Mark's Priorities

Cut Wasteful Spending

To change Michigan, we need to fix our broken state government. That starts with cutting wasteful spending so we can create a smaller, leaner government that focuses its resources on the priorities that matter to us. As Freeman Township Supervisor, I have made budget cuts every year, and I will continue that commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars. I will work to cut the lifetime health care that legislators get – and taxpayers pay for – after only six years on the job; audit every department for wasteful spending; go through the budget line by line to root out waste and redundancies; and eliminate every tax exemption that is not creating jobs for Michigan workers.

I also support posting state spending online so taxpayers can see where their money is going and hold lawmakers accountable. And I support docking their pay when they don’t balance the budget on time or miss work!

Create and Protect Good Jobs for Our Workers

As a longtime small business owner, I know how tough it is to make a living here in Michigan. Our taxes are too high and too complicated, and state regulations are too burdensome. Small businesses employ the vast majority of Michigan’s workers, and we need to support them in order to create and protect local jobs.

I will work across the aisle to support our small businesses by reducing the tax burden, starting with eliminating the MBT surcharge. We need to look at real tax reform that helps businesses succeed and create jobs. We need to support our homegrown entrepreneurs – including our vital agriculture industry – and make Michigan welcoming to new businesses and emerging industries.
I’ll also protect good-paying jobs by fighting outsourcing. Michigan workers are the best in the world, and we have to make sure they come first. We need to reward companies that hire our workers and punish employers who choose to hire illegal immigrants.

Provide a World-Class Education for Our Kids

Education is the best investment we can make in turning Michigan’s economy around. As a father, grandfather and employer, I am deeply concerned about the way our legislators play political games at our kids’ expense.

We need to invest in our schools so they can give our children the top-notch education they need to compete in the global economy. And we need to produce a world-class workforce that will keep our businesses competitive and attract high-tech employers that will provide good-paying jobs. I will fight against cuts to our schools and make education a top priority.

Keep Our Families Safe

Keeping our families, homes, businesses and neighborhoods safe is a top priority for me. I served as a Saginaw firefighter for 11 years, and I know how hard our first responders work and how vital these services are. Yet the state has repeatedly cut the funding that our local governments rely on to pay for police and fire protection. These cuts have caused layoffs all across our state, leaving us and our loved ones vulnerable when we need help in cases of injury, crime, car crashes or fires. I will work to make sure our communities get the funding we need to keep firefighters and law enforcement officers on duty to protect us and our families.

Protect Our Natural Resources

We are blessed here in Michigan with the Great Lakes, rivers, inland lakes, forests and farmland that provide a special way of life for us and also support hundreds of thousands of jobs in our fishing, boating, tourism and agriculture industries. On our state flag there is an image of the sun rising over a lake. Above it is written the word "Tuebor," which is Latin for defend.
As an avid hunter and NRA member, I believe it is our duty to fulfill this sacred obligation and defend our natural resources for future generations. I will protect our land and water by fighting threats like Asian carp and holding oil companies that cause spills accountable for paying for cleaning up their mess.

Make Retirement Secure
Millions of Michigan citizens depend on pensions for their primary or sole source of income. Recent economic circumstances and, in some cases, corporate misconduct have had a drastic negative effect on many residents’ pensions and other retirement benefits. Pension funds need to be secure. I also do oppose the proposal to put a state tax on pensions, and I will fight any attempt to do so.