LANSING – House Democrats today passed the "Hire Michigan First" plan, which will ensure that Michigan workers get the first crack at jobs created by companies that benefit from state economic development programs or tax breaks. The plan will also crack down on companies that hire illegal workers by canceling their state contracts and tax incentives.
"This aggressive plan will ensure that Michigan workers are put first when companies get incentives that are paid for with taxpayer dollars," said State Representative Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens), the lead sponsor of the package. "Michigan's workers have the skills and the know-how to get any job done. We must stand by our working families during these tough times and create new opportunities for our workers, and that's exactly what this plan will do. This plan fights unemployment by rewarding companies that hire Michigan residents."
The "Hire Michigan First" plan will:
- Give preference for tax breaks and other economic development tools to companies that hire the most Michigan residents. This rule would apply to projects handled by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and certain state-funded programs, including the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, the Renaissance Zone Act and several others.
- Encourage transparency and accountability by requiring companies that take economic development incentives to report on who they hire to ensure that Michigan residents are put first.
- Crack down on companies that hire illegal workers by canceling their state contracts and tax incentives. The plan would also require them to pay back incentives already received and bar them from future contracts.
"Michigan's working families have been hit hard by downsizing and outsourcing, and every job we protect makes a difference," said State Representative Marc Corriveau (D-Northville). "By creating jobs and putting Michigan workers first, our working families will have more money in their pocketbooks – money that will be spent in our local economy. This plan will not only bring much-needed jobs to our community for our workers, it will also help boost our economy and get Michigan back on track."