Politics & Government

Macomb County Republicans Cite Job Growth, Deregulation as Top Goals for 2012

More than 500 Republican supporters, party members and elected officials turned out for the 2011 Reagan Leadership Dinner Tuesday.

Common sense, smaller government, deregulation and elimination of the personal property tax were among the top priorities cited by local and state Republican legislators at Tuesday’s 2011 Reagan Leadership Dinner.

Hosted by the Republican Committee of Northern Macomb County (RCNMC) and , the dinner was primarily a fund-raiser for the 2012 campaigns of RCNMC-endorsed candidates.

More than 500 Republicans, including constituents, party personnel and elected representatives, turned out for the event.

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“As we look ahead, your support tonight will help the RCNMC maintain party strength in the area,” said Rob Montilla, RCNMC chairman. “We will work to ensure a strong and continued Republican presence in the northern Macomb townships.”

As has added two senate seats, two house seats and a commission seat to the northern area, Montilla said: “Our efforts will help protect those seats for Republicans, and put any seat that the opposition has in play. We will not cede any territory to the Democrats without a fight.”

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This goal for 2012 includes removing U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and President Barack Obama from office.

However, at present, longevity in office relies almost entirely on what local and state representatives can show in the form of jobs and economic growth.

For Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R-11) this means turning Michigan into a right-to-work state and repealing the personal property tax.

“Michigan is a tough place to do business and I have all the credentials to say that,” he said. “I’ve owned my own business now for 33 years. Michigan is overregulated, overtaxed and until we respond to our competition in the south, we’re not going to grow.”

"I would really like to see us do something for our conservative base, too, something creative, like when you turn 70 years old, your property taxes are frozen. Anything to give relief to tax payers.”

Rep. Ken Goike (R-Ray) echoed Brandenburg’s thoughts on repealing the personal property tax.

“We have to do something in the manufacturing area, and we can help by getting out of the way with regulations,” he said. “We need to get rid of the personal property tax for businesses. That is a burdensome policy other states don’t have.”

In Washington, DC, Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10) said she is working to eliminate many of the state’s regulations believed to stifle job growth.

“We are really going to focus on regulation reform and try to eliminate burdensome regulations,” Miller said. “We want to get government off the backs of people and job creators.”


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