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Manufacturers Celebrate State Leaders at Annual MMA Legislative Reception

This networking event features the presentation of the MMA Legislator of the Year Award, MMA’s highest policy honor recognizing state legislators for their leadership and dedication to Michigan’s manufacturing sector and their role in advocating on behalf of Michigan’s largest job-creating industry.

MMA’s Mike Johnston, Senator Dave Hildenbrand, Senator Mike Kowall, Representative Laura Cox, Dan Pero (Chief of Staff to House Speaker Tom Leonard), and MMA’s Chuck Hadden at the 2017 MMA Legislative Reception

The 2017 Legislator of the Year Award recipients are:

  • Senator Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell
  • Senator Mike Kowall, R-White Lake
  • Speaker of the House Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt
  • Representative Laura Cox, R-Livonia

Senator Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell): Senator Hildenbrand has long been a champion for manufacturers and a leader in the elimination of the industrial Personal Property Tax (PPT) — a critical step toward ensuring a more competitive Michigan. In the last two years, he has led the charge to extend the filing date to ensure manufacturers could take full advantage of their piece of the $576 million annual savings.

Senator Mike Kowall (R-White Lake): Senator Kowall has long been a champion of the manufacturing industry and strong supporter of valuable skilled trades training. His consistent record throughout his legislative career has shown his long-term commitment to growing Michigan's largest and most important sector.

Speaker of the House Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt): Speaker Leonard's steadfast support for Michigan's manufacturing industry is evidenced by his recognition of and commitment to addressing barriers to competitiveness. Of particular note, skyrocketing health care costs continue to present an impediment to economic growth and Speaker Leonard has courageously prevented action on legislation that would increase health care costs.

Representative Laura Cox (R-Livonia): Before Representative Cox took the gavel as the first woman chair of the House Appropriations Committee, she displayed true determination when, in her freshman year in the Legislature, she stood tall in opposing an effort to extend the life of the costly and uncompetitive Health Insurance Claims Act tax, also known as the HICA Tax. Representative Cox heeded the call of the largest and most productive sector of the Michigan economy to stand strong with an unpopular but thoughtful vote on this critical bill.

The 2017 MMA Legislative Reception was held at the MMA Headquarters (620 South Capitol Ave.) in Lansing and was attended by manufacturers, legislators, executive branch officials and manufacturing champions and partners from across the state.

Contact Brett Gerrish

Brett GerrishCommunications Coordinator
Call 517-487-8533
E-mail gerrish@mimfg.org