When you go on a trip, it’s good to know where you’re headed.  And when you serve in public office, it’s good to keep your principles and priorities in mind.  Last week, my caucus released our 2019-2020 Action Plan.  It’s a roadmap we plan to guide us over the next term.

Each election cycle brings a new legislature to Lansing.  The fifty-eight Republican House members of the 100^th Michigan Legislature represent people from every corner of our state.  Shortly after we were sworn in, we sat down to meet each other and share the issues and concerns that we brought from home.  We found we had many issues in common, and we decided these would be our priorities, and they became the framework of our Action Plan.

Topping the list are roads and infrastructure, and the high cost of auto insurance.  We’ve made a lot of progress towards rebuilding Michigan’s roads, water and electrical networks, and making them safer.  But we obviously have much more work to do.  These are big, expensive systems that will need years of proper attention going forward.  It’s important that we keep our focus and not let inaction get us off track.  For example, last year, we supported the concept of a brand-new utility tunnel at the Straits of Mackinac that will provide energy security for the future while protecting our irreplaceable Great Lakes.  We’ll continue to watch that project to insure proper oversight and transparency as it moves forward.

Our broken car insurance system has been squeezing family budgets and holding back our state for too long.  For the first time, we’ve created a special House committee specifically charged with getting to the bottom of this problem and bringing forward real solutions.  The committee is asking for public comment.  You can share your perspective at: www.ReduceMIRatesNow.com.

We also need to address two issues that have become much more concerning in just the past few years: growing substance abuse and addictions, and care for the mentally ill.  Both are complex issues that touch us all directly or indirectly, whether in the workplace, healthcare system, schools or at home.  As our country faces both of these crises, Michigan needs to be a leader.

It’s one thing to have priorities, but they must be guided by principles.  Our Action Plan confirms that we consider the Constitution to be the safeguard of the freedoms we enjoy, and that we will defend the rights given to every citizen upon our nation’s founding.  And, we must always defend those least able to defend themselves.

Michigan is not a “red state” or a “blue state”.  During my lifetime, we’ve tended to swing back and forth with Governors from both major parties, and 2018 was not an exception.   “Divided government” is not necessarily a bad thing – and the Republican-led House and Senate look forward to respectfully working with Gretchen Whitmer, our new Democrat Governor.  We each have roles to play.  The Governor has responsibility for over 40,000 state employees and administrative departments.  The legislature has the responsibility to legislate and appropriate.  And we both have the responsibility to agree on a budget that works best for all ten million of us who call Michigan home.  When we have disagreements, they can be respectful.  And in the meantime, happily, there are many priorities that we share.

We’re on this road together, and we’ll need lots of conversation about the best way to achieve these and other priorities this term.  You can always contact me at (517) 373-1794 or at [email protected].

The 2019-2020 Action Plan can be viewed at: www.GOPHouse/leading-the-way/

Eric Leutheuser is in his third term representing Hillsdale and Branch Counties.