What’s happening: The results are in from last month’s MI Chamber Member Pulse Survey on an array of state policy proposals and the top issues businesses would like to see the Michigan Legislature tackle.
What you said: Here are the top takeaways from what respondents shared:
- Nearly three-quarters of respondents (73%) said Michigan was on the wrong track; 16% thought our state was heading in the right direction with the final 11% unsure or on the fence.
- Almost 9 of 10 respondents (89%) opposed a proposal under consideration that would mandate a new state-administered program requiring employers with more than 1 employee to provide 15 weeks of paid leave.
- On the top issues respondents would like to see Michigan lawmakers tackle, reducing regulations and red tape was the No. 1 answer (47%), closely followed by a tie at 42% for fixing Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure and ensuring our state’s economic competitiveness.
- 89% of respondents opposed the policy proposal that would allow Michigan’s 1,800 local units of government the green light to enact their own employment laws (i.e. minimum wage, paid, leave, etc.).
- 84% of respondents said the proposal on severely limiting who could be considered independent contractors and be self-employed or take freelance work or gig opportunities would be harmful.
- 73% of respondents opposed legislation that would create new barriers to the cleanup of contaminated sites in Michigan by mandating the “highest standard technically possible” without consideration for cost-benefit analysis on the price of a cleanup vs. the benefit to human health and the environment.
- On a range of economic development proposals, 63% of respondents indicated that tax incentives for research and development (R&D) initiatives would be the most or somewhat helpful tool.
- Of all the pending state policy proposals assessed, 94% of respondents reported that the mandated, stringent paid leave benefits was the most or somewhat concerning.
- 68% of respondents said partisan politics was a growing concern.
Our thought bubble: Thank you to all those who took the survey! It helps guide our advocacy focus and ensure the voice of business is heard.
Nationally: A new national survey from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that voters prefer free markets to government micromanagement and overreach, and are supportive of pro-growth, pro-business candidates regardless of political affiliation.
Go deeper: Catch more of the U.S. Chamber’s free enterprise survey here.