Detroit Regional Chamber > Advocacy > 2020 Legislative Priorities Focus on Talent, Regional Transit, and More

2020 Legislative Priorities Focus on Talent, Regional Transit, and More

February 4, 2020
The Detroit Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors recently adopted 2020 legislative priorities. These 14 priorities are focused on business and economic growth for the region. Priorities include investing in infrastructure, support for a reliable regional transit system, maintaining a pro-growth tax structure, and creating pathways to postsecondary education and careers.

People:

  • Maintain a pro-growth tax structure that allows Michigan to compete globally for business and talent.
  • Encourage smart spending policies and long-term budgeting that prioritizes fiscal solvency.
  • Maintain a regulatory climate that is conducive to Michigan’s growing economy.
  • Support reforms for Michigan’s criminal justice system that reduce lengthy and costly sentences and provide age-appropriate rehabilitation.
  • Support policies that expand employment opportunities for chronically underemployed populations.

Community:

  • Increase dedicated infrastructure funding in the state and lead efforts to prioritize regional transit options for the Detroit region.
  • Encourage regional policies that are consistent with state and federal law and balance local needs with economic growth.
  • Promote policies that increase access to health insurance while opposing policies that drive up costs for employers and individuals.

Talent:

  • Maintain rigorous K-12 standards that allow students to succeed in the global economy.
  • Create greater accountability for quality and siting in charter schools.
  • Increase postsecondary education attainment through policies such as increased dual enrollment and the Michigan Reconnect and MI Opportunity Scholarship initiatives.

Global Connectivity:

  • Create pathways to career opportunities in the automotive industry that develop high-skilled talent, including utilization of global opportunities through immigration reform and the attraction of international students.
  • Promote smart trade policy, including continued USMCA participation and resisting short-sighted trade restrictions or tariffs that inhibit growth.

Next-Generation Mobility:

  • Support policies that allow Michigan to continue to lead in research and development testing for next generation mobility solutions and other emerging industry sectors.