Meet New House Appropriations Chair Representative Joe Haveman

By Joe Haveman
State Representative

A new legislative term has just gotten underway, and that means the annual adventure of crafting the state budget is right around the corner. Number crunchers, reform advocates, grand bargainers and plain old budget wonks are all gathering to pore over the numbers and help lay a foundation for another year of effective and efficient government in Michigan.

Of course, this year will be much different than any in recent memory. After Gov. Snyder entered into office, we worked together to make the hard choices, stabilize the budget and turn things around after almost a decade of decline. This year, we are going to be able to make more decisions for Michigan’s long-term success, instead of crisis management and scrambling to put out fires.

Things are finally looking up in Michigan, and that means great things for the people of this state. But our success is not guaranteed, and our recovery is far from complete. Michigan is certainly on its way back to the top, but there is still a lot of work for us to do, and big issues for us to address, before our work is done.

The governor has already laid out his plans for one of the biggest issues we will face this term – fixing Michigan’s crumbling roads, bridges and highways. Every one of us knows the roads in this state are falling apart, and those of us who work with the business community know that it is costing us jobs. We need to find a long-term solution to this problem before things get any worse and our repair bill escalates even further.

While there are many ideas being floated to address this issue, leaders in the House, Senate and governor’s office all agree that we must pursue a solution that both prioritizes critical spending needs over spending wants and protects Michigan’s hard-working taxpayers as much as possible.

We also expect to look at new proposals for tax reform during the budget process. Two years ago, we made important changes that made the tax code much more fair and simple, eliminating punitive business taxes and opening the door to opportunity for every small business owner and job creator in the state. Last year, we had a budget surplus for the first time in a very long time, and I was proud to return that to the people with an income tax cut for every single taxpayer in Michigan.

We also used the strong revenue that came from Michigan’s turnaround last year to prioritize spending in public safety, public education and paying down the massive debt burden hanging over our children. Responsible budgeting doesn’t just mean cuts; it also means responsible spending and smart investments that will deliver results for the taxpayers over the long-term. I believe we’ve made great progress over the last two years, and I plan to keep us focused on these critical areas again this year.  

These big topics will combine with many other issues that are already starting to take shape to make for a very interesting spring around the Capitol. I look forward to working closely with the Senate, the governor and my colleagues across the aisle to find the best path forward for Michigan and the best plan for an effective state government.

State Rep. Joe Haveman is in his first term as the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He can be contacted toll free at 1-866-373-0830, by email at JosephHaveman@house.mi.gov or by mail at P.O. Box 30014, Lansing, MI 48909.