This article appeared in the October 2020 issue of MiMfg Magazine. Read the full issue and find past issues online.

All 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives are up for grabs in the 2020 General Election. The Republicans currently control the chamber with a 57-51 majority,* but a strong showing at the polls this year might shift power to the Democrats.

Check out the responses of the respective campaign committee chairs as they share their prospects for success in November and what that will mean for Michigan manufacturers.

Representative Donna Lasinski is the Chair of the House Democratic Fund Campaign

Representative Jason Wentworth is the Chair of the House Republican Campaign Committee

Q: How are things looking for your team headed into November?

Representative Lasinski: There has never been a better opportunity for Democrats in Michigan to take back our state House. In addition to exceeding all of our fundraising goals with unprecedented grassroots contributions, we’ve seen record-breaking Democratic voter turnout across our state and, now that early voting has begun, there is no slowing our momentum.

Representative Wentworth: Everyone knew this year would be a challenge, with national Democrats and outside groups coming to Michigan and spending record sums to try to take the White House, flip the Senate, and flip the Michigan House. But even with all of that working against us, House Republicans are still leading critical races all across the map, and we remain in a far stronger position than House Democrats to hold on to the majority.

That is because this caucus has the right priorities and has spent years working hard on the most pressing issues facing our state. In just the past couple of years, we have made important progress on criminal justice reform, cutting auto insurance rates, securing support for front-line medical workers, and helping businesses reopen safely.

Good policy always makes good politics, and this is the caucus that has delivered results for the people of Michigan.

Q: What would the House controlled by your party mean for Michigan’s manufacturers?

Representative Lasinski: As everyone in this country knows, Michigan manufacturing built America’s middle class. Yet despite claims from Republican leaders, we’ve seen not only job loss, but stagnant growth and wages in the industry. Manufacturing in Michigan had been down in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but even before that, we’ve experienced only 1 percent of growth in recent years, compared to the 15 percent we saw from 2012-2016.

What Michigan workers, businesses and families need — and are ready for — is investment in our state. Putting skills training back in our schools, incentivizing companies to do business in our state and strengthening small businesses, and properly funding our infrastructure are the investments our state needs to make it one where companies are eager to do business.

As we hear over and over from local manufacturers, closing the skills gap is essential to strengthening our manufacturing sector. The Going PRO, Michigan Reconnect and the Future for Frontliners initiatives are excellent steps towards reversing this decline. It’s imperative that we expand career and technical training (CTE), work-based learning, and post-secondary education. These programs are critical to reversing the skills and talent drain Michigan has been experiencing since the Great Recession. Without skilled and organized labor, businesses cannot find the talent they need to fill essential positions.

When Democrats take back the state House, our agenda is putting Michigan businesses and workers first. Passing legislation like the Michigan Jobs First package gives Michigan a leg up when bidding on government contracts so that tax dollars will stay in Michigan, going to companies that will create jobs in local communities. When we pass legislation like this that invests in Michigan companies, we uplift Michiganders, create good jobs, and move our economy forward.

We also need to streamline the process of doing business in Michigan. That’s why Democrats introduced House Bill 4838 as part of the Entrepren-eurship Led Economic Development Package. This bill would create a “one stop shop” for small businesses and entrepreneurs to allow them to connect and streamline services, information, and resources they need to start and operate a business in Michigan.

When Michigan workers and businesses compete, we win. This industry is the backbone of Michigan’s economy and will continue to be a crucial part of our recovery from COVID-19. Taking back the House will allow us to work with Governor Whitmer to pass legislation that strengthens Michigan manufacturing, and put our state at the helm of this global industry once again.

Representative Wentworth: You just have to look at the results of House Republican leadership over the past decade. Part of the reason Michigan went from a one-state recession to one of the fastest growing states in the country is the work this caucus did overhauling Michigan’s tax code and regulatory framework. Manufacturers have seen these important changes in two clear ways.

One includes changes that helped local manufacturers survive the recession and later expand and grow to the tune of almost 200,000 new jobs. That includes replacing the Michigan Business Tax and phasing out the Personal Property Tax. It also meant repealing thousands of old regulations, while also preventing any new red tape that is stricter than federal requirements.

The other way is in helping employers find talent that meets the needs of modern industry. That includes skilled trades education, retraining programs for mid-career workers, and quality of life changes like record school funding and car insurance reforms that help bring talent back to this state.

That work isn’t done. House Republicans are going to continue to prioritize solutions that make Michigan a national leader in job growth and opportunity. Even now, we are working on plans to further expand opportunities in the skilled trades, exempt heavy equipment rentals from the Personal Property Tax, and hold the line against short-sighted changes to the unemployment system that would cause employers to pay for the state’s mistakes.

House Republicans have a strong track record of success supporting Michigan manufacturers and supporting their top priorities. This caucus will always look to the future and what can be done to help make Michigan an even better place to get a job and create a job.