Analysis
This is a question and answer piece for candidates running for the state house. These are the same questions they asked the state senate candidates. How did the Press decide upon these six questions and why just these six? Why was there also no follow up to comments made by the candidate?
Article Text
Name some concrete steps Michigan should take to increase employment and position itself economically for the future.
Robert Dean: Michigan’s educational system must produce people who have relevant knowledge that can evolve with the changing advances in vocational skills, and a social philosophy that will enable them to connect with people in a diverse society. Diversify the economic base by maintaining our automotive base, increasing tourism, expanding health sciences and attracting new growth industries with incentives and a skilled labor force. Eliminate the perception Michigan business taxes are excessive by restructuring tax generators.
Tim Doyle: Eliminate the Single Business Tax. Try to make Michigan not only attractive to businesses that are here, but also try to attract others. We need to make sure our work force has the skills and education necessary to fill the jobs of the future. The governor and others have said we need to increase four-year degrees in the state. That’s a great goal, but I don’t think everyone will choose to receive a four-year degree. We also have to provide skills and education necessary for specific jobs.
Lauren Hillmer: I believe improving the health of our citizens will help our job climate, first, by reducing the cost associated with poor health. That has a direct impact on the cost of business in the state. One idea is to expand physical education as part of the school curriculum. I would work with others to develop low-cost screening programs to help citizens prevent serious illness, including obesity. I would encourage the next governor to aggressively promote healthy lifestyles.
Do you support a woman’s legal right to an abortion?
Dean: No, except to save the life of the mother.
Doyle: No, except to save the life of the mother.
Hillmer: I won’t face this as a state representative and feel the media pushes this agenda more than ordinary citizens.
Do you support or oppose adding more charter schools?
Dean: Oppose. Charter schools have not proven to be able to educate students better than public schools. Additional charter schools contribute to the erosion of public confidence and funding for public schools.
Doyle: Support. I would be open to expanding, provided there is oversight of the expansion.
Hillmer: Support. My son attends a charter school in Grand Rapids. More parents should have this option as a choice to offer children the best education.
Most people agree the state’s Single Business Tax should be eliminated. That would cut $1.9 billion from the state’s general fund budget. Should all of that money be replaced with a different tax on business?
Dean: Replace all revenue with a broader business tax base, and a lower overall tax rate.
Doyle: Replace a good portion of it with a fair business tax, perhaps a corporate income tax.
Hillmer: If we eliminate special deals for big businesses, we can probably get by without replacing much of what is lost. Lowering taxes will encourage development.
A proposed amendment to the state constitution would prohibit governments and university admissions programs from giving preferential treatment based on race, gender, color, ethnicity or national origin. Do you support this ballot proposal?
Dean: Oppose.
Doyle: Oppose. I think it’s in our economic best interest to have women- and minority-owned businesses.
Hillmer: Support. I don’t think the government should be playing favorites with citizens.
Should we eliminate term limits in Michigan, expand the number of years state lawmakers can serve, or should term limits remain the same?
Dean: Expand.
Doyle: That question should be determined by the voters, not the Legislature.
Hillmer: Moving to term limits seems to have changed things very little.
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