Macomb Twp. State Rep. Goike Talks Transportation, Taxes, Goals for 2012

With the first year of his first term now behind him, Macomb Township State Rep. Ken Goike is preparing a fresh set of issues for his 2012 legislative agenda.

Chief among these are tightening the state’s unemployment benefits and obtaining the revenue necessary to build bridges, pave roads and expand main thoroughfares in his district.   

Patch recently sat down with Goike to discuss these goals, as well as his view on issues such as eliminating the personal property tax, improving education and the approaching national election.

Transportation – Roads, Bridges and Funding

As vice chair of the House of Representatives’ transportation subcommittee and a Northern Macomb County resident familiar with the area’s numerous dirt roads, Goike said building bridges, paving roads and finding the funding necessary to do so are at the top of his 2012 agenda.

Goike: "Personally, I’d like to see the funding for public transportation come out of the general fund as opposed to the gas tax and the car registration money that comes in. Buses and trains should also come out of the general fund instead of the road tax.

"Do you know how many county roads go to the northern border? One, North Avenue. That’s it. We need to get more money into Macomb County to help with bridges and gravel roads and to finish widening 23 Mile Road and possibly 26 Mile Road. We need to do it before it costs too much money."

As for how this funding will be obtained, Goike said he is still working out a formula to make it possible.

Goike: “I’m just getting into it. We took $25 million out of busing to put into local roads last year, but the governor vetoed that. I want to make sure there is more money for the population of Macomb County to fix these roads. That’s my ultimate goal. All major routes need to be fixed so they last 25 years, instead of 5-10."

Tightening Unemployment Benefits

During the last legislative year, Goike voted on 613 items an introduced seven bills of his own – two of which have been signed into law to date.

In the coming weeks, Goike plans to introduce a new bill that will end unemployment benefits for those who test positive in a drug test.

Goike: “If they go through MiWorks!, get sent to a job and are going to be hired but fail their drug test, they can’t draw unemployment anymore. Technically it’s already in the rules because it says, “Are you willing and able to work,” and you have to say, “Yes,” to get it. Evidently you’re not willing and able to work if you can’t pass a drug test. It’s becoming a problem with a lot of people hiring today.”

As for his feelings on a law requiring welfare applicants to be drug tested in order to receive benefits, Goike said he plans to wait to hear whether Florida rules its version of this controversial law constitutional.

Goike: "If they’re doing drugs, that means they’re taking their money to do drugs. You’re not helping them by giving them more money to buy drugs. Constitutionally, we need to see if it’s legal and to make some type of safeguards (in a Michigan law). I don’t think everybody is so heartless that they don’t’ want to help people, but you can’t keep them fed intravenously for their whole life. If you get on it, you can’t break off, but we have to have the opportunities for jobs, too."

Personal Property Tax

An “advocate for getting rid of the PPT,” Goike said his main concern is finding revenue to replace the $1.4 billion that would be lost to local governments from eliminating the tax.

Goike: “As a tightwad, I want to save the taxpayers’ money, but I also understand we have to do services the taxpayers want and the $1.4 billion from PPT is something we’re really dependent on right now, so we can’t just eliminate it.”

As for how the state could replace this revenue, Goike has a few ideas.

Goike: “I do believe in all the talk about PPT I’m hearing that utilities won’t change, so towers, transmission lines, they’re not complaining because that is basically a real estate tax. With that money staying in it, if we get rid of battery tax credits, some $300 million in special interests, we could give that money back to local communities.”

Higher Education

Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Community Colleges, Goike would like to see greater attention and funding given to community colleges and vocational schools.

“Not everyone is cut out to get a master’s degree. It takes everything,” he said.

One possibility, provided it proves constitutional and receives the necessary support, would be to change the funding system of higher education.

Goike: “I don’t know if we can constitutionally do it, but I want to stop giving all the universities and colleges money – except for capital outlay money for projects to build. I would like to do scholarships for anybody in Michigan with a GPA over 2.9 and give them X amount of money go to community college and then X amount after two years to go to a state university. They would still have to pay tuition, but at least those students would have something to strive for. We need to curtail the spending habits of our universities.”

Presidential Election 2012

“I haven’t endorsed anybody yet," he said. "I’m still watching it. There a lot of things I like about each one of them."

• Ron Paul: His talk about borrowing money from the federal reserve. "People should have better understanding of what the federal reserve is and how much of our money is actually draining out of this country."
• Newt Gingrich: His wisdom
• Rick Santorum: His conservatism and most of his record
• Rick Perry: Has done a good job in his state
• Mitt Romney: "I’m not sold 100 percent on the way he’s done stuff. But now that I’m involved in politics I can see how you have to work with your legislator to get stuff done that you really don’t want done. Maybe that’s part of it, maybe he will be the best candidate."

To contact Goike's office, call (517) 373-0820, toll free (800) 209-3330, or email KenGoike@house.mi.gov.