Mayes: Time Has Come to Stand Up for Michigan Workers

'Hire Michigan First' Plan Rewards Businesses That Hire Michigan Residents

March 9, 2009
By: MyBayCity Staff

PRESS RELEASE: State Representative Jeff Mayes (D-Bay City) today backed an aggressive job-creation plan that rewards companies that employ 100 percent Michigan workers with state economic development incentives. The "Hire Michigan First" initiative also cracks down on companies that hire undocumented workers by creating penalties that include requiring them to pay back their state incentives and barring them from future state contracts.

"We cannot allow more Michigan jobs to be outsourced to other states and countries," Mayes said. "It's unacceptable that Michigan taxpayer dollars are used to create jobs for non-Michigan workers when our unemployment rate is fast approaching 12 percent. It's time that we stand up for Michigan's working families as we work to turn Michigan's economy around."

The "Hire Michigan First" plan:

Awards state tax breaks and other economic development incentives to companies that hire the most Michigan residents. This rule would apply to projects handled by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and certain state-funded programs, including the Michigan Economic Growth Authority and the Renaissance Zone Act.

Encourages transparency and accountability by requiring companies that accept incentives to report on who they hire to ensure that Michigan residents are put first.

Cracks down on companies that hire undocumented workers by creating penalties that include requiring them to pay back their tax incentives and barring them from future state contracts.

The House is expected to pass the "Hire Michigan First" legislation and send it to the Senate as soon as this week.

"I hope that we can reach across the aisle and work together on this plan to put Michigan workers first," Mayes said. "This cannot be a time to play politics as usual. Michigan families are hurting and we must do everything we can to get our workers back on the job."