Senate approves Buy Michigan/Hire Michigan legislation
LANSING — The Michigan Senate approved a comprehensive “Buy Michigan/Hire Michigan” plan Thursday that balances the goals of recruiting desperately needed job providers to our state while also ensuring that the benefits of taxpayer dollars go to Michigan residents.
According to Sen. Mark C. Jansen, the Senate plan adds a statutory “Buy Michigan” component to the package, allowing the state to use its purchasing power to benefit job providers and employees.
“We have to do everything we can to help improve our state’s economic outlook,” said Jansen, R-Gaines Township. “We found a way to ensure that the tax dollars our hardworking residents pay will stay in Michigan without mandates on the private sector.”
Jansen said the Senate Buy Michigan plan has been carefully developed so it not only gives a leg up to Michigan companies bidding on state contracts, but also welcomes firms from other states or countries whose products are made in Michigan by Michigan workers. A good example would be the Michigan Department of Corrections buying Michigan food products instead of importing from other states.
This approach is similar to a program in South Carolina, which has been found constitutional in federal court.
Senate Republicans improved the House package by adding provisions that recognize the unique circumstances faced by firms located near the state border, ensuring that we embrace new citizens, and giving Michigan job providers priority when bidding for state contracts. The package has an implementation date of July 1, 2009.
The Senate bills (290, 293, 295, 296 and 502) and the amended House bills (4083, 4089 and 4092-94) in the package now move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Posted: Thursday, May 07, 2009
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