State Rep. Ken Horn

State Rep. Ken Horn, a former Saginaw County commissioner, was elected in November 2006 as the state representative for the 94th District.  He was a small-business owner for almost 15 years, owning and operating Horn’s Restaurant in Frankenmuth.  In 2002, he was appointed by Gov. John Engler to the Michigan Travel Commission where he worked to market Michigan as a travel and vacation destination.  He also participated in the White House Conference on Tourism helping develop a national policy for the travel and tourism industry.  Horn was also a substitute teacher, and most recently, was vice president for donor services at the Saginaw Community Foundation.  Ken is a leader in the Saginaw County community through his volunteer services, including membership in the Frankenmuth Rotary International, Frankenmuth Jaycees, Junior Achievement Teacher, Salvation Army Board, Muscular Dystrophy Association and Saginaw’s Japanese Tea Garden.

Monday

May 12, 2008

Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. Expansion a Must

Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation (HSC) is located in the 94th House District, which I represent.  For those of you not familiar with the corporation, they are the world’s leading producer of computer and solar grade silicon.  They are looking to expand—again.  Michigan is competing with other states to land the next billion dollar expansion. 

The importance of keeping this expansion in Michigan is no secret.  Along with the 1,300 potential jobs and one billion dollar boost to Michigan’s economy, it also sends a strong message to businesses around the country that Michigan is serious about the diversification of its economy, and we will bend over backwards to provide jobs to our citizens.  In essence, the eyes of the world are on us. 

In the midst of complex new business taxes and uncompetitive energy prices, we need to ask the growing industries what they need to flourish in our great state.  These are the businesses that are going to provide billions of dollars to stimulate our economy, as well as put Michigan at the forefront of today’s technological marketplace.   

That is exactly the reason why we introduced legislation to provide a tax incentive to HSC that will offset Michigan’s higher energy costs.  If we’re serious about economic recovery, we can’t keep losing business to other states.  It’s time for Michigan to get serious about providing high quality jobs that will lead to other spin-off jobs and businesses.  I’ve been saying for two and a half years that if we answer the Hemlock Semiconductor question, we’ve taken great steps toward solving Michigan’s economic problems.  Because while HSC is my backyard, the work we do today to create great jobs will bring job providers and employees to grow and live in yours.

Check back tomorrow to hear Ken’s thoughts on welfare reforms.

Tuesday

May 13, 2008

Welfare Reforms Ensure the System Is Inline with Its Intent

Welfare programs serve an important role in our society as a means of helping people get back on their feet during a crisis stage in their lives.  This year, the state is expected to pass out more then $250 million dollars in welfare benefits, an increase of nearly $40 million from the 2006 figures. 

Recently I introduced the Family Dignity Act, which limits cash assistance to those on welfare to 48 months in their lifetime.  Federal assistance ends at five years and causes us to pay 100% of the cash payments when the match money disappears.

More importantly, the bill addresses some underlying causes of dependency on welfare.  Recipients will be required to enroll their children in an early childhood educational program to keep their benefits.  Truancy is addressed by sanctioning parents who don’t get their children to school.  Parents face losing their monthly assistance if they have children who are truant from school.  These measures help to end the generational cycle of welfare by giving families the tools they need to succeed.  Another key feature to the reform allows recipients to qualify for an additional 24 months of assistance once they have repaid the state in full through cash payments or eligible community service.  

The Family Dignity Act is a way to allow Michigan to help those in need, promoting individual pride and responsibility.  Taxpayers are looking for accountability in governmental programs.  These reforms ensure maintaining a helping hand and give families every opportunity to succeed, and at the same time, grows a self-motivated and enthusiastic workforce for your community. 

Check back tomorrow to hear Ken’s thoughts on an investment in tourism.

Wednesday

May 14, 2008

Tourism is an investment we are prepared to make

Recently I chaired a special legislative task force on tourism, and the number one policy recommendation that I heard all across the state was that Michigan needed to step up funding for tourism promotion in order to compete with other states.  Michigan’s “Pure Michigan” advertising campaign needs to hit a broader audience.  The campaign highlights Michigan’s tourism destinations and was awarded the most popular tourism campaign of the country in 2007.

All of this hard work however, is in jeopardy if tourism funding isn’t restored.  That is why I introduced a bill that allocates a projected $60 million dollars to Pure Michigan and other business advertising over the next two years—through refinancing existing debt at lower rates, not new spending.

It is imperative that we strike while the iron is hot.  Tourism is the one industry that can’t be outsourced—these jobs won’t move to other states and countries.  Tourism equals jobs and investment.  Taking Pure Michigan to a wider audience nationwide is one avenue to restore economic health to our state.  We know that every dollar the state spends on tourism equals three dollars back in additional revenue through things such as sales tax and room and board and general purchases. 

The bills gained overwhelming support in the House and Senate and are now on the way to the governor.  As early as this summer, Michigan’s cities and attractions will see the return on this investment.

Check back tomorrow to hear Ken’s two cents.

Thursday

May 15, 2008

My two cents…

A newly formed Michigan Business Tax that hurts many businesses and an increase in the state income tax has paved the way for government to grow on the backs of Michigan citizens.  These tax increases did not provide the state with long-term solutions; instead they set us up for another budget shortfall by next year. 

The truth is that Michigan government has grown $4 billion dollars over the last 5 years at a time when it should have been looking at ways to shrink the same amount.

Nearly one year ago the administration was calling for a two-cent tax increase on services provided to Michigan residents.  At the same time I proposed an alternative “Two Penny Plan.”  While I wrote the plan as a satire in my local paper, it began to resonate in the district.

The plan is for Michigan to save two cents on every dollar spent through reforms.  Cutting is difficult, but 2 percent is achievable without a sweeping loss of programs.  For too long reforms in Lansing have been associated with cuts to essential services the government provides.  However, reforms can also include common sense adjustments to the way the state conducts daily businesses.  Michigan government, like the many families in our state, needs to become serious about the way we are spending the people’s money.

When we’ve controlled the spending, we can set true priorities.  My priorities are public safety and public education.  So, revenue sharing for police and fire are vitally critical.  When local units of government can control more of their own destiny, the dollars get stretched a little farther.

Check back tomorrow to hear Ken’s thoughts on the cross of Frankenmuth.

Friday

May 16, 2008

The Cross of Frankenmuth

Since 1845, the Seal of the City of Frankenmuth has held a cross.  It was also asked to remove the symbols from some street-side flowerboxes.  Local displays are under constant attack, even when they hold historical significance. 

Good grief, what have we come to in this country?  Extreme activists continue to argue that urine-soaked crosses, disguised as publicly funded art must be tolerated, but that a cross in a neighborhood flower box somehow disturbs peace and order within the community.

With some trickery involved, misguided constitutional hobbyists often disregard that Freedom of Religion is an inalienable right given to us by the First Amendment, because they often publicly interpret it as Freedom from Religion.  It causes one to wonder what’s next—eliminating crosses and Jewish stars from our U.S. Military Fields of Honor, or from Arlington Cemetery?

Consider that neither the federal nor state governments, in their constitutional neutrality on freedom of religion, have made laws that force the use of religious symbols.  Nor have they made laws prohibiting their use.  City Hall can’t make laws at all, and while it upholds the neutrality of the Constitution on this subject, it should have every right to abide by its residents wishes.  Which begs the question, when are we the people, as a majority of free-thinking citizens, allowed to determine our local ethics and principles?

Check back on Monday to hear from State Rep. John Proos.