Advocacy News – April 28, 2022
Yesterday, key policymakers and political powerhouses joined the members of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce for various strategic discussions surrounding the future of our state, presenting on topics ranging from the importance of bipartisanship in today’s divisive political climate, this year’s contentious state elections and solutions to challenges that currently threaten the success of Michigan’s businesses for years to come. The large Lansing turnout sponsored by Amazon marked the first in-person membership gathering since 2019. The annual Chamber Day event is a prime and unique opportunity to gather in-the-know information, network with businesses and local chambers from across the state and gain targeted insight for community and business success.
Whether your business or chamber joined us for the stellar conversations or if you were unable to attend, here are some key takeaways from the insightful, pragmatic panelists.
- Pundits and Pollsters – No one has a crystal ball to predict the outcome of the numerous 2022 state elections, but our panelists detailed various avenues and possibilities for the upcoming primary elections and the impending general election. Moreso than any other year within the past decade, either party could take majority in the state House and Senate, especially considering the impact of the current and former presidents. With inflation and concerns of international security, these issues together with President Biden’s current approval ratings could prove a favorable election season for Michigan Republicans. However, former President Trump’s influence in primary elections could prove to be an up-hill battle for Republicans come the general election.
- Balancing Act – According to Andy Solon, Director of Legislative and External Affairs at the State’s Budget Office, the influx of billions of dollars into the state’s budget has unsurprisingly led to an overwhelming amount of funding requests. Our panelists thoughtfully discussed how to prioritize those requests. Thankfully, the panel emphasized the temporary nature of the extreme surplus and highlighted the importance of ensuring the governor and legislature capitalize on the opportunity to create long-term investments in state infrastructure.
- Bold Decisions for A Bright Future – After a historic decision for the state to provide substantial funding to General Motors for electric vehicle production through economic development incentives, our panelists discussed the need for strategic, sometimes difficult policy and appropriations decisions to advance our state’s competitiveness and structure and brand the Great Lakes state as the ideal location for businesses to grow, develop and thrive.
- Lunch with Lawmakers – Despite the seemingly hostile portrayal of lawmakers that sit across the aisle from one another, our panelists indicated there is much more constructive, problem-solving conversations than many may believe – even in a historical election year. Each party, and even each legislator, may have their own ideas regarding policy reforms for a better Michigan, but they all agree that barriers to employability and the ever-growing workforce crisis are concerns that need to be addressed immediately, as the current and future success of Michigan businesses depend on it.
If you attended yesterday’s event, please click here to complete our survey about the structure and content of the panels. We would love to hear your feedback!
Thank you to all of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce members for attending the 2022 Chamber Day event and a special shout-out to our panelists for their willingness to participate!
For questions or more information, please contact Leah Robinson at lrobinson@michamber.com.