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MMA works hard to bring the issues affecting manufacturers into the public arena through the media. Below are some examples.

2008

“A lot of companies were doing things under the SBT [Single Business Tax] to reduce their tax, and they were doing things that were legal, and those things aren't there any more so I understand their concerns.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted 5/5/08 in Gongwer News Service addressing questions about the impact of the implementation of the Michigan Business Tax.

“Mike Johnston, director of regulatory affairs at the Michigan Manufacturers Association, said the state has a complex set of regulatory standards defining the lines between waste, fertilizer and useful material. These regulations force hundreds of millions of tons of useful materials into landfills. By applying better technology and policy, more waste could be used.”

— Crain’s Detroit Business reporting 5/5/08 on the brownfield redevelopment movement.

“I’m somewhat miffed at people saying they’re paying 500 percent more but we don’t know what they were paying before. In some cases, it was probably not much.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, commenting 4/28/08 on the new structure of the Michigan Business Tax (MBT).

“Chamber Executive Vice President Rich Studley and Michigan Manufacturers Association Vice President Chuck Hadden, DTE Energy Chairman and CEO Tony Earley and Consumers Energy CEO David Joos are scheduled to hold a 9 a.m. press conference Wednesday morning in support of the new legislation.”

— MIRS News reporting 4/15/08 on MMA’s involvement in the Association’s formal announcement of support for the House’s comprehensive energy reform package.

“The Michigan Manufacturers Association is calling on lawmakers to pass reforms that the organization says will restore the state’s industrial base. The group is asking for personal property tax reductions, opposition to mandates for providing healthcare, a ‘fair litigation climate,’ protections against regulation and workforce training.”

— Industry Week 4/15/08 summarizing MMA’s advocacy priorities for 2008.

“After delivering a 60-percent Personal Property Tax credit for manufacturers and replacing the ill-conceived services tax with a surcharge to the new Michigan Business Tax, which MMA helped to craft and put in place, the association believes it is time for the Legislature to come to the table with government reforms and structural changes to reduce the load on job providers.”

— MITechNews.com 4/14/08 highlighting MMA’s 2008 public policy agenda.

“There are a number of business groups, like the Michigan Manufacturers Association...that are very interested in what they can do to help move the state forward.”

— David Joos, president and CEO for CMS Energy and CEO of its principal subsidiary, Consumers Energy, speaking 4/4/08 with MIRS News about the help MMA has provided during the negotiations about energy policy legislation.

“They really have to start going to town in a short period of time. And doing that, whether they’re building or buying, there will be an additional expense that comes with it. And that’s going to come back to the ratepayers.”

— Chuck Hadden, vice president of government affairs for MMA, in Crain’s Detroit News commenting 3/10/08 on the impact to ratepayers if utilities build or purchase renewable power to meet a proposed state mandate that 10 percent of power come from renewable sources by 2015.

“The business community has made a lot of compromises. It would be a darn shame if the environmental community can’t come together and get something done. If this thing [the bill implementing the water withdrawal assessment tool] dies, this will be the fault of the environmental community.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, in MIRS News criticizing the environmental community for standing in the way of critical water protection and use legislation.

“Today’s discussion at the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) came after U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) invited Padilla [U.S. Undersecretary for International Trade] to speak with manufacturers about the hardships they’re feeling in dealing with an international market that is far from being a ‘level playing field.’”

— MIRS News reporting on the business roundtable MMA hosted this week in partnership with U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow that featured Mr. Christopher Padilla, U.S. Undersecretary for International Trade.

Amy Shaw of the Michigan Manufacturers Association called the rule “a threat to our state’s tenuous economy.”

— Gongwer News Service describing Amy Shaw’s, MMA director of education and employment relations, testimony on a potential state-specific ergonomic rule before the Senate Economic Development and Regulatory Reform Committee.

“How much time is going to be spent enforcing proper posture?”

— Amy Shaw, MMA director of education and employment relations, quoted by Gongwer News Service during the most recent Ergonomic Standard Advisory Committee (ESAC) meeting in which the job-killing ergonomics draft standard moved forward.

“There’s a way to get these things done without new revenue.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, in the Royal Oak Daily Tribune 1/31/08 commenting on the governor’s proposals outlined in her State of the State address.

“We keep hearing Lansing politicians saying things are fine now but we need to make some corrections so as not to have the same mess as last year again.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, in Crain’s Detroit Business 1/28/08 discussing the need to implement government reforms and changes to reduce the tax burden Michigan’s businesses face.

“The new recovery zone was formed with help from the Lansing-based Michigan Manufacturers Association and includes 16 businesses from around the state.”

— Crain’s Detroit Business commenting 1/11 on the recently formed Global Tooling Alliance, the fifth tool and die collaborative formed with MMA’s assistance since 2004.

“We felt slighted when we went with taxes and didn’t get the reforms done.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs in the Detroit Free Press 1/2/08 discussing the impact of the implementation of the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) surcharge to avoid the ill-conceived services tax, and the need to identify additional government reforms to replace the surcharge.

2007

“There has got to be a better way to help these people than mandates. In the meantime, we need to make sure we’re not making the problem worse.”

— Amy Shaw, MMA director of education and employment relations, in a Gongwer News Service report (12/13) testifying on a potential costly health care mandate related to the treatment of autism.

“We took this deal because it was the only politically viable option we had to get rid of the services tax before companies spent millions more preparing for its implementation. Now our focus will shift to eliminating the surcharge on the MBT.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs in the MIRS News commenting on the repeal of the services tax and plans to scrap the MBT surcharge.

“…I’m surprised, surprised, surprised. We were fine with the original House version and we’re fine with this one [the newest House version of the sales tax repeal legislation]. We’re just disappointed that they stopped talking.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, in Gongwer commenting on the gridlock to trying to implement a services tax fix before the 12/1/07 implementation deadline.

“We have a Dec. 1 deadline that is looming over our heads like a sword.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs in the Detroit News on 11/16/07 discussing the need to get the services tax repeal enacted before the 12/1/07 deadline.

“… it is vital that the Legislature take action before Nov. 15 to spare businesses this implementation expense.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs in MIRS News commenting 11/13/07 on the ongoing budget battle in Lansing and its effect on Michigan’s economy.

“Seems we’re spending a lot of time talking about Michigan’s budget and not doing other work. It sends the wrong message.”

— John “Mac” Macllroy, MMA president and CEO, 11/7/07 in the Detroit News and 11/4/07 in the Flint Journal and Lansing State Journal reinforcing the deadline to get the service tax repeal in place.

“[We’re] willing to live with pushing the date off on implementation…as long as we don’t get caught up in politics. The clock is running either way, and we need to get something done.”

Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, 10/29/07 in Crain’s Detroit Business discussing the deadline to get the service tax repeal in place before companies have to swallow implementation costs.

“My members have put me to work on this to get this done as soon as possible. We’re very worried about the Dec. 1 deadline because we’re really looking at Nov. 15 [for implementation].”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, in Crain’s Detroit Business 10/22/07 discussing the deadline to fix the new services tax.

“We’re looking at recruiters, trainers, environmental consultants, auditors — it’s a long list. You can’t even remediate a construction site without paying 6 percent to a variety of consultants. It’s much bigger than Treasury or the government realizes.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs in the Detroit News 10/9/07 discussing the problems with the new service tax.

“Chuck Hadden, lobbyist for the Michigan Manufacturers Association, said large companies headquartered in Michigan, including the automakers, could face huge tax liability through the sales tax extension.

‘We’re looking at recruiters, trainers, environmental consultants, management consultants, auditors — it’s a long list,’ he said. ‘You can’t even remediate a construction site without paying 6 percent to a variety of consultants. It’s bigger than Treasury or the governor realizes.’

He said the sales tax expansion could ‘wipe out’ tax breaks the Big Three and other large manufacturers gained from the revamping of the state’s main tax on business earlier this year.”

— Detroit News account on 10/9/07 of recent efforts to repeal the new sales taxes on services.

“The personal property tax reduction or credit is significant. From a manufacturer’s standpoint, probably one of the most important pieces of this whole thing.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, discussing the MBT in the Oakland Press on 6/15/07.

“We have concerns about gross receipts. No doubt certain large businesses — manufacturers, utilities, major retailers — will pay under that,” said Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs.

He said if the tax plan includes certain exemptions from gross receipts the manufacturers were seeking, “we can hold our nose and swallow it.”

— Detroit News account of MMA’s response to the Michigan Business Tax compromise on 6/14/07.

“House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford Township, said four of five businesses would get a tax cut under the Democrats’ plan.

‘To say I’m shifting it onto small business, I don’t buy it,’ he said.

[Senator] Cassis said a tax on gross receipts would be more stable.

But the Senate gross receipts tax would be too complicated and unlike business taxes in other states, said Chuck Hadden, spokesman for the Michigan Manufacturers Association.”

— Detroit Free Press account of recent business tax debates on 6/1/07.

“If it ends up as the Senate put it together, it’s very problematic for us.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, in the 5/31/07 Detroit News, commenting on the Senate’s compromise business tax replacement plan, which includes a gross receipts tax.

“…Chuck Hadden from the Michigan Manufacturers Association said he is anything but pleased with the latest tax proposal, citing a still too-high personal property tax and, most notably, the modified gross receipts formula, which he said doesn’t take into account all manufacturing expenses and could tax the sector beyond what it can handle.

“…At Mr. Hadden’s insistence that the personal property tax should be eliminated, [Senator] Cassis said the Senate is ‘moving in that direction,’ although it hasn’t targeted any trigger to zero out the tax or timeline for phasing it out.”

— Gongwer Michigan Report, 5/31/07.

“It flips the SBT on its head. It says, we’ll give you tax credits if you hire people and invest here in Michigan.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Detroit Free Press 4/26/07 referring to MMA’s support of the House’s Michigan Business Tax plan.

“How much of that comes back to Michigan? She (the governor) may be opening up a bigger can of worms than she realizes. We’re a peninsula but we’re certainly not an island.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Gongwer News Service 2/7/07 referring to Gov. Granholm’s service tax proposal and the fact that businesses purchase services from around the globe.

“If the prices go up, who pays that? What you are really doing is increasing costs on your hometown team.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, quoted in the Grand Rapids Press and Oakland Press 2/18/07 referring to the effects of increasing Michigan’s dumping fees.

“One of the best ways to encourage growth in these industries (advanced manufacturing, life sciences, homeland security and alternative energy) will be to provide a positive business climate, which includes fair, easy-to-compute taxes; certainty and efficiency in permitting; and affordable supplies of energy.”

— John “Mac” MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, quoted in Shiawassee County Independent 2/11/07 in response to the governor’s State of the State address.

2006

“Manufacturing, as in any business, is only as good as the people it employs. That is why MMA is launching a new program to help educate and excite middle and high school students, parents, teachers and guidance counselors about the many career opportunities available in manufacturing and the skills needed to obtain these jobs.”

— Kellie Garrett, MMA media and member relations coordinator, quoted in Business Review Western Michigan 12/26 discussing the new, MMA educational program called “Makin’ It in Michigan.”

“The fundamental question in all of this is how are we going to build the next power plant.”

— Mike Johnston talking about the state’s energy plan in Crain’s Detroit Business 12/18-24/07.

“You’re talking about a giant collision that’s going to have to happen around mid-June, if it doesn’t happen sooner.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Crain’s Detroit Business 11/27/06 referring to balancing the state budget and the elimination of the Single Business Tax.

“If you want capital investment in the state, you shouldn’t be taxing it.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in the Grand Rapids Press 11/24/06 regarding the replacement of the Single Business Tax.

“My members are going to China because that’s where the next market is.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Business Review Western Michigan 11/2-8/06 referring to how the negative political ads have focused on outsourcing.

“It’s very important to look regionally, first.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Crain’s Detroit Buinsess 10/16-22/06 on reforming the personal property tax. The comment came as Hadden explained that what surrounding states do matters because companies such can locate just across Michigan’s borders yet still effectively serve Michigan customers.

“The problem is that someone is going to get hurt when you change this tax. Let’s just have some leadership and move forward”

—Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Business Review Western Edition 10/19-25/06 discussing the replacing the SBT at the Business Review’s economic forum.

“We’re very interested, but we have some questions. We’re concerned about the tax rate. Is there a way we can assure the rate doesn’t go up if the government needs more money?”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in The Grand Rapids Press 9/30/06 discussing the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce’s SBT replacement plan.

Mike Johnston with the Michigan Manufacturers Association agreed that coming control standards would allow the state to meet the new air quality standards. “Much of the particulate problem is actually caused by agricultural fertilizer, yet agricultural fertilizer is categorically exempt from the PM 2.5 solution, so the cost accrues to the manufacturing world,” he said. “In a global economy I think we’ve got to think a little more clearly about our ability to compete.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, quoted in the 9/25/06 issue of Gongwer Michigan Report asserting one problem with the EPA’s new air quality standards for non-attainment.

“Allowing third-party challenges to permits before a final determination is issued by the MDEQ would functionally cripple every permit program operated by the agency. If the circuit court ruling had stood, challenges would have become a routine delay tactic for their parties and both Michigan’s economy and environment would have suffered as a result.”

Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, quoted in the 9/21/06 issue of Crain’s Detroit Business commending the Michigan Court of Appeals’ reversal of the Ingham Circuit Court decision allowing third parties to challenge the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in the early stages of granting permits.

“Just saying the two words, ‘health care,’ makes a lot of people shudder. It’s a major cost but it’s also an emotional issue. How can people deal with the cost as it keeps going up?”

— Amy Shaw, MMA director of education and employment relations, quoted in the 9/14/06 issue of the Cadillac News as she discussed the benefits of health savings accounts with members of the Cadillac Area Manufacturers Association.

“The reduction in revenues certainly has hampered the state’s ability to perform.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, quoted in the Chicago Tribune 8/27/06 discussing the affects of a reduced MDEQ budget.

“I believe we’ve chosen a strong group of candidates who will work well with industry. These candidates, if elected, can be expected to listen to manufacturers’ concerns and to help ensure that industry continues to prosper in our state.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Gongwer Michigan Report 8/18/06 in support of the legislative endorsements made by MMA.

“It used to be you could drop out of high school and get a good job in manufacturing. Those days are gone.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Grand Rapids Press 5/14/06 discussing the “new” economy.

“For manufacturers, getting rid of the personal property tax would help more than changing the SBT. Most states that still tax equipment ranging from laptop computers to giant stamping machines are either phasing it out or have eliminated it. Of the states that still have the tax, Michigan has one of the highest rates nationally.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Detroit News 5/28/06 discussing the implications of eliminating the Single Business Tax.

“The businesses we’re talking to would rather have the devil they know as opposed to the devil they don’t know.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of governmental affairs, quoted in MIRS News 4/18/06 discussing the implications of eliminating the Single Business Tax.

“We think there are quite a few people out there who have found loopholes and we need to address that.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of governmental affairs, quoted in Detroit Free Press 3/23/06 discussing the implications of eliminating the Single Business Tax.

“With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calling on Michigan to develop a plan to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for southeast Michigan by 2007, Michigan must move quickly. The Southeast Michigan Council of Government’s (SEMCOG’s) plan…suggests changes to the evaporation factors of the fuels used by [certain] sources…to reduce their emissions. [This is] the right answer for Michigan. Since a non-attainment designation by EPA places a cap on the amount of emissions in the area, economic growth is capped. The fuels approach is the quickest and most cost-effective strategy for meeting the federal deadline.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, quoted in the 3/3/06 issue of The Detroit News.

“Michigan doesn’t need an ergonomic standard; Michigan businesses can’t afford an ergonomic standard; and Michigan, as a state desperately in need of economic recovery, can’t afford an ergonomic standard.”

— Amy Shaw, MMA director of education and employment relations in a 2/20-26/06 Crain’s Detroit Business opinion editorial in opposition to the Granholm Administration’s efforts to promulgate a state-based ergonomic standard.

2005

“Unlike other health and safety standards, ergonomics is not a black and white issue; there are many shades of gray. And it is dealing with the gray areas that make the prospect of a mandatory state ergonomic standard so complicated — and costly.”

— Amy Shaw, MMA director of education and employment relations, quoted in MiBiz West 12/13 discussing the pitfalls of an ergonomics standard.

“That’s the biggest deterrent for manufacturers to invest in Michigan, because every time we buy new equipment, we pay a higher tax.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in the Oakland Press 11/5 discussing manufacturers’ interest in getting relief from the personal property tax.

“The (personal property) tax discourages companies from investing in Michigan. Every time they buy a piece of equipment, they pay a higher tax on it.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in the Lansing State Journal 11/8 discussing the restructuring of Michigan’s business tax.

“I think many (of MMA’s members) would like to stay with the SBT because they would prefer the devil they know opposed to the devil they don’t know.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of governmental affairs, quoted in the MIRS 11/10 article discussing the Single Business Tax.

“Decisions are being made today that will affect the locations of facilities for years to come. Current state tax policies that require manufacturers to pay a larger share of state and local taxes than other segments of the economy are not helpful as Michigan manufacturers do battle in an increasingly competitive world marketplace to hold on to the state’s 700,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs.”

— John “Mac” MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, quoted in a 11/1 MIRS article discussing House Speaker Craig DeRoche’s tax plan.

“We’re taking this very seriously. We haven’t seen any actual numbers, but a first glance it looks better. We’ll be taking it to our board on Monday.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of governmental affairs, quoted in the MIRS 10/27 article discussing Speaker DeRoche’s tax plan.

“(Water) regulations are costly and can take away from our national economic advantage. When it’s expensive for companies to do work here, we lose out to our competitors. Define the problem through science before regulating the problem.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director or regulatory affairs, quoted in the Commercial Record 9/1 article criticizing Annex 2001.

“Instead of spending tax dollars to develop a plan and submit it to the EPA by October 2006, to meet the ambitious goals and timelines of the new rule, the agency will spend staff resources to interfere with a strong mercury reduction plan.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director or regulatory affairs, quoted in the Kalamazoo Gazette 9/2 opinion-editorial criticizing the MDEQ’s attempt to block implementation of the federal Clean Air Mercury Rule. The op-ed also ran in The Grand Rapids Press and the Lansing State Journal.

“Companies are making economic decisions all the time. [The Michigan Jobs and Investment Coalition] decided that it’s time to turn up the heat. We are talking to [lawmakers] about the importance of doing something, before they leave, for the economy.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Crain’s Detroit Business 6/20 regarding manufacturers’ push to get tax reform passed before the Legislature breaks for the summer.

“[The 35-percent Personal Property Tax (PPT) credit] is key because the PPT taxes everything a manufacturer has in its facility — reinvestment is taxed automatically. It doesn’t make sense to have a deterrent to investment.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, commenting on Governor Granholm’s proposed plan to reform Michigan’s business tax, quoted in the Cadillac News 6/2.

“Chuck Hadden, a lobbyist for the manufacturers association, said the existing tax [Single Business Tax] creates winners and losers, and that his members, who provide 40 percent of all business investment in the state, are losing.”

— Booth Newspapers 3/25

“In a perverse way, Michigan today hammers the industry most responsible for creating economic value in our state — manufacturing — forcing manufacturers to pay far more in state and local business taxes than other sectors of our economy. In doing so, we have made Michigan one of the least friendly states in the nation for manufacturing.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, in an opinion-editorial supporting the governor’s business tax reform proposal, quoted in The Flint Journal 5/1.

“In recent weeks, some legislative leaders and even some newspapers have characterized manufacturing in Michigan as a ‘dinosaur,’ an industry on the verge of extinction. They oppose efforts to end decades of state policies that have picked winners and losers, making manufacturing a loser time after time…Meanwhile, as our Legislature dithers and talks about giving more tax cuts to segments that have already benefited from state largess, other states are embracing manufacturing.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, in an opinion-editorial supporting the governor’s business tax reform proposal, quoted in The Detroit News 4/28.

“There are two different [air regulation] processes and companies have to address both in the permit process…to end up at the same place. It makes Michigan less competitive.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, commenting on Michigan’s duplicative air emissions regulation, quoted in Business Review Lansing 3/24.

“Manufacturers have been hammered under the present tax system. The governor’s package supports manufacturing and we like what we see.”

— John “Mac” MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, on Gov. Granholm’s business tax restructuring proposal, quoted by Booth News Service 2/24

“Jump starting fuel cell technology research and implementation could be a vital key toward keeping Michigan the auto capital of the world and taking advantage of our natural strengths.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted by Gongwer News Service following the State of the State address 2/7 regarding Gov. Granholm’s proposal for a $2 billion state bond for high-tech development

“It’s something we really do need to get at, along with job training which he took on for the first time along with strengthening community colleges, which is great.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, commenting on President Bush’s addressing the issue of “junk” lawsuits in his State of the Union address, quoted in the Detroit News 2/3

“(The plan) is responsive to the kinds of issues and questions that we've been struggling with for three years. It's a responsible way to go."

— John “Mac” MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, commenting on Gov. Granholm’s business tax restructuring proposal, quoted by Booth News Service 1/28/05

“This is excellent news for these companies and the communities they operate in. The firms, as they work together to increase their competitiveness, will greatly improve their chances of survival and growth.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Crain’s Detroit Business 1/10-16/05, on the formation of the 12-company Great Lakes Tool & Die Collaborative, which will receive “Recovery Zone” status with Single Business Tax credits

“The point is this: Manufacturing is increasingly ‘knowledge-based.’ We a part of this evolution not, as the study seems to suggest, apart from it. Just as the ‘manufacturing’ and ‘knowledge-based’ industries are intertwined, so are the policies which will encourage their development in Michigan.”

— John “Mac” MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, in op-ed column in The Grand Rapids Press, 9/11

“We must be careful not to make this a jobs diversion plan.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, on the proposed Annex 2001 water diversion agreement, quoted by the Associated Press, 9/15/04

“Whether the product is baby formula, latex paint, paper, cement, steel or an automobile made in Michigan, you can begin to see that the Annex standards will fall disproportionately on Michigan citizens compared to other states. Michigan will be paying the Annex tax on every product made in Michigan.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, quoted in the Lansing State Journal 9/14/04

“Before making a major investment in Michigan, companies need to know that production plans will remain on schedule. If they lack this confidence, they will invest elsewhere. If we can get permits in a period of time we’re confident about … that goes a long way to overcoming the challenges that companies have seen in Michigan.”

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, quoted in an Associated Press story 8/25 on the state’s new MITAPS “one-stop” permit program

“The cost of making products in the United States is 19 percent higher than in other countries because of regulatory costs, taxes, health care, litigation expenses, wages and other factors.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted in Crain’s Detroit Business 8/30

“I don’t think we’re ever not going to be a manufacturing state. It’s in our heritage. It’s just who we are.”

— Chuck Hadden, MMA vice president of government affairs, quoted by Booth News Service 8/11 in a report citing a University of Michigan study showing Michigan’s loss of income growth over the past 30 years

“Michigan and other states around the nation have a really big challenge in preparing work forces in the 21st century and they’re not going to be able to do that without federal funding of retraining programs.”

— John MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, quoted in Detroit Auto Scene, 6-14-04

“MEDC officials are sticking to their reading, but the Michigan Manufacturers Association and others are lobbying the Legislature to get what amounts to a technicality changed. After all, it’s foolish to lock out the very businesses the zones were created to help.”

— Business Direct Weekly editorial 6/3-9-04 on interpretation of Recovery Zone legislation covering tool and die businesses and whether or not leased firms qualify.

“This is significant … there are 125,000 deaths annually due to non-compliance, and a cost of $76 billion.”

— Amy Shaw, MMA director of education and employment relations, on the nationwide costs of prescription non-compliance, quoted in MIRS news service 3/16

“It’s a flawed tax and on it’s way out. We believe there will be an alternative developed. We’re calling for a full review of the entire business tax structure, not only the SBT, to ensure a fair, equitable system that maintains a competitive manufacturing sector.”

— John “Mac” MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, on phasing out the Single Business Tax, quoted in the Lansing State Journal 2-27

“The challenge for Michigan is simply to create good-paying jobs by encouraging the growth of manufacturing in the state.”

— John “Mac” MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, quoted in the Detroit News, 3/2

When we’ve lost 180,000 jobs, there’s a clue. Do what you ought to do to bring them in. We ought to be the best state in the Union on permit process.

— Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs, on the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s plans to improve permit efficiency, quoted by Gongwer News Service 2/13.

“I heard and welcomed a pro-jobs, pro-manufacturing and basically conservative message … We didn’t see talk of business tax increases. We continue to see a commitment to speeding up the regulatory and permit process … and we saw recognition on the need to hold down health care costs.”

— John W. “Mac” MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, commenting on the governor’s State of the State message, quoted by the Associated Press 1/28.

“The recent trend of imposing costly regulatory fees (on top of high business taxes) to fund mandated permit and enforcement programs is alarming. We must continue to fight for sensible, science-based regulation that does not unduly burden manufacturers and discourage businesses from locating here.”

— John W. MacIlroy, MMA president and CEO, quoted in MiBiz West 1/26