Issue Position: Corporate Welfare

Issue Position

I'm against "corporate welfare" and "crony capitalism".

Currently, our state taxpayer-funded economic development corporation (department) is behaving like a double edged sword. These "sweet deals for the politically connected" that provide tax breaks to certain businesses while, in the same swing, created a tax "disadvantage" to others who are not on the receiving end of the government's decision to give a competitor a "tax holiday", government loan or just plain cash. Why should Michigan taxpayers flip the bill for new stadiums when the owner of the stadium is a billionaire and can easily afford to pay for it on their own? This "picking and choosing" done by elected or appointed government officials also create tremendous opportunity for impropriety (kick-backs and political favors). I don't believe government officials should decide who and which businesses get picked to be the beneficiary of the government handout or tax break. I will never participate in or support any legislation where the government picks and chooses private-sector winners and losers. The free market (you and I) does that best.

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