Bill Schuette: I will move Michigan forward with jobs and bigger paychecks

Related: Gretchen Whitmer projected winner in Michigan governor race

Michigan has a choice this November. Do we slide backward to another Lost Decade, or do we move forward to win again? 

My Paycheck Agenda will take Michigan forward, with more jobs, greater growth, and bigger paychecks.

Here is what my plan will accomplish:

• Slash America’s most expensive auto insurance rates by fighting theft and fraud, ending frivolous lawsuits, and giving consumers more choices. 
• Rebuild our roads. My plan includes re-prioritizing the state budget, so more funding is dedicated to roads; a top-to-bottom audit of the transportation department; stronger, enforceable guarantees on roads and bridges; and getting Michigan its fair share of funds from Washington. 
• Invest in vocational education and apprenticeship programs. Michigan needs workforce-ready high school graduates who will keep our state moving forward with strong middle-class jobs leading to strong middle-class families.
• Ensure accessible and affordable health care. My plan protects coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, helps small businesses afford insurance for their employees, and lets parents keep children on their policies until age 26.We must improve the Healthy Michigan program with common sense reforms like work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults in order to better serve our most vulnerable citizens.
• Get all our children reading by investing in literacy coaches for every elementary school, summer reading camps for struggling readers, and proven literacy instruction in every classroom.  I will start by creating a cabinet-level position of Michigan Literacy Director and giving every first grader a library card.
• Give hard-working Michiganians and retirees a pay raise by repealing the 2007 Whitmer-Granholm income tax hike that has cost taxpayers $8 billion and counting.

Gretchen Whitmer takes an opposite approach. She wants higher taxes, more government control over everything – especially our healthcare choices – and more bureaucratic meddling in our recovering economy. Her extreme agenda would mean fewer jobs, smaller paychecks, and our kids leaving for other states again. 

Sen. Whitmer’s policies are a proven economic collapse plan that already failed under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Unemployment hit 15 percent. More than 500,000 jobs vanished. Thousands of families left Michigan. In fact, Whitmer called the Granholm tax hikes too small! We can’t afford another Lost Decade. 

I have the experience and skill set to build on the success of the last eight years.

The case of Larry Nassar is instructive. Gretchen Whitmer and I each had a choice. She did not prosecute. I took the case, and put Nassar behind bars for the rest of his life.

I investigated the Flint Water Crisis, where twelve people died and thousands of children were poisoned. Flint families deserve justice, and I make no apologies for enforcing the law and securing convictions against government officials who failed in their responsibilities to the people of Flint.

I will take on anyone, because I fight for everyone.

Elections are about choices – about who has the vision and skills to lead our state. This is a clear decision: 

• Gretchen Whitmer and Garlin Gilchrist represent an extreme agenda that would raise taxes and impose more government dictates. A risky recipe for economic collapse and another Lost Decade. 
• Bill Schuette and Lisa Posthumus Lyons will cut taxes, lower auto insurance, fix education, make health care accessible and affordable, and rebuild our roads. A winning plan to make Michigan grow with bigger paychecks and more people. 

Our best days are ahead of us. Michigan can again be a state of big dreams, high hopes and boundless aspirations.

I am running for governor to make Michigan the best place in America to put down roots, raise your family, and build your future. I am asking for your vote on November 6.