State Representative Margaret O'Brien says while jobs have been created in Michigan over the last three and a half years, there's more to do.
The Portage Republican says she wants to make sure that the state continues to focus on fiscal responsibility. O'Brien sat down with WMUK's Gordon Evans. Some highlights:
Jobs
O'Brien says Michigan's budget should be viewed as "investing" in the state. She says the big issues that the state needs to invest in are roads, education and reducing the cost of auto insurance.
Education
Republicans have pointed to an increase in overall spending on schools. But Democrats and other critics say less is being spent in the classroom. O'Brien says lawmakers had to consider underfunded pensions for teachers. She says that means the districts didn't have to pay as much for retirement, and helped pay down long-term debt. O'Brien says schools have fixed and long-term costs. She says that should lead the state to reexamine how education is funded in the state.
Roads
O'Brien says simply increasing the gas tax is not "a long term solution" for better roads. She says Michigan needs a more sustainable funding mechanism. O'Brien says voters could decide whether to raise the sales tax by 1% and dedicate that additional penny on each dollar to road repair and maintenance.
Taxes
The change in 2011 that allows for some pension income to be taxed has been criticized by Democratic candidates for many officers. O'Brien says under the old system, tax rates were determined by "your job." She says someone with a government pension was not taxed, while there was a certain exemption for a private pension, and no exemption for income from a 401-K. And O'Brien says someone still working at age 70 had to pay tax on that income. She says there are protections for older retired people and an exemption on the first $20,000 or $40,000 of income, depending on whether it's a single person or married couple filing.
Privatization
The state's prison food system has been plagued by problems since the service was contracted out to Aramark. O'Brien says privatization is not necessarily bad, but it's not the best option in every case. She says the Legislature should make sure that the state is hiring the "lowest qualified bidder," and spell out what qualified means. But O'Brien says the whole chain has to be examined, whether it's the private sector or a government workers.
Discrimination
O'Brien has said she is open to amending the state's Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. She says that has to include protections for people's "deeply-held religious beliefs." O'Brien says she would have to see what a proposed change would look like after going through the legislative process. But says she's optimistic that something can be passed.
Discussion of other issues can be heard in the web version of the interview
More on Education
O'Brien says more research is needed on how to best educate children. She says more could be done to find out how individual districts have raised student achievement. O'Brien says the state should provide more things like small class size grants. She says that's especially effective for younger children. O'Brien says "everything should be on the table" when it comes to considering a new funding model for education. And says that she has shown a track record of working on bi-partisan solutions for education.
Tax System
Asked how she would design a tax system from scratch, O'Brien says it should be "flat and fair." She says it should not include a lot of exemptions. O'Brien says the changes to the tax code in 2011 made the system more broad-based and fair. She says under Governor Snyder, there is more accountability to ensure that jobs are creates for tax credits and grants.
Auto Insurance
O'Brien says Michigan's system of auto insurance is very unique. She says families pay a lot of money on their auto policy to cover unlimited benefits for severe injuries in auto accidents. O'Brien says the second most generous state provides $50,000 in benefits. She says the current Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association should be closed down and replaced with something that is subject to the state's open meetings act. Asked if the repeal of the state law requiring a motorcycle rider to wear a helmet was also a drain on the MCCA, O'Brien says most accidents involving a motorcycle are not covered under the catastrophic claims fund.
Term Limits and Part Time Legislature
Asked if term limits have improved government, O'Brien says she thinks it has. The second term Representative says it has brought new people into office, and allowed people to continue a career while in office. O'Brien has continued working in real estate while serving in the House. She acknowledges that there is some loss of experience, but O'Brien says she has been able to call upon former state lawmakers in the area for guidance. O'Brien says she favors a part-time Legislature because it would allow lawmakers to spend more time in their district, and get more feedback from voters.
