cat-a-lyst [kat-l-ist]
-noun
1. Causes activity between two or more persons or force
2. A person or thing that precipitates an event or change
Decisions made in the halls of government affect your business.
Your Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is working to ensure the voice of West Michigan business is heard. The Catalyst newsletter is intended to generate conversation and provide information so you can be engaged in the issues that affect your bottom line.
Make Your Voice Heard Tuesday, November 2
The officials we elect in 2010 will have an opportunity to make the bold decisions to revitalize Michigan. (View your 2010 ballot here.)
This is not easy and the Chamber PAC, Friends of West Michigan Business, is committed to supporting those who will fight to eliminiate deficits by enacting tough reforms and work to create an environment which support growth.
The following endorsements for the 2010 Election. Please keep them in mind when you head to the voting booth Tuesday, November 2nd! (Incumbents are in italics.)
2010 Chamber PAC-Endorsed Candidates
Governor: Rick Snyder
Secretary of State: Ruth Johnson
Attorney General: Bill Schuette
2nd Congressional District: Bill Huizenga
3rd Congressional District: Justin Amash
State Senate:
24th District: Rick Jones
28th District: Mark Jansen
29th District: Dave Hildenbrand
30th District: Arlan Meekhof
34th District: Goeff Hansen
State House:
61st District: Margaret O’Brien
72nd District: Ken Yonker
73rd District: Peter MacGregor
74th District: Dave Agema
75th District: Bing Goei
76th District: Roy Schmidt
77th District: Tom Hooker
86th District: Lisa Posthumus Lyons
87th District: Mike Callton
88th District: Bob Genetski
89th District: Amanda Price
90th District: Joe Haveman
91st District: Holly Hughes
County Commission:
1st District: Theodore Vonk
2nd District: Thomas Antor
3rd District: Roger Morgan
4th District: Gary Rolls
6th District: Michael Wawee
7th District: Stan Ponstein
9th District: Harold Voorhees
11th District: Jim Saalfeld
12th District: Harold Mast
13th District: Dick Vander Molen
14th District: Carol Hennessy
15th District: Dick Bulkowski
16th District: Jim Talen
18th District: Dan Koorndyk
19th District: Shana Shroll
Don’t Handcuff Michigan – Vote NO on Prop 1
Certainty is a vitally important ingredient for business success. It creates a foundation for growth and encourages long-term investment in our state. On November 2, Michigan voters can create a great deal of uncertainty and stall progress if they approve a constitutional convention (Con-Con) for Michigan.
The Con-Con ballot question, Proposal 1, automatically appears every 16 years. If voters approve the question, after just electing a new governor and a nearly brand new legislature, we will vote to elect 148 partisan convention delegates in early 2011. The elected delegates would then convene in Lansing by October or 2011 and the convention could be expected to last until July 2012.
Constitutional conventions in Michigan are unlimited in scope. Delegates could propose a completely new constitution or offer specific amendments. Any issue may be debated, but a convention could be expected to deliberate on issues such as abortion, sales tax, local government structure, same sex marriage, the death penalty, the list goes on and on
If a convention is called for, this will effectively handcuff Michigan’s new leaders as they face the monumental task of reforming state government, fixing the budget and improving our tax structure, amongst other issues that need attention. They will have to stand by and watch as the convention deliberates. Further, it could put business investment in our state on hold until the convention concludes.
The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce urges a NO vote on Prop 1 for the following reasons:
• The current constitution is not the problem with Michigan government. The majority of the problems in Lansing reflect the failures of political leadership, not the constitution. The risk of unintended consequences in a rewriting of the constitution certainly exists. It is our belief that the Michigan constitution is a sound document and that a convention may do more harm than good.
• The state’s constitution should not be used to legislate. A long-standing position of the Chamber has been that policy matters should be weighed by the legislature and that the legislative process should not be circumvented. Frustration with our elected officials is not reason enough to support the call for a convention.
• Adequate mechanisms exist to amend the constitutions. Amendments, where deemed appropriate by the electors, can best be achieved on an issue-by-issue basis rather than through a complete revision. Since 1963, the Michigan constitution has been amended 31 times, while 37 proposed amendments have been rejected by voters.
• Constitutional amendments should be used with sound cause. Study of these amendments on their merits is necessary to avoid disastrous unintended consequences. For passage of a new constitution, without proper study and in a short timeframe, may lead to unintended consequences.
• There are number of strong provisions in the current document. Provisions such as the Headlee tax limits and prohibition on new state mandates without state funding.
• Cost of holding a convention. Given the ongoing billion dollar deficits facing the state each year, the estimated $45 million cost of a convention will have an impact on the services state government provides. And there will be no guarantee that when the process is over that voters will even adopt a new constitution resulting from the convention.
• Michigan has a modern constitution. We were one of 13 states to revise their state constitution between 1948 and 1975. Only two states have gone through the revision exercise since Michigan completed it its current constitution in 1963.
The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce does not believe the constitution is a perfect document. However, there is no overriding fault in the constitution that warrants a complete rewrite. The Chamber strongly believes the status quo in Michigan must change. It shares the frustration of members and the public with the inaction by the State of Michigan to enact meaningful reform to eliminate the structural deficit and create an environment that promotes economic success. Still, no compelling argument has been made to justify the uncertainty caused by having a legislature and a convention meeting at the same time during a continued fiscal crisis.
A broad statewide coalition has come together to oppose Proposal 1 and urge Michigan voters to Vote NO. Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution is made up of leading groups representing agriculture, education, faith, manufacturing, business – both large and small, transportation and infrastructure, real estate, and medicine. Coalition members may often disagree on matters of public policy, but they all agree a Constitutional Convention is a step back for Michigan.
Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution consists of:
Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan
Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
GreenStone Farm Credit Services
Michigan Townships Association
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Farm Bureau
Michigan Small Business Association
Michigan Railroads Association
Michigan Catholic Conference
Michigan Association of Realtors
Michigan Oil and Gas Association
Michigan Manufacturers Association
Michigan Nurses Association
Michigan Business and Professional Association
Michigan State Medical Society
Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association
National Federation of Independent Business
Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan
The Chamber's Position Paper on the Con Con can be found here.
Kent County committee debates funding farmland preservation in light of public safety layoffs
From The Grand Rapids Press
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/10/kent_county_committee_debates.html
GRAND RAPIDS -- Days after Kent County Commissioner Bill Hirsch threatened to hold up the county's $165 million 2011 budget over $75,000 for a controversial farmland preservation program, members of the county's powerful Finance Committee are questioning whether the program deserves any funding at all.
Hirsch, R-Gaines Township, last week told the full county board he and other commissioners would not vote for the proposed 2011 budget which includes $275,000 for the county's Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program unless funding is increased. Hirsch said the county needs to increase funding to at least $350,000 next year to meet a commitment made last year to provide $1 million for the program through 2012.
On Tuesday, Finance Committee member Harold Voorhees, R-Wyoming, a longtime opponent of county funding for the program, expressed concerns about whether the program should receive any money at all given plans to lay off three sheriff's department road patrol deputies and two investigators. To nods of agreement from several other committee members, Voorhees said the county has higher priorities right now than funding farmland preservation.
"There are so many reasons that we should not be funding PDR at the expense of keeping public safety officers," Voorhees said. "I have grave concerns that we are reducing public safety."
Commissioners opposed to county funding for the program asked Commissioner Jim Talen, D-Grand Rapids, when a subcommittee he chairs expects to report on alternative funding methods, including a possible dedicated millage. The subcommittee was formed after a $250,000 Frey Foundation and other federal grants stalled while commissioners debate whether the county can afford meet matching fund requirements.
Talen reiterated Tuesday that the subcommittee has not yet completed its work, to the disappointment of PDR funding opponents who said the information would be helpful as they considered the county's spending plan for next year. Talen later expressed concerns about the county's budget process. which specifies the finance committee make a recommendation to the full board which then is allowed only an up or down vote on the entire budget.
Talen has expressed concerns that there are enough votes on the full county board to fully fund the program; a 5-4 majority of finance committee members oppose county funding. He defended the subcommittee's lengthy process, saying he believes its job was to recommend a funding solution beyond 2012 when the county's $1 million commitment expires.
"I've been concerned about this since day one because of the process," Talen said. "When you have a board that's generally in support of funding PDR and that support can be scuttled by a minority on a committee, that's a concern."
Several commissioners a year ago expressed frustration when during the 2010 budget process amendments seeking funding for a number of pet projects was rejected by board leadership noting a violation of board rules and county budget policy. Dan Ophoff, the county's in-house counsel, said budget rules can be suspended by a two-thirds majority vote of the board.
West Michigan Advocate Passes
State Representative Robert B. Jones passed on October 17th at age 66. Jones, a former mayor of Kalamazoo, was a tremendous advocate for West Michigan.
"We are deeply saddened by the death of Representative Jones, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time,” said Jeanne Englehart, President & CEO of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. "He was a true public servant and served with the highest integrity.”
Robert Jones had been fighting esophageal cancer since last year. Throughout his battle he maintained an upbeat spirit as he represented the residents of Kalamazoo.
Post Election Politics & Pints - Monday, November 8
When: Monday, November 8th
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Where: Ottawa Tavern
151 Ottawa Ave. NW
Cost: $20 (drinks and appetizers)
The Friends of West Michigan Business, Fifth Third Bank and Michigan Legislative Consultants invite you to join us for happy hour with our newly elected West Michigan officials.
Don’t miss this post election party! The work to move Michigan forward is just beginning!
Register here for Politics & Pints.