Michigan Chamber Releases Legislative Voting Record, Announces Earned Endorsements for State House and Michigan Senate

LANSING, Mich., July 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today released its 2013-2014 Legislative Voting Record – A Competitiveness Scorecard for Michigan. The purpose of this document is to provide the business community and other interested parties with a measure of how current members of the Michigan Legislature voted on a wide range of key economic issues.

The 2013-2014 Legislative Voting Record includes roll call votes on important business climate issues such as: campaign finance, environment, human resources, legal reform, tax policy, and transportation investment. The voting record includes 13 roll call votes in the State House and 16 roll call votes in the Michigan Senate.

"The Michigan Chamber is member-driven and policy-focused in our approach to business advocacy," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. "This voting record documents state legislators voted on legislative priorities developed by Chamber members and approved by the Chamber's 84-member Board of Directors in January 2013."

"We are very pleased to report that 84 House and Senate lawmakers consistently cast their votes in support of jobs and the economy," added Studley. "Forty-four of these lawmakers went the extra mile to earn a perfect 100 percent score on the Chamber's 2013-2014 Voting Record and they will receive special designation as a 'Champion of Free Enterprise.'"

"All of the incumbents receiving earned endorsements have demonstrated a strong commitment to Michigan's economic competitiveness and free enterprise by supporting policies based on individual freedom, incentive and opportunity," noted Jim Holcomb, Senior Vice President for Business Advocacy & General Counsel for the Michigan Chamber. "Returning these individuals to Lansing will help keep Michigan on the right track through their support of a legislative agenda rooted in job creation and taxpayer protection initiatives."

"Although the 2013-2014 legislative session resulted in many positive outcomes for Michigan jobs providers and taxpayers, more work remains to be done," Studley said. "The Michigan Chamber will remain vigilant in aggressively advocating for increased transportation investment and common sense policies that will improve our state's economic competitiveness and help job providers to create more jobs."

The Michigan Chamber's 2013-2014 Legislative Voting Record serves as the basis for campaign endorsements for incumbent legislators. Any incumbent legislator seeking re-election to the same office who scores 75 percent or better on the Chamber's Competitiveness Scorecard receives an earned endorsement.

The following 18 State Senators are seeking re-election and have received an earned endorsement from the Michigan Chamber: Darwin Booher (R- Evart); Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Twp.); Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba); Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton); Hugh Crawford (R-Novi); Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan); Mike Green (R-Mayville); Goeff Hansen (R-Hart); Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell); Joe Hune (R-Hamburg); Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge); Mike Kowall (R-White Lake); Jim Marleau (R-Lake Orion); Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive); Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek); Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair); John Proos (R-St. Joseph); Dave Robertson (R-Grand Blanc); Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton).

The following 38 State Representatives are seeking re-election and have received an earned endorsement from the Michigan Chamber: Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo); Mike Callton (R-Nashville); Paul Clemente (D-Lincoln Park); Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant); Jeff Farrington (R-Utica); Anthony Forlini (R-Harrison Twp.); Frank Foster (R-Pellston); Ray Franz (R-Onekama); Ben Glardon (R-Owosso); Ken Goike (R-Ray Township); Joseph Graves (R-Linden); Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth); Tom Hooker (R-Byron Center); Brad Jacobsen (R-Oxford); Nancy Jenkins (R-Clayton); Joel Johnson (R-Clare); Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw); Klint Kesto (R-Commerce Township); Andrea LaFontaine (R-Richmond); Dan

Lauwers (R-Brockway); Tom Leonard (R-Lansing); Lisa Lyons (R-Alto); Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan); Michael McCready (R-Birmingham); Paul Muxlow (R-Brown City); Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton); Rick Outman (R-Six Lakes); Dave Pagel (R-Berrien Springs); Peter Pettalia (R-Presque Isle); Earl Poleski (R-Jackson); Phil Potvin (R-Cadillac); Amanda Price (R-Holland); Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville); Bruce Rendon (R-Lake City); Pat Somerville (R-New Boston); Rob VerHeulen (R-Walker); Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville); and Ken Yonker (R-Caledonia).

The following 44 lawmakers will be recognized as a "Champion of Free Enterprise" by the Michigan Chamber for achieving a perfect 100 percent score on the Chamber's 2013-2014 Voting Record:

State Senator: Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton)

State Representatives: James Bolger (R-Marshall); Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo); Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant); Cindy Denby (R-Fowlerville); Jeff Farrington (R-Utica); Anthony Forlini (R-Harrison Twp.); Ray Franz (R-Onekama); Bob Genetski (R-Saugatuck); Ben Glardon (R-Owosso); Joseph Graves (R-Linden); Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth); Brad Jacobsen (R-Oxford); Nancy Jenkins (R-Clayton); Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw); Klint Kesto (R-Commerce Township); Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake); Ken Kurtz (R-Coldwater); Andrea LaFontaine (R-Richmond); Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway); Tom Leonard (R-Lansing); Matt Lori (R-Constantine); Lisa Lyons (R-Alto); Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford); Michael McCready (R-Birmingham); Paul Muxlow (R-Brown City); Margaret O'Brien (R-Portage); Rick Outman (R-Six Lakes); Dave Pagel (R-Berrien Springs); Peter Pettalia (R-Presque Isle); Earl Poleski (R-Jackson); Amanda Price (R-Holland); Bruce Rendon (R-Lake City); Bill Rogers (R-Brighton); Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City); Mike Shirkey (R-Clark Lake); Pat Somerville (R-New Boston); Jim Stamas (R-Midland); Rob VerHeulen (R-Walker); Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville); John Walsh (R-Livonia); Ken Yonker (R-Caledonia); and Dale Zorn (R-Ida).

The Michigan Chamber's 2013-2014 Legislative Voting Record is available on the Chamber's website at www.michamber.com/votingrecord.

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is a statewide business organization representing approximately 6,500 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber represents businesses of every size and type in all 83 counties of the state. Michigan Chamber member businesses provide jobs to 1.5 million residents. One of every 2.6 employees in Michigan works for a Chamber member firm. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. It is one of only six state chambers accredited by the U.S. Chamber and one of only four state chambers accredited with distinction.

SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce