January 2019
M
anufacturers are impacted by dozens of issues
every legislative cycle and any of a thousand
proposed bills can hinder the industry’s ability to
hire talent, reinvest in new equipment or expand
into new markets.
During the eight years of the Snyder Administration,
MMA’s advocacy and the support of our members
have helped to create a positive business climate where
Michigan now leads the nation in manufacturing
job growth, with 190,800 new manufacturing jobs
since June 2009 and billions of dollars saved in the
annual cost of doing business in the state.
Now, as the 2019-2020 Legislative Session
begins, MMA has once again developed a member-
driven agenda to lead manufacturing forward.
According to MMA president & CEO Chuck
Hadden, “Our legislative agenda, Manufacturing’s
Strategy for Michigan’s Future, will be the road
map to sustaining Michigan’s pro-manufacturing
momentum. Thanks to discussion with member
companies, participation from our Policy Commit-
tees and input from the MMA Board of Directors,
our Agenda will help the 100th Legislative Session
continue to place the needs of manufacturers front
and center.”
Breaking Down Manufacturing’s
Top Priorities
“It’s important for manufacturers to send clear
and consistent messages to our government officials.
Other economic sectors, such as the health care
industry, are very good at government communica-
tion and the only way manufacturing can compete is
as a cohesive voice,” said Bill Henderson, president
of Aircraft Precision Products and chairman of the
MMA Board of Directors.
Manufacturing’s Strategy for Michigan’s Future takes
all the individual issues affecting the competitiveness of
your business and offers seven essential topics of focus:
• Tax Policy
MiMfg Magazine
From our Members:
The Need for Competitive Policy
Lowell McLaughlin
Dow Chemical Company
Tax policy is a critical
component of the
state’s business climate.
Manufacturers must
partner with the state
to make sure Michigan
companies can compete
with anyone in world.
cannot win if Michigan’s tax climate undermines
their competitiveness.
Michigan has delivered clear progress on
significant tax reforms, including the $1.5 billion
savings since 2016 brought about by the elimination
of manufacturing’s Personal Property Tax. The state
must embrace the concept of continual improvement
to remain competitive in a dynamic global environment.
To support a competitive manufacturing sector,
Michigan must:
• Compete effectively with other states to attract
and retain manufacturing investment
• Ensure tax policy continues to drive a strong
manufacturing-based business climate
• Recognize that capital is mobile and tax policy
can influence location decisions
• Ensure administrative agencies are efficient and
responsive to be effective partners in our efforts
to compete in the global economy
• Protect Michigan taxpayers from negative
impacts of federal tax reform (“Tax Cuts and
Jobs Act”)
• Promote free and fair international trade
• Environmental & Regulatory In order to ensure tax policies remain competitive,
Michigan must undertake a regular process of
comparison to ensure tax rates, tax methods and
economic development incentives offered elsewhere
are matched or improved upon here at home.
• Health Care Employment & Workforce
• Infrastructure & Transportation Tremendous progress has been made in recent
years to streamline, stabilize and properly balance
Michigan’s employment and workforce regulations.
From securing a more competitive unemployment
insurance system, to reforming Michigan’s workers’
compensation law, to the stability of the state’s Self-
Insurers’ Security Fund and the continued defense of the
employer-employee relationship, Michigan has seen
a trend of legislative efforts keeping manufacturing
as a top career path for the next generation.
• Employment & Workforce
• Talent
• Energy Policy
These are the areas your business must focus on in
2019-2020 to ensure the long-term competitiveness
of Michigan and its manufacturing industry.
Tax Policy
Competing in the global economy means
competing against manufacturers anywhere in the
world — all on the basis of price. Manufacturers
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