Novi Information Network, Novi Michigan USA

Cassis supports regulatory efficiency package that will
help job providers
6/17/09

LANSING- Senate Republicans led the effort to pass a series of bills today that will make Michigan more competitive and user friendly for job providers, said state Sen. Nancy Cassis.

The measures are designed to ease regulatory burdens and bureaucratic
barriers to growth.

“We want to give Michigan a competitive edge. We looked at those
states that have the best environment for encouraging business
development and asked, ‘what are they doing right?’” said Cassis,
R-Novi. “Among the top priorities is to ensure the regulatory climate
is balanced and removes unnecessary obstacles for job creation and
maintenance. One of my own communities, Wixom, makes it a top priority to provide needed assistance within 30 days. That is why it is growing and successful at attracting job providers to an environmental-friendly business corridor.”

The bills would:

●    Require agencies to periodically review all of their rules;

●    Prohibit rules that are more stringent than federal requirements
unless specifically authorized by the Legislature;

●    Require the DEQ to benchmark and evaluate programs to ensure that they are effectively meeting goals;

●    Create a Business Ombudsman’s Office to assist companies that are experiencing difficulties with the state’s regulatory process; and

●    Require the DNR, DEQ and Department of Agriculture to use a stratified random sampling process when deciding which businesses to inspect.

“Onerous state regulations are contributing to Michigan’s declining
economy,” said Doug Roberts, Jr., director of environmental & energy
policy for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. “This legislation will
help make Michigan’s regulatory structure more competitive in the race
for jobs.”

Cassis added: “There are many factors that make a state
entrepreneurial-friendly, and this is just one of them. But it is a good
start. Michigan is in competition every day for jobs. These reforms
will help Michigan small businesses stay open and attract new job
providers to the state.”