World-Class Standards for Michigan Learners

This year, Michigan public schools began using the kind of high-quality content standards that our kids need to be competitive in the 21st century.  Used by 45 states, the Common Core State Standards specify what kids should be able to know and do at every grade level in reading, math and science, so they can be ready to advance when they graduate no matter whether they enter the workforce or continue their education.

We all want our children to succeed and for our state to flourish.  The fact is that good paying jobs are increasingly requiring more education and the jobs will go where educated workers can be found. Michigan needs the Common Core. The standards have been carefully researched and developed to ensure their rigor and relevance in a 21st-century knowledge economy.  After decades of shrinking incomes and population, Michigan is starting to rebound. To make our recovery permanent, we need to make sure our children have the knowledge and skills that employers need. 

With the Common Core in place, teachers and schools have a reliable yardstick for determining whether their learners are on track to keep pace with their peers across the globe. Michigan still gets to decide the curricula that should be taught and teachers get to decide how to teach.

The Common Core is essential to make sure every graduate in Michigan has been well prepared for the world of tomorrow. Business Leaders for Michigan joins with education leaders, research and advocacy groups like the Business Round Table, Detroit Regional Chamber, Education Trust-Midwest, and many others to support full and continuing implementation of the Common Core.

Our goal is to make Michigan a Top Ten state for job, economic and personal income growth. Whether it’s in traditional Michigan industry sectors like manufacturing and agriculture or growing ones like healthcare and technology, Michigan’s ability to grow economically will be driven by increases in productivity tied to talent and innovation – and our education system is a primary incubator of both. The Common Core State Standards will ensure that all Michigan kids have the academic knowledge and skills to succeed after high school and help create a bright economic future for Michigan.

What is Right For Michigan?

At the November 6 Election, we face choices that will impact our future and the future of our state. These choices will be presented to us in the form of six ballot proposals.

BLM supports Proposal 1 which asks us to decide whether to keep the Emergency Manager Law that is helping financially troubled communities regain financial stability.

BLM opposes Proposals 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 which ask us to decide whether to permanently embed in our Constitution specific labor, tax, energy, and bridge-and-tunnel building policies that promote the interests of particular groups at the expense of Michigan's hardworking taxpayers and families by making it more costly to live, work and raise a family here.

We need to ask ourselves: "Is putting these policies in our Constitution right for us and right for Michigan?"

The Michigan Constitution lays out the basic rights and principles of all Michigan citizens. These basic rights and principles should be clear and easy for all Michigan citizens to understand.

The proposed amendments don't meet that criteria. They don't benefit all Michiganders - instead they extend special rights to narrowly defined groups. Further, they permanently embed in our Constitution complex tax, labor, and road and bridge building policy. The costs and implications of these proposals are not fully known and cannot be easily explained in the 100 word description that will appear on the ballot.

Most importantly, the proposed amendments risk the progress we've made by permanently imbedding in our Constitution the actions that grew a mountain of debt and contributed to Michigan being an unattractive place to do business.

Michigan's turnaround has started, but much work remains. Proposal 1 is good for Michigan and is necessary to keep us moving forward. Proposals 2-6 are not good for Michigan and would return us to the days of out-of-control spending, no accountability, and uncertainty for business.  That isn't good for any of us.

Click here to read more about the proposals.

Below are recent media stories on the ballot proposals:

MLive Media Group's positions on the six statewide ballot proposals

Detroit News: Fate of proposals will define our state's future

Detroit Free Press Endorsements: Of the six statewide ballot proposals, keep one, discard five

Midland Daily: Our view: Vote 'No' on Proposals 2-6; 'Yes' on Proposal 1

Bridge: Ballot Props "Terrible,""Devastating," Governor Says

BLM SAYS YES, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

This headline might sound contrary, but it describes Business Leaders for Michigan's (BLM) view of the upcoming ballot proposals.

For the first time in more than a decade, we can imagine a better Michigan - thanks to the work of Gov. Rick Snyder and House and Senate leaders. For the last 2 years, they've spent only what the state could afford, reduced our debt and created a better tax system that rewards hard work. As a result, we have a healthier economy that is starting to grow, and more Michiganders are back to work and keeping more of what they earn.

But this progress is at risk. On the Nov. 6 ballot, we will be asked to make decisions that impact whether Michigan can continue to move forward.

Proposal 1 asks us to decide whether to keep the Emergency Manager Law that is helping financially troubled communities regain financial stability.

Proposals 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 ask us to decide whether to permanently embed in our Constitution specific labor, tax, energy, and bridge-and-tunnel building policies that promote the self-interests of particular groups at the expense of Michigan's hardworking taxpayers and families by making it more costly to live, work, and raise a family here.

To keep moving Michigan forward, BLM supports keeping the Emergency Manager Law and opposes Proposals 2-6 which attempt to entrench special interests in our Constitution forever. Let's not return to the days of out-of-control spending, no accountability, and little hope for the future.  

Click here to read more about the ballot proposals. 

Below are recent media stories on the ballot proposals:

Governor Snyder on the Ballot Proposals

Detroit News: Ballot bids threaten Michigan's progress

Detroit News Opinion: Prop 1 is a Yes, No on the rest: We round up our Michigan proposal endorsements

Detroit Free Press: Amendment Overreach

Oakland Press: Proposal 2 would Enshrine Collective Bargaining as a Constitutional Right

Cadillac News: Educators Agree: Vote NO on Proposal 2 to Protect Students, Stand-up for Local Schools

MLive: Opponents: Union-Backed Protect Our Jobs Proposal would Make it Harder to Fire Teachers Caught at Work with Drugs, Alcohol 

Morning Sun: Just say no to the constitutional amendments

Doug Rothwell: Business Leaders weigh in on proposals

There are consequences for failure. That’s the simple truth.

As a state, Michigan failed to make difficult decisions for far too long. We spent money we didn’t have, our tax structure penalized hard work, and we didn’t take a long-term, common sense approach to planning for the state’s future.

The consequences were severe — we grew a mountain of debt, our economy faltered, and the great state that our parents knew was relegated to the national image that its best days were in the past. Nobody understands this better than the hard working people of Michigan. They bore the brunt of our economic struggles over the last decade, and many watched as their children and grandchildren left the state to find opportunity elsewhere.

But things are starting to change. Gov. Rick Snyder and House and Senate leaders are making the difficult decisions. For the last two years, our leaders passed balanced budgets without gimmicks or surprises; they spent only what the state could afford; they reduced our debt; they created a better tax system that rewards hard work; they asked for greater efficiency and accountability for our tax dollars; and they prioritized investments in areas that will provide better opportunities and a brighter future for Michigan.

Click to read more ...

Let’s Not Turn Back the Clock

Thanks in part to the difficult decisions made by our state leaders the last two years, Michigan is starting to turn around. Employment is up, personal incomes are on the rise, and our economy is growing again. We have adopted balanced budgets, lowered taxes on job providers and started to reinvest in our higher education institutions – a primary source for the talent Michigan employers need.

This November, voters will be asked to vote on one referendum and five proposed amendments to the Michigan Constitution that have the potential to undo all the progress we’ve made.

Proposal 1 is a referendum on whether or not Michigan should retain Public Act 4 of 2011, which helps Michigan communities in financial emergencies regain fiscal stability. In cases where communities are unable to meet payroll, pay vendors, or are operating under continuous deficits, the law allows the state to appoint an emergency manager to help address these problems. BLM SUPPORTS PROPOSAL 1.

Proposals 2-6 attempt to use our Constitution to re-write legislation passed by our elected leaders or bypass Michigan’s legislative process.  The Michigan Constitution sets forth our basic rights and freedoms. It should not be used to undo legislative action because a group doesn’t like it. BLM DOES NOT SUPPORT PROPOSALS 2-6.

Michigan is just starting to turn around. We can’t afford to turn back.

Click here to learn more about the proposals.