Issue Position: Growing Our Economy

Issue Position

As we try to find solutions to Michigan's economy, there is one very important lesson we should remember from our past. When Henry Ford announced to a shocked nation on January 5, 1914, that he would raise his workers' pay to $5 Dollars a Day, double the prevailing wage, his business and Detroit changed dramatically. Workers from the South fled north for good paying jobs. Henry Ford had been troubled by absenteeism, turnover and low demand.

His move was hardly altruistic. In fact, he later noted that it was the "best cost-cutting measure he ever made." But the real genius of Henry Ford was that he wanted his workers to earn enough to buy his cars. Not only did they buy his cars, America learned that to create a great middle class that workers needed the earning power to be consumers, to buy the things they make.

Christine supports policies and programs that strengthen the middle class, not weaken. We need to pay our workers with a living wage and create new and better jobs that expand the economy.

Support Small Business
As a former small business owner, Christine knows small businesses are the backbone of Michigan's economy and face unique challenges to succeed. We must foster public-private partnerships that include community colleges, business support groups and local communities to develop and execute innovative approaches to small business operations. We need programs to support not only start-up operations, but provide ongoing support to take small, local businesses and their employees to the next level.

Develop a Green Economy
Michigan has abundant natural resources. We need to grow new green businesses to expand our economy and create great jobs. The demand for wind turbine has outpaced production. Solar power demand is growing worldwide. Michigan has the engineering and manufacturing expertise and workforce to build these technologies today. Christine will be an advocate for good jobs and a clean environment.

Support a Minimum Wage Increase
If people are too broke to buy the goods that companies manufacture, business and the economy are weakened. Successful companies like Costco get this, as does our own Michigan based Meijer's. They pay their workers more and benefit from their loyalty and productivity. Rick Snyder said it was "not a significant issue." It is a very significant issue to people who work full time and still live in poverty.

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