Main Street Agenda
VIRG BERNERO’S ECONOMIC PLAN: THE MAIN STREET AGENDA
For too long, state government has made policies that help the well-financed and well-connected. That’s been good for Wall Street and companies that ship jobs overseas, but not for people on Main Street.
Virg believes we need to shake-up state government to finally create policies that actually make a difference for middle class families and small business owners.
We must make Michigan the #1 place in the country to do business – because that means JOBS.
Small business especially must be promoted and nurtured, as this is where the bulk of new jobs will be created. Virg has a proven track record of helping small businesses grow as Mayor of Lansing. Michigan has been robbed of our recovery by Wall Street banks that have redlined our state and dried up credit for small businesses. Virg is the only state leader who has offered a solution to this problem.
Virg Bernero's Economic Plan:
- Break the credit crunch to help businesses invest and grow.
Wall Street banks have redlined Michigan businesses, denying loans to profitable, credit-worthy entrepreneurs. Reports show this lack of credit is the number one problem facing Michigan’s economy—when businesses can’t get a loan, they can’t invest and create jobs. Virg is the only state leader who has offered a solution to this problem. Virg will create a Main Street Bank similar to North Dakota’s state bank that will partner with local Michigan lenders -- not compete with them – to help them make more private sector loans to Michigan businesses. This single act will help break the credit crunch for businesses, allowing our entrepreneurs to create hundreds of thousands of Michigan jobs. - Make Michigan’s tax structure more business friendly.
Virg will eliminate the MBT surcharge (written by Snyder running mate Brian Calley) and work with the business community to create further reforms to make Michigan’s business taxes more fair and predictable. Unlike Virg’s opponent, Virg will NOT raise taxes on small businesses— Snyder’s plan for a 6% (or possibly higher, he’s said) across the board sales tax would raise taxes on thousands of small businesses. Snyder’s oversimplified, half-baked plan would also eliminate key job-creating tax incentives for R&D and manufacturing; Virg will preserve these important job creation tools. Virg will also create a tax structure that promotes export-oriented manufacturing and rewards companies for creating Michigan jobs and will fight to stop outsourcing. - Cut the red tape.
In Lansing, Virg created a system called Lansing Stat to measure government outcomes to help create informed budget priorities and identify bureaucratic delays for business creation and expansion. When excessive red tape is identified, immediate action is taken. Virg will replicate this system to create MI-Stat to slash red tape and measure government outcomes at the state level. - Stand up for Michigan manufacturing.
Virg believes that manufacturing is not only a proud part of Michigan’s past, it is also a critical component to our economic future. Virg has grown manufacturing jobs in Lansing every month this year. Hi-tech, advanced technology manufacturing can create thousands of good paying jobs and make Michigan the engine of America’s economy once again. Rick Snyder says of Michigan manufacturing, “It’s time to put that to bed and move on.” Virg couldn’t disagree more. He’ll preserve tax incentives for manufacturing, focusing especially on export-oriented manufacturing to help Michigan companies sell our products to the world. - Make Michigan the world leader in new energy R&D and production.
As developing countries’ economies grow, the demand for and cost of fossil fuels will explode in the coming decades. Demand for alternative energy will increase in turn, and the leader in new energy technology will be a global economic epicenter. As the founding chairman of the national Mayors Automotive Coalition (MAC), Virg led the successful fight to secure more than $800 million from the federal government to clean up environmental contamination at former General Motors plant sites. As Governor, Virg will lead efforts to transform these relics into powerful engines of the new energy economy through the designation of “Green Manufacturing Zones” to create thousands of new jobs in solar and wind power, biomass, electric battery and new vehicle technology and other new energy sectors. - Replicate Lansing's International Development Zones Statewide
To attract foreign investment here rather than watch our companies invest abroad, Virg made Lansing the first EB-5 international investment zone in the state. These International Business Investment Zones create a powerful magnet for new foreign investment. The EB–5 Regional Center is a Federal designation that creates a powerful magnet for new foreign investment by offering permanent U.S. residency to foreign nationals who invest at least $500,000 in a new venture that creates at least 10 Michigan jobs. As Governor, Virg will work to make every major city in Michigan an EB–5 Regional Center as part of a statewide network of Michigan International Business Investment Zones. - Rebuild Michigan's Failing Infrastructure and Fix Our Roads.
Virg knows we cannot build a 21st century economy on 19th century infrastructure. We can put people to work right away and dramatically improve our roads and bridges by investing in Michigan's critical infrastructure. Because of the failure of current state leaders to meet federal matching requirements for road and bridge repair funds, Virg will work with Michigan's congressional delegation and the White House to secure a federal waiver of matching fund requirements for Michigan's 2011–2015 road repair plan. Securing the waiver will leverage more than $2 billion in road and bridge repairs while keeping 10,000–12,000 people on the job rebuilding Michigan‘s critical infrastructure. Virg will also work with an alliance of so-called “donor states” to finally fix the federal formula that forces Michigan taxpayers to pay more than we get back in federal road funding. - Help stop falling home values.
A single foreclosure brings down home values for every home in the neighborhood. Virg will implement a foreclosure moratorium to stop Wall Street banks from continuing to toss Michigan families from their homes in droves. Stopping foreclosures not only helps middle class families who are down on their luck, it also helps keep EVERYONE’S home values from dropping. Homeowners across Michigan are already underwater on their mortgages and need action now. - Freeze tuition costs.
Studies show that public universities have raised tuition approximately the same amount of money the state has cut in recent years. That shows that universities have not done enough to tighten their belts as local governments and K-12 schools have been required to do. Virg will work with our universities to avoid substantial cuts to state higher-ed funding if they agree to become more efficient and stop hiking tuition rates. - Keep our kids and grandkids here.
As mayor, Virg worked to enhance Lansing's entertainment and cultural experiences, with a particular focus on retaining young talent. He was highly successful, and Lansing was named one of Kiplinger's Top 10 for Places for Young People to live in the country. He’ll do what he did for Lansing in cities across Michigan, helping our cities revitalize their downtowns and entertainment districts and creating new economic and educational opportunities for young people. - Strengthen education.
Virg believes Education IS Economic Development. Excellent schools attract businesses and families to our communities. Investing in our kids arms them with the tools to succeed in a global economy and makes Michigan’s workforce more competitive—drawing more businesses here. Our world-class universities are creating new cutting edge products that hold tremendous economic potential. Better educated Michiganders earn and spend more at Michigan businesses. And assisting laid off workers by strengthening retraining and bolstering vocational education in our schools will help ensure Michigan workers can secure 21st Century skilled jobs. We cannot grow Michigan if we do not strengthen education. Click here to view Virg’s Education Plan. - Keep Fighting for Fair Trade, Not Free Trade.
Virg will continue his forceful national advocacy for fair trade, not free trade, to bring jobs back to Michigan from China and elsewhere. Fair trade policies are critical, as we will not see a sustained economic recovery as long as Michigan jobs keep flowing overseas. Without fair trade, there is no reason to believe that the green products of the future, including electric cars, solar panels and windmills won't be made in China, India, Taiwan, Japan and Korea, much like other products. Governor Bernero's mantra will be "if you want to sell it here, you should make it here. And we will help you Make It In Michigan!"