduced more legislation than any member of either party.

I Work Hard — I spend your money like it’s my own. I will take no Federal PAC Money. I have underspent my budget every year of my legislative career, handing back over $150,000 to the State Treasurer. A few more like me and we’d have a surplus.

I Fix Problems — I was one of 6 legislators who negotiated millions of dollars worth of Executive Order cuts that balanced the 2009 budget. I cast the deciding vote on the package of cuts, reforms, and revenues that ended the government shutdown of 2007. I sponsored the bill that saved County Revenue Sharing for 10 years while saving the state $200 million a year. I authored the com-promise that ended the cigarette tax stalemate of 2006. When all around me are shoutin’ and bawlin’ and losing their heads, I get things done. Put me in Washington, and I’ll get you results.

Education

I specialized in education issues in the Michigan Legislature and am currently the Vice Chair of K-12 Appropriations. I would work to end inflexible Federal requirements that currently force Michigan and other states to waste millions of dollars. We could be using already created and tested measures such as the IOWA or ACT tests, instead of mandating useless, time-consuming MEAP tests. At nearly a quarter of the price, we would save millions that could be put back into the classroom to support our children and their future.

We spend $15 billion in Michigan on education, but we waste millions on testing and duplicative, stealthy, low turnout school elections, and top-heavy administrative costs. Education spending should serve the interests of children, not the adults.

Energy & Economy

I support efforts to develop domestic sources of energy with a goal of eliminating dependence on foreign sources of energy. I would expand the use of renewables like wind and solar along with nuclear, oil, coal, and conservation and efficiency.

I would emphasize production of energy technologies like windmills and solar panels to create jobs and rebuild our manufacturing sector. America can not be a world power with-out an economy that makes things. Many shuttered shops here should be retooled to produce wind turbines and solar components. National Security depends on industrial might and energy independence.

Fiscal Responsibility

If you know only one thing about me, it's that I stress Fiscal Responsibility. We can not sustain a Federal Budget process that has put us $12 trillion in debt. I am co-chair of the Bi-Partisan Fiscal Responsibility Caucus and frequently cross the aisle to enact reforms and revenues. I will bring fiscal discipline and pay as you go budgeting to Washington similar to what the states practice. The current Congress has dismally failed to balance its budget for over a decade. Let’s change that.