LANSING – State Representatives Dian Slavens (D-Canton), Andrew Kandrevas (D-Southgate) and Deb Kennedy (D-Brownstown) today voted in favor of the "Hire Michigan First" plan, which rewards companies that employ 100 percent Michigan workers with state economic development incentives. The aggressive job-creation plan 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.
"With Michigan's unemployment rate continuing to rise at an alarming rate, we cannot turn our back on our working families," Slavens said. "By using our taxpayer dollars to create jobs for Michigan workers we can give our residents the support they've earned through years of hard work. This plan will help get Michigan headed in the right direction."
The "Hire Michigan First" plan:
- Rewards companies that hire the most Michigan residents in the pursuit of state tax breaks and other economic development incentives. 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.
"Job opportunities in Michigan are sorely lacking," Kandrevas said. "We have to make sure we put our workers first, not those from other states and countries. The 'Hire Michigan First' plan will ensure that our workers are top priority when it comes to new job opportunities in the state."
"Our workers deserve to have this plan quickly passed and signed into law," Kennedy said. "As it stands today, our unemployed residents are being overlooked for jobs that take advantage of state incentives simply because it's cheaper to hire undocumented workers. It is imperative that the Senate takes quick action on this plan to get our workers back on the job and our economy back on track."