WAYNE – State Representatives Dian Slavens (D-Canton), Bob Constan (D-Dearborn Heights), Doug Geiss (D-Taylor), Gino Polidori (D-Dearborn) and Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) today promoted 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.
"When taxpayer dollars are used to create jobs, it's only right that Michigan workers are first in line for those jobs," said Slavens, a sponsor of the plan. "We can't let workers from other states and countries snatch up the jobs that our highly skilled workers are qualified for. In these tough times, when every job counts, we must stand up for our workers here in Michigan."
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.
"This plan rewards companies that invest in Michigan's workers," said Constan, a sponsor of the plan. "Too many of our workers' jobs have been lost to outsourcing or downsizing. This plan will create jobs in our state for our workers, which is exactly what we need right now."
Corriveau sponsored part of the plan that will prevent companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants from receiving state tax incentives.
"We must reward businesses that hire Michigan workers rather than businesses that choose to hire illegal workers," Corriveau said. "Companies that don't play by the rules give themselves an unfair advantage over businesses that do. This plan ensures that honest businesses will be rewarded for creating jobs for our workers."
The Michigan House is likely to pass the "Hire Michigan First" package and send it to the Senate as soon as this week.
"With our state facing the highest unemployment rate we've seen in over two decades, it's important for the Legislature to take quick action on this job-creating plan," Geiss said. "Hire Michigan First will help create new opportunities for our workers and give our working families the support they need in these tough times. I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to move quickly on this plan."
Polidori said: "Michigan is going through the toughest times we've gone through in two decades. Our workers built the middle class only to see their jobs outsourced to other states and countries. We must reward businesses that hire Michigan workers and encourage them to create even more jobs, and that's exactly what this plan does."