State Representative Dave Maturen says he wants to continue making Michigan a comeback state if he is re-elected to the state House. The Republican who represents eastern Kalamazoo County and western and southern Calhoun County says he wants to try and build on the jobs created in the state.
Maturen who is seeking two more years representing the 63rd state House district served on the Kalamazoo County board for 12 years, the last three as chairman, before that he was a Brady Township trustee. He spoke with WMUK’s Gordon Evans.
Priorities
Maturen says the state is on a good path. He says it’s important to stay with the road plan approved last year. Maturen says Michigan needs to be fiscally sound, so the state is ready to deal with problems like the Flint water crisis.
Roads
Critics of the road plan say it doesn’t get the money into infrastructure soon enough. But Maturen says a phased-in plan for roads is a good idea. He says people in the road construction industry have told him there’s not enough people to work with a big infusion of cash for road projects.
Flint
Maturen calls Flint a failure at all levels of government. He says better oversight, clearer instructions and better training for state workers could prevent a similar crisis in the future.
Emergency Managers
Asked about the emergency manager law used for financially strapped local governments, Maturen says if a city can’t balance its books, then someone from the state has to come in to help. He says since local communities are creatures of the state, the state is on the hook if a city or other local unit of government collapses financially.
Energy
Maturen voted for an energy overhaul approved in the House. He says a well-regulated system is needed to ensure reliable service. Maturen says he doesn’t think that the state needs to mandate a certain amount of renewable energy. He says the market and the federal government will likely determine the amount of renewable energy used in the state.
Auto Insurance
Maturen says he would like to reduce Michigan’s auto insurance rates. But he says the plan to reform the catastrophic claims system doesn’t guarantee enough of a long-term increase to justify the change. He says other states that don’t have unlimited coverage like Michigan, cover people somehow. Maturen says the long-term care provided in Michigan is something the state has decided to keep.
Presidential Election
Asked about the Presidential election, Maturen says he never tells anyone how he’s to going to vote. But Maturen says he won’t endorse the Republican nominee Donald Trump. Maturen says Trump’s misogynistic comments don’t sit well with him. He has been married for 45 years and has three daughters. Maturen served in the army from 1971-73 during a time when John McCain was being held prisoner in Vietnam. Maturen says Trump is out of bounds to say McCain wasn’t a hero. Maturen is also bothered by Trump’s comments about Mexicans because his son in law is a Mexican national. Maturen says it would be hard to face his family if he endorsed Trump.
Discussion of other issues can be heard in the extended version of the interview.
Dark Stores
The legislature has been working on a reform of the so-called “Dark Store” loophole. Maturen who is the sponsor of the legislation calls the current system a carve out for “big box retailers” that no one else gets. Maturen says The Michigan Tax Tribunal compares active properties to others that are dark. He says while deed restrictions limit what can be sold by new business, that also complicates tax assessments. Maturen who runs his own appraisal business says his bill would put professional appraisal standards into place, and require the tax tribunal to adopt those standards.
Guns
Maturen calls Michigan’s current rules on guns “pretty good.” He says background checks for gun purchases are necessary. He says there is a quandary in the current law that allows about people with a concealed carry permit to openly carry a gun in a school. Maturen says schools have the right to maintain educational atmosphere.
Marijuana
Maturen says having 50 states in nation allow 50 different ways of experimenting. He says Michigan should take a look at other states that have legalized marijuana before considering legalization for recreational purposes. Maturen says Michigan should examine what’s happened in states such as Washington and Colorado where marijuana is legal.
Straight Ticket Voting
When the Legislature approved the elimination of straight ticket voting last year, Maturen was one of a handful of Republicans who voted against it. A federal judge has since put the law on hold so the straight ticket option will be on ballots this fall. Maturen says eliminating the option would be OK if no-reason absentee voting were also approved. Maturen says the argument for eliminating the straight ticket option is for voters to look at each individual candidate. He says people should be able to sit down with ballot and examine issues and candidates.
