For Immediate Release: January 21, 2010
Bouchard: Public-private partnerships will result
in cost savings, creative options for Michigan
Oakland County – Mike Bouchard, Republican candidate for governor, today called for Michigan to aggressively explore expanding its rest areas into service centers as a way to save tax dollars and generate revenues for critical budget purposes while opening the door for creative service options.
“Michigan can’t remain mired in the same old way of doing business,” said Bouchard, who has earned the reputation as an innovator for his cost-saving initiatives as Oakland County sheriff. “Fixing Lansing demands that we break out of the mold and chart a new course. Pursuing the benefits of public-private partnerships is a common-sense place to start. This untapped potential could very well lead to lower costs, exciting new service options and employment opportunities. Michigan’s rest areas are an excellent example of state services that may be enhanced through the proper partnerships.”
Bouchard pointed out that other states are moving toward public-private partnerships. In Connecticut, for example, a private-equity firm will rebuild and operate the state’s 23 rest stops in return for a share of their revenues, according to published reports. The facilities also will begin housing restaurants and fueling stations.
Under Bouchard’s plan, the private entity would invest in improving our rest areas and creating service plazas and be responsible for maintaining the facilities, resulting in a savings to the state. The plan also would generate tax revenues for critical budget purposes including road and bridge repair. A percentage of tax revenues would be used to expand training and the use of adaptive technology for those with disabilities.
Michigan and federal laws require that concessions on state property be operated by a person who is blind. Bouchard pledged to work with members of Michigan’s disability community to ensure adherence to the laws if he is elected.
He explained that Michigan needs a waiver from the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation to accomplish this goal.
“As governor, I will pursue the necessary waivers within my first 90 days in office,” Bouchard said. “If other states can do it, Michigan certainly can. It’s all about building partnerships that respect the law, the needs of taxpayers and the convenience of customers.”
Elmer L. Cerano, executive director of Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service Inc., pointed out that while his organization cannot endorse political candidates or their campaigns, it does support concepts such as the one proposed by Bouchard. MPAS is a statewide organization that advocates and protects the legal rights of people with disabilities in Michigan.
“This initiative will increase and more effectively leverage state revenues to provide new training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities,” Cerano said. “We care deeply about these issues.”
The Michigan Department of Transportation operates and maintains rest areas along major freeways and roadways for the convenience of travelers. They offer restroom facilities, picnic areas, telephones, pet exercise areas, paved parking lots and fresh drinking water.
“Michigan was built on determination and ingenuity,” Bouchard said. “Other states should be following our lead. If Lansing can save precious tax dollars while preserving or even enhancing services, it should not be afraid to do so. Ignoring these possibilities shortchanges Michigan’s hard-working taxpayers.”
Bouchard is experienced in achieving quality services at reduced costs. His program of competitively bidding out food services for Oakland County jail inmates saves local taxpayers $1.6 million a year.
“I challenge Lansing to act boldly and creatively,” Bouchard said. “Michigan can’t afford another eight years of Lansing doing business as usual. As governor, I will lead the charge for greater efficiency and effectiveness in government. Taxpayers deserve nothing less.”
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Paid for by Mike Bouchard for Governor
P.O. Box 1433
Royal Oak, MI 48068
I think this would be a great idea. The cost for rest area’s is more then tax payers realize. I stop in other places that have these & it’s nice when traveling to have a place to stop & do everything at once. It could be a benefit for all if done correctly. If the government can keep the money where it belongs & not get their hands on it to do as they please. Its time to do things differently I agree. Lets make sure the tax payers don’t pay the price in the end by making it look good on paper but in all reality it cost them more. I have seen this a lot.
Dear Mr. Bouchard: over the past 20 years, my company has been responsible for re-inventing as well as developing commercial service plazas along our Nation’s tollroads. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you further to explore how this same template could be implemented into the system of rest areas located in Michigan. Michigan is a great transportation state and this would be a great test ground. I invite you to visit my web page at http://www.warcaba.com. If you have any questions or require additional information, please call me. All of my contact information can be found on our web page.
Thank you
Andy Warcaba
I am writing because I want to volunteer on one of the campaigns this year and your campaign is one that I am considering. First, I need to know if you believe welfare reform is necessary.
I am totally fed up with what I am seeing – the abuse of both the Bridge card and WIC. I cannot believe what I see every time I am in a grocery store. I have seen people selling the money on their card at a discount for cash – for cigarettes mainly. Many gas stations take the Bridge card for anything – cat food, cigarettes, … anything. I have actually been told by some people that they shop a lot at the gas stations because they can buy anything they want since their cash registers are not tied to inventory. I saw a woman yelling in a store that she had 4 gallons of milk left on her WIC card and wasn’t going to use it – “anyone want milk?” I have seen a woman shopping with 2 grown daughters and she told her daughters (I heard her loud & clear) that she lied and said she had kids at home so she get $600+ per month. She told her 2 grown daughters to get what ever they need – she’d never use $600+ in a month. I was behind a woman arguing – on her I-Phone – about what was covered between the Bridge card and WIC just after she told her friend she just spent $200 on her hair extensions and $52 on her rhinestone nails. I could go on & on but this was all with in 1 week. The cashiers tell me I’ve not seen anything. Two stores I go to have told me 75% to 85% of their intake is on the Bridge Card. This is out of control. I personally know a woman that is single, has a 23 year old son (who has never worked – by choice) living with her and she gets $372 per month for the 2 of them. Both my husband & I are well educated and have 2 daughters in college and our taxes help pay for all this abuse. Even when they lived at home, I never spent $372 per month on groceries.
The application for the Bridge Card in this State is a joke. It doesn’t even ask if someone else claims you on their taxes, or if any relative in the same house already gets the assistance. This State could save millions of dollars with some auditing.