State Rep. Jay DeBoyer today said plans Democrats are slated to push for in the coming months will have a negative impact on consumers, small business owners, families and attempts to attract residents to Michigan.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Democrat leaders went through several initiatives on Wednesday that increase regulation and don’t address problems and priorities many people across the state feel are more prudent.

“People I talk with across our region are tired of out-of-control costs and government becoming more and more part of their lives,” said DeBoyer, of Clay Township. “These plans will only exacerbate those concerns. It’s not the right approach for our state as we try to compete with other states for residents and job growth.”

Among the proposals DeBoyer took issue with were:

A push for unsustainable paid leave plans. Whitmer encouraged a need for more paid leave for employees without offering specifics. Bills currently in the Legislature would require private workers and employers in Michigan to fund a new program which offers up to 15 weeks of paid leave every year. The program, patterned after Michigan’s broken, fraud-riddled unemployment system, would be paid for by a new tax composed partly of money taken directly from workers’ paychecks. The policy would also cost small businesses, who serve as the backbone of Michigan’s local and state economies, millions of dollars. This would result in lower wages for workers or higher prices for consumers to offset costs.

Green energy mandates and timelines. The proposals will work to establish a carbon-free standard in Michigan by 2035. DeBoyer said the move will ultimately increase electric prices for Michigan families who already pay too much for a grid that isn’t reliable, while not taking into account if the state’s infrastructure will be able to meet such a timeline.

Removing local control. The carbon-free standard works hand-in-hand with potential legislation from Democrats that would shift the power to permit major solar projects from municipalities to state government – a move DeBoyer said disregards local voices, diminishes the roles of local elected officials and sets dangerous precedent.

“The governor says she wants to get answers for why Michigan’s population is growing less than other states and make our state more attractive – but her policies and what Democrats are pushing directly contradict that sentiment,” DeBoyer said. “Laws that raise costs, take more of what people earn and make it harder for them to run their business are not a recipe for success.”