Government Reform

Overview

The Chamber wants all levels of government to constantly assess itself to find cost reductions and increased efficiency.  The Chamber believes all levels of government should be as transparent as possible to avoid abuse or misuse of taxpayer dollars.  The chamber believes that if reforms are applied, it will lead to a better quality, more efficient, and more transparent state and national governments. 

State

The Chamber supports meaningful discussion for proposals for a part-time legislature.

The Chamber favors a modification of current term limits for state legislators to allow for extended service.

The Chamber favors legislative control of rulemaking in the House and Senate.

The Chamber supports changes in the state’s issuance of alcoholic beverage permits to enhance economic development opportunities for local communities.

The Chamber favors study of the salary and benefit structure for public employees to assure Michigan’s competitiveness with other states.

National

The Chamber supports curtailed earmarks and promotes greater transparency and disclosure in the legislative process, including a requirement that recipients of federal dollars disclose any amounts that the recipient spends on registered lobbyists, and that any earmarks included in a bill be disclosed fully in the bill’s accompanying report along with the name of the member requesting the earmark and a description of its essential governmental purpose.

The Chamber desires accountability in government programs through the identification of clear-cut goals so that mixed incentives do not contribute to fiscal mismanagement.