Economic Growth Plan; Grow Our Economy and Ensure Oversight & Accountability
Michigan needs to attract and retain talented people who are looking for fulfilling careers and an affordable community to call home. That plan includes reducing the income tax for Michiganders and small businesses, cutting red tape to make a fairer and more streamlined regulatory environment, and increasing accountability over taxpayer-funded economic development projects.
Plan
- Respect tax dollars in economic development programs: Michigan taxpayers deserve to see their money spent wisely, so we need to hold these programs accountable to ensure a good return on investment. The state should conduct audits on payouts, take back funds if deals fall short, be more transparent about projects that are on hold, and make sure that all elected representatives get a say on big projects funded by the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund. Plus, the state should focus on supporting small and medium-sized businesses and streamline the permitting process between state and local governments to speed things up.
- Simplifying regulations and facilitating employment opportunities is essential: Overly complex regulations and convoluted bureaucratic processes hinder both workers and employers striving for success in Michigan. The state government ought to create a unified, accessible platform that allows businesses and individuals to interact seamlessly with state agencies. Additionally, a thorough assessment of existing regulations, paperwork, and licensing is necessary to identify what is beneficial and what obstructs economic progress. Michigan should also reinstate policies that limit bureaucratic authorities from enforcing more stringent regulations than those set at the federal level or disregarding the insights of industry experts and employers.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of state workforce initiatives: It is essential that taxpayer money is not allocated to ineffective programs. Therefore, Michigan should assess the performance of its workforce initiatives to determine if they are effectively aiding individuals in skill development and securing well-paying employment.
- Increase families paychecks: Reducing the state income tax so at the end of the week families will take home more of their hard earned paycheck.
Matt will continue working together with anyone willing to find solutions that will give you real relief during these difficult economic times, and make sure you are getting value for your hard-earned taxpayer dollars that fund our state government.
Backing Law Enforcement & Protecting Our Communities:
The Defund the Police movement is very dangerous and politicians who support this radical ideology threaten everyone’s safety. Matt is committed to building safer communities by supporting law enforcement. He voted for legislation to recruit and retain more high-quality police officers, make it easier for veterans to apply for law enforcement training, strengthen relationships between communities and law enforcement, and permanently fund local county road patrols in Kalamazoo and Allegan counties.
Matt is working hard to ensure police officers and first responders have state-of-the-art equipment to protect themselves, so he voted for riot gear and body armor grants; communications equipment upgrades; enhancement of the K-9 units; more first aid equipment; and more funding for narcotics teams.
With the recent surge of smash-and-grab attacks at retail stores, Matt co-sponsored a new law to crack down on organized retail crime. He also voted to provide law enforcement more resources to track down and arrest these brazen criminals.
The brave men and women of law enforcement protect us every day – and Matt Hall is proud to have their back.
Standing Up for Students & Educators
Matt strongly opposed and voted against the recent budget that had a 92% cut to school safety and mental health funding, which was a $302 million reduction statewide. These cuts will eliminate crucial security measures and student mental health resources. The Michigan Education Association, a prominent union for teachers and school employees that usually aligns with Democrats, even called for the Legislature to return to the Capitol and restore the safety and mental health funding for schools. Unfortunately that did not happen, and these cuts will have a negative impact on our students and educators.
In the budget passed in 2022, Matt fought for and secured $343 million for school safety and mental health, including dedicated funding for school resource officers. All children deserve access to a quality education in a safe school to achieve their potential and find a high-paying career. That is why earlier this year Matt voted to make a $19.6 Billion investment in our schools, the largest in Michigan history. He helped eliminate the school funding gap and increase funding for schools by $450 per student from the current year. He helped attain additional funding for special education students and to refurbish classrooms, labs, and libraries.
Matt supported a bipartisan plan that makes schools more secure, expands mental health support, and helps law enforcement prevent violence in schools.
Matt supports a 13 page bill package on School Safety that resulted from a bipartisan task force set up after the Oxford school shooting. The task force heard from parents, law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, and educators before writing bill package. The legislation would provide additional funding for security measure and mental health resources. Unfortunately the Democrat led house would not bring the bill up for a vote on the house floor. Matt will continue to advocate and fight to ensure our schools are protected.
All children deserve access to a quality education in a safe school to achieve their potential and find a high-paying career. That is why Matt voted to make a $19.6 Billion investment in our schools, the largest in Michigan history. He helped eliminate the school funding gap and increase funding for schools by $450 per student from the current year. He helped attain additional funding for special education students and to refurbish classrooms, labs, and libraries.
Matt supported a bipartisan plan that makes schools more secure, expands mental health support, and helps law enforcement prevent violence in schools.
Matt helped create Michigan Reconnect, the largest workforce education program in state history. Michigan Reconnect has helped put over 100,000 Michigan workers, 25 and older, who do not have a college degree, on the path to earning an affordable associate degree or skilled trade certificate.
Veterans Mental Health A Top Priority
Matt voted for a bipartisan plan to help more veterans access mental health services in Michigan. These services are much needed for our veterans who served this country with dignity and honor.
The legislation will help military service members, veterans, and their families cope with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.
House Bills 5276, 5277, 5279, 5280, and 5720 will.
- Establish the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention within the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. It also ensures the collection of data surrounding mental health and substance abuse issues.
- Establish a statewide outreach program on mental health and substance abuse for service members and veterans. The program would also provide resources and support for family members of service members and veterans navigating mental health and substance abuse issues.
- Place the Buddy to Buddy Volunteer Mentorship Program within state law. This will offer stability for the program, which offers one-on-one, veteran-to-veteran mentorship.
- Create a transition program for all Army and Air National Guard members in the state. This program is modeled after many of the same courses that are required for service members leaving the armed forces, this program will focus solely on mental health and wellbeing, navigating the military to civilian transition, and exploring ways to find purpose after service.
INVESTING INTO MICHIGAN’S INFASTRUCTURE
Repairing Roads, Bridges and Water Systems:
Improving our infrastructure helps our communities and saves money over the long term. Matt voted to dedicate $2 billion to upgrade Michigan’s clean water systems, without raising taxes. Matt voted to invest more resources to repair our local roads and bridges, along with boosting access to broadband internet in rural and underserved areas.