As Michigan ventures into another year of divided government, the need for sound policy solutions is greater than ever. The state must have a fiscally responsible government and the Mackinac Center strives to make sure that taxpayer dollars are well spent. This means eliminating corporate handouts and other frivolous spending that benefit a select few at the expense of the taxpayers. All workers in Michigan have the freedom to disassociate themselves from a union, but these rights are under attack. Mackinac will continue to protect these rights and make unions more transparent and responsive to the needs of workers. Overregulation puts needless hurdles in the way of people gaining employment, which is why Mackinac is working to reduce unnecessary regulations.

To ensure that every child has access to a good education, Mackinac will continue promoting policies that give more options to parents and put competitive pressure on schools to improve. As healthcare costs continue to soar, Mackinac is focusing on policies that will help contain these costs by putting guard rails on the state’s expensive programs. Rising electricity rates are killing businesses and making Michigan less competitive with its neighbors. That’s why Mackinac is pushing for responsible energy policies that reduce the cost of electricity for all consumers. Criminal justice reforms are a critical issue and Mackinac will continue to promote reforms to reduce overcriminalization, treat all former offenders equally, and reduce costs for taxpayers. 2020 provides a unique opportunity for bipartisan collaboration, and Mackinac looks forward to reporting this session’s hard-won successes.