LANSING – State Representative John Espinoza (D-Croswell) and his colleagues in the House today announced a bold agenda to tackle Michigan's challenges head-on and move the state in a new, positive direction. The plan includes reducing high health care costs, expanding educational opportunities and new policies that will attract investments in 21st century jobs.
"I am committed to getting Michigan started on a new path – one that will create a brighter future for our residents here in the Thumb and all throughout Michigan," Espinoza said. "We need to create good-paying jobs right here in Michigan. We need to strengthen education to prepare our children for the jobs of the future. We must ensure that everyone has access to quality health care. I will fight for a better future for our working families, seniors and students."
In addition to the House health and education committees working on major reforms to health care and education in Michigan, the six-point plan for the House will:
1. Fight the skyrocketing cost of health care.
Espinoza is pursuing proposals to lower health care costs and looking at a statewide catastrophic health care pool, as well as programs to purchase prescription drugs in bulk and provide health care to more than 1 million uninsured Michigan workers.
2. Strengthen schools and open the doors of educational opportunities for all citizens.
The New Economy Committee will work to strengthen schools and build the best-trained, best-educated workforce. One plan also aims to expand the Michigan Promise Grant by introducing a proposal to provide student loans to all Michigan residents looking to go beyond high school.
"It's essential for our children to get the best education possible in order to prepare them for the good-paying jobs of the future," said Espinoza, a former educator with the Carsonville-Port Sanilac School District. "As a former educator, I know how important it is to make sure our schools have the resources they need to provide our students with a top-notch education. Michigan will need a highly trained workforce to succeed in the 21st century economy."
3. Address Michigan's energy needs.
Espinoza and his colleagues will tackle the state's looming energy shortage and promote alternative energy and conservation. Work groups will study ways to increase alternative energy in Michigan, and introduce proposals to address the groups' findings.
4. Protect Michigan's Great Lakes, and fight Canadian and out-of-state trash.
Espinoza and his colleagues want to stop big water-bottling companies from shipping Great Lakes and other sources of freshwater out of the state. Espinoza supports a plan to curb Canadian and out-of-state trash by banning landfill expansion until 2011.
"Michigan's beautiful outdoors and waterways are a part of our way of life in the Thumb, and we must make sure that our land and water is protected," Espinoza said. "We can't allow big corporations to put our way of life at risk by profiting off our water. We also must protect our land, air and water from the tons of trash that are trucked into Michigan every day from Canada and other states."
5. Strengthen consumer protections.
Espinoza also supports a plan to repeal Michigan's unfair and one-of-a-kind 1996 law that gives big drug companies total immunity when they sell drugs, such as Vioxx, that harm or kill people. He also will fight to protect consumers from identity theft by ensuring consumers are informed of security breaches and increasing penalties against violators.
Espinoza also supports plans to place a moratorium on so-called mortgage tax pop-ups, which hit consumers – especially seniors – when they sell their homes and to help residents avoid mortgage foreclosures, which will help increase property values across Michigan.
6. Restore integrity to the House.
Proposals include banning public officials from lobbying for a year after they leave office; prohibiting conflicts of interest; requiring personal financial disclosures; and banning lawmakers from getting state grants.