They do things a little differently up in Northwest Michigan. When times are tough, everybody pitches in. People know their neighbors. There's a sense of community and shared sacrifice – values that Dan Scripps has brought to his first term serving in the Michigan House of Representatives.
A businessman, environmental attorney and co-chair of his local chamber of commerce, Scripps' boundless energy and fresh ideas have invigorated the Capitol.
"As legislators, we've been given an incredible opportunity by the people of Michigan, and they're expecting a great deal from us," Scripps said. "With the challenges that our state faces, our work in Lansing must focus on the struggles that families are coping with every day. They deserve a government that stands by them, especially when times are tough."
Scripps has emerged as a driving force behind making Michigan a leader in alternative energy, sponsoring a plan to create the nation's strongest Renewable Portfolio Standard. The Representative formed the School Equity Caucus, to ensure that every Michigan student receives a high-quality education. And as an avid hunter and outdoorsman, Scripps also is working to protect the Great Lakes and Michigan's other waters.
Scripps is proud to be from Northwest Michigan, a tourist hotspot that's featured prominently in the state's highly successful "Pure Michigan" campaign, and he is fighting to establish a permanent funding source for program.
"Tourism is an $18 billion industry in Michigan that provides jobs for thousands of our residents, and we have to do
all we can to help it grow," Scripps said. "Michigan is one of the most beautiful places in the world to
visit – we just need to continue to get the word out."