a:1:{s:15:"field_news_body";a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:5:"value";s:3577:"<span style="font-size: x-large;">The State of Michigan currently has three autonomous agencies (the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and The 21st Century Jobs Trust Fund), that make decisions using state funds to promote various projects and business ventures with oversight by the MSF and administered by the MEDC. <br />
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Governor Snyder is proposing to consolidate and expand the program by making changes in a series of House and Senate Bills (HBs 4071, 4480, 4481, 4482 and SBs&nbsp; 269, 270, 271, 272, 278) currently before the legislature. These bills would address a number of issues regarding the three agencies and would consolidate and continue to leave </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>investment decisions</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> of state monies with these agencies.<br />
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In the past these financial loans, grants, and other incentives have an abysmal track record according to the Michigan Auditor General in his audit of the MSF and the MEDC.<br />
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The audit also noted that some of the same problems that were exposed in the current audit were identified three years ago and that the fund had complied with only one of the five recommendations.<br />
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The governor is pushing Speaker Bolger and Majority Leader Richardville to pass these bills before the end of 2013 and hopefully before Thanksgiving.<br />
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The question becomes whether the State of Michigan should be involved in the private business sector and making decisions regarding monitary assistance to businesses with state monies.<br />
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Governor Snyder comes from a business environment and has been successful in his ventures but it&rsquo;s time to take a serious look at whether these agencies are serving the interests of the taxpayers of Michigan. What should be under consideration is whether the state should be involved in these practices at all.<br />
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In my opinion we need to divest the state from these types of ventures and focus on issues related to governing, not picking winners and losers in which to make investments.<br />
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Call or email your State Representative and/or Senator and let them now where you stand on this important issue.<br />
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In Clinton County call:<br />
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State Representative Tom Leonard<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; TomLeonard@house.mi.gov<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Phone: (517) 373-1778<br />
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State Senator Judy Emmons<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; http://www.senate.michigan.gov/ima_form.asp?name=comment33&amp;form_path=e:/webforms/rep<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Phone: (517) 373-3760<br />
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State Senator Rick Jones<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; SenRJones@senate.michigan.gov<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Phone: (517) 373-3447<br />
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These comments and opinions are mine and not necessarily the opinion of the Clinton County Republican Party.<br />
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Steve Willis, Chairman<br />
Clinton County Republican Party<br />
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