Mike Bouchard says national Sunshine Week
highlights need for greater state transparency

Oakland County – Mike Bouchard, Republican candidate for governor, said the annual observance of national Sunshine Week underscores the need for greater transparency across all levels of Michigan government.

Sunshine Week runs Sunday, March 14 through Saturday, March 20. It is spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors and was started in 2005 as a way to generate dialogue about the public’s right to know.

“Transparency must be more than just a buzz word,” Bouchard said. “It should be a bridge that connects the people to their government. Building that bridge demands a commitment to openness and accountability by those in charge. Unfortunately, not every elected official shares that commitment. Secrecy only serves those in power. The best way to ensure a healthy democracy is to encourage citizen involvement, and we can do that by knocking down barriers that impede their access to government.”

Bouchard continues to be a vocal supporter of increased government transparency, which is a prominent component of his strategy to chart a new course for Michigan. Under Bouchard’s plan:

• State agencies would post online every check written for easier taxpayer review, as well as information on employee salaries and benefits, and unfunded liabilities.
• Fee information for licenses and services would be more prominently featured on the state government Web site.
• As governor, Bouchard would commit to holding twice-a-year round table sessions with the Capitol Press Corps in addition to other news conferences and announcements. He also would instruct his cabinet members to conduct at least one round table a year with the press corps.

Bouchard commended Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land for her leadership on this issue. The Secretary of State’s Office has been putting quarterly spending reports online for two years. They include comprehensive information such as salaries by position, employee travel, contracts and office leases. Such information is typically available to taxpayers only through the Freedom of Information Act.

Land recently posted the fiscal year 2009 report, a 72-page document containing the most detailed spending of any state department. While the Granholm administration has cited cost as a reason not to require all agencies to post detailed spending online, Land’s office produces a meaningful report for less than $3,000 a year. Her office has even put out a handy guide to help other departments do the same.

Bouchard has firsthand experience in ensuring spending transparency as well. Oakland County’s Web site contains informative budget breakdowns of its agencies, including Bouchard’s sheriff’s department.

“Today’s technology makes it easier than ever to put critical information at the public’s fingertips,” Bouchard said. “There’s no excuse for keeping the people’s business under wraps. I encourage all public officials throughout the state to renew their commitment to government transparency during national Sunshine Week.”

Visit www.BouchardforGovernor.com for more information about Bouchard’s strategies for Michigan.

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Paid for by Mike Bouchard for Governor
P.O. Box 1433
Royal Oak, MI 48068

I call the plan my ‘Principles for Lasting Prosperity.’ It’s about right-sizing government, ensuring that taxes and regulation stay low, and fostering an economic climate that allows Michigan residents and businesses to thrive in a global economy. I invite you to visit the newsroom on my website to read my long-term and short-term plans which will institute critical reforms to cut government red tape and break down other barriers that stifle job creation. It is time we follow the right blueprint to fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work.

Mike

SAGINAW — Mike Bouchard, Republican candidate for governor, today announced a comprehensive plan that will give businesses a more predictable and stable tax environment.  His plan encourages long-term job growth by cutting business taxes and restricting government growth and spending so job creators can make decisions about their future investments knowing they’ll have an economic climate that fosters future success.

“If Michigan is going to attract more jobs and investment, we must assure job creators that they will have the tools necessary for success over the long-term,” Bouchard said.  “I call the plan my ‘Principles for Lasting Prosperity.’  It’s about rightsizing government, ensuring that taxes and regulation stay low, and fostering an economic climate that allows Michigan residents and businesses to thrive in a global economy.”

As governor, Bouchard would issue executive orders, push for legislation and champion constitutional amendments to make the reforms necessary to fix Lansing and put Michigan back to work.  His proposals focus on Michigan’s long-term success and ensuring that job providers can and will succeed.  The proposals include:

·         Eliminating the Michigan Business Tax and replacing the business tax system with one that is low, easy to comply with and makes Michigan globally competitive.

·         Moving all future public employees, including school district, local government, and public higher education employees, to a defined contribution plan from a defined benefit plan.

·        Creating a cafeteria-style health-care plan option for all three branches of government. Employees would have two or three choices and can pay for enhanced options or choose reduced coverage. Universities, school districts and local units of government could opt in to lower their insurance rates.

·         Requiring a two-thirds vote in the Legislature for tax increases and hikes in total state spending that outpace prior year private sector spending (Gross Domestic Product minus inflation.) This will protect taxpayers and businesses now and in the future. Bouchard proposed this twice while he was a leader in the Senate.

·         Increasing government transparency by requiring state agencies to post every check written online for taxpayers to review, and by posting state employee salary and benefit information, including unfunded liability information.

·         Systematically reviewing every state agency for efficiency and eliminating optional programs that duplicate federal ones.

·         Having the Legislature become part-time with lawmakers getting part-time pay, and requiring that lawmakers have a budget in place by May 15 or have their pay docked for each day it’s delayed.

·         Creating a two-year rolling budget process based on externally verified numbers that looks ahead three years so lawmakers and the governor can plan for the future and make budget adjustments as needed.

Bouchard made the announcement at the headquarters of Duperon Corp. in Saginaw.  The company designs and manufactures innovative water filtration equipment and sells its products throughout the country and abroad.

“Duperon’s success is what I want to see duplicated across Michigan,” Bouchard said.  “Ensuring that government at all levels lives within its means by keeping spending under control and by offering a reasonable tax and regulation environment lets entrepreneurs know that Michigan is open for business.”

For more information about Bouchard’s plan for creating a long-term prosperous future in Michigan, visit www.BouchardforGovernor.com.

Mike Bouchard’s Principles for Lasting Prosperity

Mike Bouchard is offering a comprehensive plan that will give businesses a more predictable and stable tax environment. His plan encourages long-term job growth by cutting business taxes and restricting government growth and spending so job creators know they’ll have an economic climate that fosters future success. People considering investing in Michigan want to know the state they’re investing in offers a stable, consistent approach to taxes and spending.

Make Michigan a Magnet for Entrepreneurs and Job Creators

As governor, Mike Bouchard will hang an “Open for Business” sign out across Michigan so that entrepreneurs know that state government is ready to assist them in succeeding and not stand in their way.

➢ Scrap the Michigan Business Tax and replace it with one that is low, easy to comply with and will make Michigan competitive. Would require law changes.

➢ Use university-based research and development to stimulate the economy. Bouchard understands the role that Michigan’s universities can play in moving advancements in technology, health care and emerging sectors into the marketplace. As governor, he will use available state resources to support R & D efforts at universities that later can be brought to market by Michigan-based businesses. For those products that have a commercial appeal and generate revenue, a small percentage of the revenue would be placed in a revolving fund that continues investing in our research universities, making the program self- sustaining. Would require executive action.

Keeping the Legislature out of Taxpayers’ Pockets

Raising taxes to solve problems should be the last resort. There needs to be a higher bar for tax increases to be approved. It takes a supermajority to give a law immediate effect so it should at least require the same level of support from the Legislature to take more money out of taxpayers’ pockets.

➢ Require a supermajority (66%) vote in both the House and Senate for tax hikes. Making it more difficult to increase taxes offers taxpayers and businesses protection today and into the future. Would require constitutional amendment.

➢ Require a supermajority (66%) vote of the House & Senate before total state spending — now at $47.9 billion — is permitted to increase faster than private sector spending (Gross Domestic Product minus inflation) has grown in the prior year. Would require constitutional amendment.

Controlling the size of government

Government must do what many private sector employers have already done: reduce spending to reflect the reality of Michigan’s current economic situation. Mike Bouchard will make sure the average pay, health insurance and retirement benefit levels of government employees are reflective of those who they serve and in line with the average benefit levels in the private sector.

➢ Make it a requirement that all public service employees, on average, have wages and benefits that are within 5 percent of those comparable skills in the private sector. Would require constitutional amendment.

➢ Eliminate optional state programs that duplicate federal programs. Halt the creation of all new state programs until existing programs are evaluated and those that no longer meet our needs or are redundant are eliminated. Would require executive action.

➢ Move all future public employees, including those in local government and at our schools, colleges and universities, from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan. Would require constitutional amendment.

➢ Create a cafeteria-style health-care plan option for all three branches of government. Employees would have two or three choices and can pay for enhanced options or choose reduced coverage. Universities, school districts and local units of government could opt in to lower their insurance rates. Would require constitutional amendment.

➢ Systematic review of every state agency. Public spending cloaked in privacy invites waste and mismanagement of public funds. Under Bouchard’s leadership, every agency will be scrutinized with the purpose of eliminating wasteful spending with the ultimate goal of getting a larger percentage of funds to the critical impact point of the core mission, such as a teacher with student, health care services to low income and seniors, or law enforcement on the streets. Would require executive action.

Ensuring Government Works for the People

Mike Bouchard believes that the public has a right to know how their hard-earned money is being spent and how well its government is performing.

➢ Require a two-year state budget with a three-year forecast. Michigan needs to change the way it manages our finances. The current budget process only considers the upcoming fiscal year, ignoring the long-term effects that tax and spending decisions have on the fiscal health of the state. Bouchard would require that a two-year budget be in place by May 15 so schools and local units of government have ample time to plan their budgets. Would require a constitutional amendment.

➢ Ensure that the budget is completed timely and accurately, by requiring an independent financial audit of state finances, that the governor to propose a balanced budget and each chamber only pass a balanced budget. Would require constitutional amendment.

➢ Commence a part-time legislature and reduce pay to a part-time level as well as eliminate health care benefits. Would require constitutional amendment.

➢ Change the current term limit system that allows an individual to serve six years in the House and eight years in the Senate for a total of 14 years to a system that allows an individual to serve a total of 12 years in any combination between the two chambers. This will eliminate the incentive to jump chambers and encourage members work across the aisle and between chambers.

➢ Dock the pay of the Legislature and governor each day the budget is delayed. Would require constitutional amendment.

➢ Create a Taxpayer Disclosure Act that requires all state agencies post every check written online for the public to see. Bouchard will also mandate that salary and benefit information including the unfunded liabilities associated with those benefits are available for public review. This information will be prepared and disclosed in accordance with accounting standards used by private sector employers. Would require executive action.

Benchmark government performance. The most successful businesses know how they stack up to their competition. To improve performance, Bouchard will adopt a private sector approach to running state government that includes benchmarking the state’s performance to that of the private sector as well as competitor states and nations. Michigan will know what policy is needed to be more competitive with other states and the world. Programs that do not contribute to improving the overall business climate in Michigan will face elimination. Would require constitutional amendment.

Weekly Update 3/5 from Mike Bouchard on Vimeo.

Like many parents, I don’t want see our children move out of state, although I understand if that’s their choice. But if our children are forced to move way because that’s the only way they can find a job, then that’s a tragedy.

We now can see the sad extent of people who have left Michigan in a Lansing State Journal story from this week:

“As a whole, Michigan posted a net loss of 37,340 households in that period, the highest outflow of any state. Florida and Texas registered the highest net gains in households moving from Michigan , according to the IRS data.”

To get Michigan moving in the right direction, we need bold leadership that will make critical reforms to state government. As your governor, I will have the knowledge, experience and backbone to make the tough decisions that are necessary.

Please support my campaign to be our state’s next governor. With your help, I will fix Lansing and put Michigan back to work.

Mike

In the article, Tom Watkins, the former state schools superintendent, rightly calls our state’s excellent network of community colleges “the grand entranceway to enhancing knowledge and skills, and giving individuals a boost up life’s economic ladder while strengthening our communities.”

Community colleges offer Michigan residents – whether they’re newly graduated from high school or older workers looking to unlock new opportunities – an excellent way to develop skills at a reasonable cost.  The education offered at them not only helps people find good-paying jobs but also helps attracts new jobs to Michigan because employers know they will have access to a pool of highly skilled potential employees to draw from.

Michigan ’s jobs of tomorrow will depend on additional training and skills.  Michigan ’s world-class higher-education system, including community colleges and four-year institutions, is preparing Michigan workers for the future.

Mike

Bouchard breaks new ground
with innovative mobile phone app

Oakland County – Wanna keep up with Mike Bouchard? Just reach for your mobile phone.

Bouchard, Republican candidate for governor, today rolled out a cutting-edge application for Android phones that gives users immediate access to news about his campaign, including announcements and special events. A similar application for iPhones soon will come online.

“This is the type of bold, fresh thinking that Michigan needs,” Bouchard said. “It represents the ‘can-do’ attitude that my team and I will bring to the Governor’s Office. Embracing technology can bring people and their government closer together. This exciting application provides opportunities for direct interaction with residents across the state. Citizens shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to stay in touch with their public servants. This application bridges that gap with the tap of a touch-screen.”

The application, named “Bouchard4Gov” and sporting a sheriff’s star graphic, downloads quickly.

“We’re already getting a tremendous response,” Bouchard said. “I’m proud to be a pioneer in this new age of communication. Getting Michigan back on track demands that we stop doing business as usual, and that’s what my campaign is all about. The Bouchard team is brimming with creative ideas that we will use to fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work.”

Visit www.bouchardforgovernor.com to learn more about the Android application.

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Paid for by Mike Bouchard for Governor
P.O. Box 1433
Royal Oak, MI 48068

It was also a good reminder about the need to preserve and protect our rights, whether it is hunting and fishing or those guaranteed by the Second Amendment. We can’t take these rights for granted. Rest assured that as Michigan’s next governor, I will be a staunch advocate for sportsmen and women. As an avid hunter, I have instilled this love of Michigan’s outdoor heritage in my children. To this day, all three of my kids enjoy hunting, as do thousands of other Michiganders.

I’m pleased to report that so many folks attending Outdoorama were excited to sign my petitions, which allows my name to appear on the Aug. 3 primary ballot. Thanks to all who signed or circulated these petitions. Your support means a lot to me. We still welcome volunteers who want to circulate petitions in other areas as well, so let us know if you can help.

I hope you’ll join my fight to protect our outdoor heritage, as well as to fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work. See you in the great outdoors!

Mike

‘Stop Wasting Time, Start Creating Jobs’
Bouchard announces plan to make Michigan more competitive

Lansing – Michigan can once again be a state with a thriving economy and abundant jobs, Republican candidate for governor Mike Bouchard said today, but steps must be taken to reverse current policies that undermine the state’s competitiveness.

Bouchard announced his “Stop Wasting Time, Start Creating Jobs” plan, which would institute critical reforms to cut government red tape and break down other barriers that stifle job creation. The changes would establish a new regulatory environment that is more reasonable and predictable for businesses and would streamline Michigan’s economic development system to make it more effective.

“There is no time to waste,” Bouchard said. “We need to get the old way that Michigan does business out of the way. Government should be working with, rather than against, job creators and making it easier for them to grow and invest here.”

Bouchard’s plan calls for a freeze of all pending regulatory rules until a review of existing regulations is completed. As governor, Bouchard would not sign any regulatory bills into law until a detailed cost-benefit analysis is done on behalf of the citizens and job providers it would affect. He would also require environmental and regulatory standards to be based on sound science and reasoning.

The state’s permitting process would be reformed, with some permit mandates eliminated and the rest simplified. The review process would be expedited and timelines set in stone, so businesses looking to locate or expand in Michigan can depend on specific dates when planning.

“With Michigan’s current regulatory burdens and tax structure, we cannot compete with other states in the Union – let alone the world,” Bouchard said. “We can and must take the steps needed to make our state an economic contender again.”

His plan would overhaul the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and consolidate the current 300 pages of economic development laws into a single, coherent Michigan Economic Development Code.

“We will also end the practice of helping favored businesses and industries rather than the economy as a whole,” Bouchard said. “Programs that pick winners and losers must go.”

To help job providers satisfy Michigan’s regulatory requirements in a timely manner, Bouchard would assemble a team of “economic development account executives” who would be charged with helping businesses cut through government red tape, secure necessary permits and navigate their way through government requirements successfully.

Bouchard recognizes that the top two creators of jobs are business startups and businesses that expand. Therefore, he would focus government efforts and incentives more on growing businesses in Michigan.

“An environment that improves the health of our ‘home-grown’ businesses will have a much greater impact on Michigan’s economy than policies that are designed to get companies to relocate,” Bouchard said.

Citing the current administration’s use of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds (ARRA) to balance the state’s budget rather than making significant structural reforms to state government, Bouchard vowed to use any available ARRA funds to “foster job creation not government preservation.”

The “Stop Wasting Time, Start Creating Jobs” plan is part of Bouchard’s blueprint to fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work. It draws on his experience as a small-business owner and as a former state senator who helped bring Michigan to better economic times in the 1990s.

Visit BouchardforGovernor.com, for more information on Bouchard’s plan to fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work.

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Paid for by Mike Bouchard for Governor
P.O. Box 1433
Royal Oak, MI 48068

Governor will pay for out-of-state prisoners but stiffs local sheriffs

Oakland County – Mike Bouchard, Republican candidate for governor and sheriff of Oakland County, urged the governor who is accepting out-of-state prisoners to honor her commitment to sheriffs for housing felons in county jails.

In a new revenue generating scheme, with Gov. Granholm’s approval, the first wave of Pennsylvania prisoners was quietly received in Michigan without notice to local residents. To make way for the prisoners, the Michigan Department of Corrections is emptying beds as quickly as possible and shipping its felons to county jails across the state. This wrong-headed approach not only puts dollars before public safety but increases the strain on local budgets as well.

“Gov. Granholm has our state accepting money from Pennsylvania to house its prisoners,” Bouchard said. “But this is the same governor who refuses to honor her commitment to local sheriff’s departments that are housing the inmate overflow from the Michigan Department of Corrections. It seems the governor has no problem stiffing local government. Interestingly, she is gladly accepting money for the same services that she refuses to pay for.”

Bouchard pointed out that the governor’s approach is flawed on several counts.

“First, Michigan should not become the destination for our nation’s criminals,” Bouchard said. “That will not address our state’s long-term problems. Second, Michigan should not be releasing career criminals from its prisons back into our communities. Finally, Lansing must follow the lead of cities and counties and find creative ways to balance its budget — it should not be shifting its burden to local units of government.”

Bouchard called on the governor to make good on state contracts.

“Governor, we implore you to pay your bills. Counties have held up their end of the bargain and reduced state costs by housing state prisoners,” Bouchard said. “In return, you vetoed $16 million from this year’s budget for sheriff agencies in 83 counties. You are now reneging on the terms of the state contract for properly reimbursing the counties for their services. Please live up to your end of the deal. Your action is causing budget shortfalls in local counties. To be clear, you are not just shorting local units of government, you are placing public safety in jeopardy.”

Bouchard encouraged the state to follow Oakland County’s lead as an excellent example of sound fiscal management. Competitively bidding food service in the county jail saves taxpayers more than $1.6 million a year. Doing that at the state level would save an estimated $40 million annually.

In addition, Oakland County uses a two-year budgeting process based on a three-year outlook, which allows officials to make adjustments if necessary.

“Reducing costs will help us keep our criminals behind bars where they belong,” Bouchard said. “The governor’s actions are just one more example of the lack of leadership in Lansing. Our state needs a leader who will make the tough decisions from Day One so that communities are not forced into desperate situations. As governor, I’ll bring courage, decisiveness and vision to Lansing. That’s the only way we’ll fix Lansing and get Michigan back to work.”

Visit BouchardforGovernor.com for more information on Bouchard’s initiatives to get Michigan back on track.

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Paid for by Mike Bouchard for Governor
P.O. Box 1433
Royal Oak, MI 48068