Senate Republican Priorities

Senate Republicans are making good on their promises. They are delivering substantial reforms to create jobs, reduce unnecessary regulations, and improve the quality of life for Michigan families.

Spur Job Growth

Reform Personal Property Tax
Cut Through the Red Tape for Business Growth
Rebuild Our Roads and Bridges

Strengthen Education

Increase Education Options

Protect the Rights of Citizens

Clarify Medical Marijuana
Ban Partial Birth Abortion
Senior Protection
Restore the American Dream

Continue Government Reforms

Make Government More Accountable
Insurance Reform

From the Senate Floor

Michigan Senate Republicans Floor Statements

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville addresses the full Senate and thanks them for their hard work and shared legislative accomplishments during 2011.

Recent Blogs from Senate Republicans

Great news! According to a recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, Michigan dropped six spots in November to the 10th highest unemployment rate among states. (read)

Workforce Training and Jobs

With our state's unemployment rate nearly 50 percent higher than the rest of the country, we must do everything we can to help put people back to work and facilitate job creation. Michigan has been in a one-state recession for the past six years and our state's economy is undergoing a change that is fundamental and long lasting. As this process plays out, the need to have a trained and capable workforce will grow and remain a top consideration for employers and entrepreneurs deciding where they want to locate.

Currently, Michigan largely relies on federal dollars for workforce training. We have gotten much more than other states over the last several years because of our one-state recession but that will change as conditions deteriorate nationally. Federal funds are traditionally focused on the hard-to-place person, not the average individual who has lost his or her job due to fundamental changes in the economy or who is entering the workforce for the first time. Much of this state's existing job training efforts are directed through traditional programs such as the Governor's No Worker Left Behind program.

Last session, Senate Republicans passed legislation that focused on a new approach to training for new jobs using the community college system. This legislation is modeled on successful programs in other states and employs a unique financing mechanism to deliver training programs that are narrowly focused and meet specific employer needs. This innovative approach will help retain existing jobs as employers transform and modernize their operations to be competitive in today's global economy. Another Senate Republican initiative from last session provides state support for universities working to transfer technology to private sector job providers. This legislation was introduced to force the administration to pursue this goal as it had neglected this area in the past. We will continue to take full advantage of our state's universities and leverage the intellectual capital that they possess to create jobs in Michigan.

The caucus will also explore creating a new structure and process independent of the Michigan Strategic Fund to encourage tech transfer and job creation. New incentives will also be considered to encourage and support commercialization of new technologies here in Michigan. Combined with the implementation and development of new workforce training funding mechanisms and approaches such as the legislation described above, we will have the workforce available to fill these jobs right here in Michigan.

Community colleges are likely the best resource available to train and retrain workers. Just as the universities have assets that need to be leveraged, so do the community colleges. They will likely be the principal vehicle for our efforts to modernize our workforce, and it is very important that they are part of this discussion and process as we seek tailored solutions to our state's economic challenges. Senate Republicans will continue to work towards innovative, flexible and responsive solutions to our state's job training needs but always with the clear understanding that job training is not an end in and of itself.

News items related to Workforce Training and Jobs

NOFS, BROWN APPLAUD NEWS OF 185 NEW TENNECO JOBS

Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc. plans to create 185 jobs in Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson and Monroe counties in the coming year, said state Sens. Mike Nofs and Cameron S. Brown. [more]

EVEN DURING THESE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES THERE ARE SIGNS OF HOPE FOR MICHIGANS ECONOMY. THATS WHY IM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BROUGHT TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC GOOD NEWS TO THE PEOPLE OF SAGINAW AND GRATIOT COUNTIES.

Kahns Corner for the week of April 19, 2010 [more]

SEN. JANSEN: GRCC PART OF FIRST COLLEGE-EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIP

The first Michigan New Jobs Training Program college-employer partnership has been established between Grand Rapids Community College and Energetx Composites of Holland, said Sen. Mark C. Jansen, a sponsor of the plan. [more]

SEN. KAHN OFFERS COMMENTS FOLLOWING STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

Im glad to hear the governor talk about jobs for our people including new jobs in the Great Lakes Bay Region through Dow Chemical Companys plan to produce the Dow PowerHouse Solar shingle. [more]

SEN. KAHN APPLAUDS DECISION TO HELP BRING JOBS TO REGION

State Sen. Roger Kahn applauds the Michigan Department of Environmental Qualitys recent approval of the necessary permits for Consumers Energys proposed coal-fired plant in Bay City. [more]

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