Priorities
For the past two decades, Michigan has struggled to be a population growth state. As your next governor, every issue we tackle together will be focused on one goal: growing our population to keep our children here.
REFORM TAXES TO MAKE MICHIGAN AFFORDABLE
The Problem:
Half of the Country’s top 10 growth states have no income tax or an income tax lower than Michigan’s. Eight of the ten have substantially lower property taxes.
Since 2019, the state’s budget has grown from $59.6 billion to $82.5 billion, and the state’s general fund is up $5 billion. If we are going to become a growth state, it’s time to empower our citizens with a tax cut.
Tom’s Solution:
Immediately cut the income tax to 3.9% and begin the process of phasing it out completely.
Michigan’s effective property tax rate is the second worst in the Midwest, behind only Illinois. It’s time to reduce property taxes. In addition, property tax caps should not be lifted upon the sale of a home and all local millages should be placed on the November ballot when voter turnout is highest.
EMPOWER WORKERS
The Problem:
Since the repeal of Michigan’s Right to Work law in March of 2024, the state’s unemployment rate has gone from 3.9% to 5.5%, making us the second-worst state in the nation for employment.
Tom’s Solution:
Right to work laws protect workers and create economic growth. No person should be forced to join a union as a condition of employment. In 2023, nine of the country’s top ten growth states were also right to work states. Michigan must restore its right to work law.
ENSURE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
The Problem:
Michigan is one of the worst states for government transparency and accountability. In 2015, the Center for Public Integrity gave Michigan an “F” grade, and in 2020, the Coalition for Integrity ranked Michigan 48 out of 50 for anti-corruption measures. This must end. Accountability breeds success.
For Michigan to become a growth state, our elected officials must be accountable to the people they serve. This starts with the Governor.
Tom’s Solution:
Subject the executive branch and legislature to FOIA and open records searches.
Ensure full economic development transparency – Michigan taxpayers deserve to know every company that receives a subsidy, the amount received, and how the money was spent.
Double the budget of the Michigan Auditor General, which will put more investigators on the ground to hold departments accountable.
Implement zero-based budgeting to force the executive and every department head to justify every tax dollar being spent.
Make every state worker more responsive – If a state phone rings more than four times, the call should immediately be forwarded to the department director.
BETTER SCHOOLS FOR OUR KIDS
The Problem:
Michigan’s education system ranks in the bottom-10 in the country and last in the Midwest. Less than 40 percent of our state’s third graders can read proficiently. The best way to ensure jobs providers will expand and locate here is to ensure every child is receiving a quality education.
Tom’s Solution:
Address our state’s literacy crisis with proven reforms that include universal screening for elementary students, early intervention and targeted support with high quality tutors for those who are falling behind, and ensuring parents are engaged and empowered in this process.
Address Michigan’s teacher shortage through merit pay and support. Our state should reward effective teachers and fire bad ones.
Protect and expand school choice. Allow parents to choose the education option that’s best for their child. This includes protecting your child’s right to home school.
Ensure education transparency. All curriculum, staff training, and school expenditures should be posted online for parents to easily review.
ENHANCE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Problem:
One in five (1.7 million) of Michigan’s citizens suffer from a mental health issue, and half are not receiving treatment. Nearly 40% of our high school students have experienced depression and nearly 8% reported attempting suicide.
There’s not a single bed in the Upper Peninsula for psychiatric care. In Michigan’s prisons, 33% of inmates are being treated for a mental health issue and the situation in our local jails is worse. Tackling Michigan’s mental health crisis has always been a priority for me.
In 2007, I worked alongside the Genesee County Probate Judge who started the first mental health court in the state. As a legislator, I updated “Kevin’s law” to assist families with loved ones that need mental health treatment. As Speaker, I put together the “C.A.R.E.S task force,” which identified and tackled several issues facing our mental health system.
Tom’s Solution:
Our state must be a leader in ending the mental health stigma. No person should be ashamed to get the help they need. Public health campaigns and better education in schools would be a start.
Treatment courts have proven to be a success. These courts must be properly funded and expanded.
For parolees in our prison system with mental health issues, greater options are needed for long-term living arrangements so they can receive the treatment they need upon exiting prison.
All school students should have access to tele-mental health services, which has proven effective for a fraction of the cost.
SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT
The Problem:
Assaults on police officers recently hit a record high. Over 75% of our local governments are having problems recruiting police officers, and 50% of police chiefs have reported their workforce is insufficient to provide basic services.
50% of our county prosecutors do not have enough staff to have an attorney present and prepared at all hearings. Over 98% of rank-and-file State Troopers have lost confidence in their Colonel. The bottom line: morale for law enforcement is at an all-time low, and we must reverse this trend to keep our communities safe.
As a former prosecutor that has been in the courtroom and on the streets with our officers, I will always have their back.
Tom’s Solution:
Recruitment and retention of law enforcement must be a top priority. When officers flee cities like Chicago, our state should be a landing spot. Signing bonuses, higher pay, tuition reimbursement for officers seeking degrees or certifications, and better mental health services should all be a priority. Our State should also focus on recruitment campaigns that include community outreach and offering more certification classes across the state.
To boost morale, Michigan’s next governor must have the backs of officers. Any legislation to eliminate cash bail or qualified immunity should be greeted with a veto pen. All recruitment and promotions within the Michigan State Police should be based on merit
REBUILD OUR ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE
The Problem:
Michigan has some of the worst roads in the country, and the worst roads in the state are in our local communities. Crumbling roads and bridges will continue to inhibit our state’s growth. The time for action is now.
Tom’s Solution:
Michigan collects nearly $1 billion per year in tax revenue at the pump that does not go to roads. This must end. Every dollar collected at the pump must go to fixing our roads.
Mining regulations are costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year. It’s time to streamline these regulations to lower the cost of building roads.
In 2023, lawmakers authorized $4.1 billion in corporate welfare and have appropriated $2.5 billion into the newly created “SOAR” program since 2021. Programs that pick winners and losers by handing billions to select companies should be eliminated immediately and this money spent on rebuilding Michigan’s crumbling roads and bridges.
SAFEGUARD FARMERS & FARMLAND
The Problem:
Michigan’s farmers contribute over $125 billion annually to our state’s economy and employ over 20% of our workforce, making it the state’s second-largest industry.
For Michigan’s to succeed, our farmers must succeed. Unfortunately, agriculture is under attack by environmentalists pushing for burdensome regulations and zoning laws to replace farmland with their green energy agenda.
Michigan’s next governor must safeguard farmers from burdensome regulations that will force them out of the industry, ensure farming remains profitable, and that farmland is preserved.
Tom’s Solution:
Appoint department directors who understand the critical importance of Michigan’s agriculture industry and will work with our farmers, not against them.
Ensure that Michigan’s Right to Farm Act and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) are preserved.
Expand broadband to rural residents and businesses.
Give more flexibility to Michigan’s Merit Curriculum to empower those students focused on a career in the trades.
Repeal recent zoning laws that will replace thousands of acres of farmland with solar panels and wind turbines.
BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Problem:
Our families are experiencing an affordable housing crisis. Over the past five years, the average home price in Michigan is up $100,000, and rent is 40% higher.
Property taxes are up over 25%, crushing those on a fixed income. To keep our children here and attract others, we must lower the cost for our families to achieve the American Dream of owning a home.
Tom’s Solution:
Metro Detroit has some of the strictest building regulations in the country. We must eliminate needless regulations and grant reciprocity to skilled trade workers from across the country. Let builders build and workers work.
Avoid unnecessary mandates like rent control that stops investment.
We must lower property taxes to ensure new families can purchase a home and retirees can stay in their homes.
SUSTAIN MICHIGAN’S ENERGY
The Problem:
Energy costs are too high and reliability is a problem. Michigan’s families deserve lower prices and fewer power outages.
Tom’s Solution:
Expand energy choice and competition to create access to all sources of energy, which includes nuclear power that is a proven reliable and clean energy source.
Recent “net zero” green energy mandates will cost Michigan’s families thousands of dollars each year. These mandates should be repealed immediately.
Stop any attempt to clear Michigan land for green energy and repeal recent local control legislation that forces thousands of acres of solar panels and wind turbines onto our rural communities.
Begin construction on the Line 5 tunnel immediately. 65% of our Upper Peninsula citizens depend on it to heat their homes.
Invest and modernize our aging power lines and ensure tree trimming and vegetation management to stop consistent power outages.
PROTECTING OUR HUNTING HERITAGE
The Problem:
Michigan is one of the top five states for licensed hunters and fishermen. A recent study found that hunters and anglers contribute over $11.2 billion to our state’s economy and are responsible for over 170,000 jobs.
Hunters come from all walks of life and ages. Policies and regulations are often promoted that would burden Michigan’s hunters and our state’s hunting industry.
Tom’s Solution:
Michigan has nearly 10 million acres of land, or approximately 25-30% of its total land area available for hunting. This land should be open and accessible to hunters. State owned land should never be cleared and dedicated for green energy mandates.
Recent zoning laws that will replace thousands of acres of farm and hunting land with solar panels and wind turbines should be repealed immediately.
Wolves are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Our state should put in place a framework for wolf management if federal delisting ever occurs.
Michigan’s next DNR Director must do everything within their power to promote, foster, and grow Michigan’s hunting heritage, not impede it.
Article 1, Section 6 of the Michigan State Constitution: “Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state.” Michigan’s next governor must protect this right, not only for our state’s hunters, but for every other citizen. This should start with making Michigan a Constitutional Carry state.
Every dollar brings us one step closer to putting Michigan back in the hands of working people by electing Tom to Governor.
