Senate Majority Leader and candidate for Attorney General, Mike Bishop came to CMU, Tuesday April 13^th, to speak at CMU College Republicans. Since the meeting was directly after Mount Pleasant's Lincoln Day Dinner, U.S. congressman, Pete Hoekstra opened for Bishop.

Hoekstra began the evening by asking students if they plan to to stay in Michigan after graduating. With no more than five hands raised, he discussed the poor state of Michigan's economy and the need for substantial change, specifically in regards to taxation. Hoekstra said the abundance of taxes are playing a large part in Michigan's poor economy.

He said taxes need to be "simple, transparent, and drive in less revenue-not raised. Raising taxes isn't the way to do it. Michigan has tried it-it doesn't work." Hoekstra was directing this statement at the Michigan Business Tax, which he believes has taken a toll on small businesses. Hoekstra says the best way to generate income for the state is to take away the Michigan Business Tax and allow the private sector to succeed.

Following Hoeskstra's speech, Bishop then took the spotlight and added to the congressman's main points. "I've never seen the economy as fractured as it is now." Bishop gave a basic economics lesson to the crowd, explaining the debt situation and the demand for a balance and savings. "This is a crucial time in the state's history. We need to level things off and move forward."

Speaking at the College Republicans' meeting Tuesday evening in Anspach Hall 169 is Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop. Bishop talked about Michigan's economy and how he really wants state residents to continue to live in Michigan, instead of moving away. GCM photo by Derek Stonebraker.

Bishop then brought up the cost of state prisoners. In the state of Michigan, each prisoner costs $38,000. Bishop said that Michigan's neighboring states pay half as much to hold a prisoner and implied that Michigan should be doing the same thing.  He expressed his opinion that Democratswant to let prisoners out early and clear out the state's prisons, instead of lowering the cost of a prisoner. "This jeopardizes the safety of our families," he said.

Bishop concluded his speech by discussing Michigan as being the "motor capital" of the country, although some may perceive this as a success of the past.  He believes Michiganders should emerge as leaders in inventing the next generation of cars, although he believes the Michigan Business Tax may stand in the way. "The best thing Michigan can do is to create a competitive state... We have to first make Michigan a business-friendly state."

By Vanessa Oblinger