Great speaking with you....Thank you for having me.

An 8.5% unemployment rate.  I thought those tax hikes our friends on the other side of the aisle rammed through last fall were going to fix this economy.  What's the deal?

The Democrat majority decided that the best way to fix the economy was to increase taxes on the entities providing the income, health care and retirements of the people we have left in Michigan.  I just spoke with a nursing home in Southwest Michigan that is now paying 40% more in business taxes.  So, not only are we punishing the businesses that provide jobs, we are also punishing the nursing homes that are charged with taking care of some of our most vulnerable citizens.

You're on the inside of this whole process.  From the outside it looks like they're all in denial.  I mean, the Democrats are blaming the national economy which didn't suffer a drop anywhere near what we are experiencing in Michigan.  They're blaming oil prices.  But behind closed doors, is there any sort of off-the-record admission on the part of Lansing Democrats that maybe their giant tax hikes weren't particularly well timed?

What is the first step to recovery?  Admit that you have a problem...and they are not there yet.  The elections will be telling if the citizens choose to hold the Democrats accountable.  As people who work in the legislative or political arena we know who is responsible, but is it taking hold with our constituency?  That is what we need to communicate and remind America what Republican principals are - small government, lower taxes, less regulation on Michigan businesses and families - and how these principals are the best course of action getting out of this economy.

With so many more people looking for work and not being able to find it and with all of the trends going in the wrong direction how important is it now that we actually succeed in repealing their 22% MBT surcharge?  And why?

It speaks for itself....Midlevel businesses are paying 20-50 percent more in taxes per QUARTER.  That is money not going to salaries, health care, retirement, business growth - and families.  And the unfortunate result is that soon the companies and job providers will be GONE.

Of course it'll be like pulling teeth with the Democrats because it's the middle of approps season and we're already facing a $400+ million shortfall.  I spoke last week with Mike Bishop and he is 100% convinced that the requisite savings are there to A) fund our spending priorities, B) make up for that looming deficit and C) eliminate every last cent of that surcharge.  Do you agree?  And if so, where do we find those cuts and reforms?

I agree and Sen. Bishop is right on track.  For the last 2 budget cycles there has been a list of cuts and reforms.  The Democrats can not even agree to take 19 and 20 year old ABLE BODIED individuals off of welfare.  This is not a Republican suggestion.  This was a suggestion from President Bill Clinton.  Another President Clinton welfare reform recommendation - limit ABLE BODIED individuals to 48 months of benefits - which is also being ignored.

Doing anything assumes that the Majority allows a vote, something they've refused to do literally hundreds of times now over the last eighteen months.  Is it just me or has the partisan gamesmanship really reached, well, an almost criminal level?  I mean, we're talking Constitutional violations here, right?

Ever since winning a majority of seats and taking control of the Michigan House of Representatives, House Democrats have repeatedly and unabashedly violated rules of the House.  Democrat leaders have time and time again refused to allow lawmakers to debate bills, refused to accept properly offered amendments and forced votes on last-minute substitute bills that members have not had an opportunity to read.  The violations are a continued pattern by Democratic leaders.  It's no wonder public trust in the Legislature is at an all-time low.  The 90,000 people in my district expect us to work together to find solutions, but House Democrats rule with an iron fist.  By ignoring the minority party's right to offer an amendment, House Democrats are taking away the voice of everyone I and my Republican colleagues represent.

Another big issue the last month, you were a major player in finally securing $163 million in federal funding for Michigan airports.  Free money.  Seems like a no brainer.  Why did it take so long for the House majority to accept the check?

Exactly,"No Brainer".  How does the song go?  You have to know when to hold them and know when to walk away.  They held onto their cards for too long and not only did they lose in the end, but they once again gave a reason for the public not to trust the legislators they put in charge of their tax dollars.

And while we're talking about the appropriation of funds, you're spearheading a drive to increase the amount of dollars schools like Western Michigan receive via the Higher Ed budget.

Next year's budget provides a three percent, across-the-board funding increase to Michigan's 15 public colleges and universities.  This system is flawed due to the already large disparity between schools, resulting in a system where those that have been favored in the past continue to reap greater state support.  Clearly a 3 percent increase to the University of Michigan is a lot different then a 3 percent increase to Western or Central.

I think we should instead distribute the increased funding based on the number of students attending a college or university, thus narrowing the gap between schools.  The other issue I think we should seriously look at is awarding those schools that retain students in Michigan.  The Governor's own research suggests that too many young professionals are moving out of the state.  Why would we reward the public funded universities that educate out of state students that leave Michigan?  Where is our rate of return?

The amendment was of course blocked on the House floor by the Democrat majority, but I will not stop the fight.

More than midway through June now and November is quickly approaching.  How's the campaign coming?

I always enjoy campaigning.  It is a chance to get more feedback from the hardworking citizens I represent.  Every time I go somewhere, I leave with one or two new issues to tackle.  Whether its helping someone navigate state government or bringing information from the district to Lansing, I continue to take this job very seriously.  Public service is a noble profession and one that I hope I can maintain for another term.  

Is there anything else you'd like to cover that I may have missed?

Thanks for having me, Nick.