Profile: Jon Bumstead

Name:  Jon Bumstead

Office you are Seeking:  State Representative, District 100

Current Profession:  State Representative, District 100

Age: (optional)

Where Do you Live:  

Marital Status and Children:  

Why did you choose to run for this office?

I have decided to run for re-election to continue the work and successes of my first term.  Michigan was struggling with massive budget deficits and long term liabilities.  We were struggling with a stagnate business community that was being restricted by burdensome taxes and regulations.  It was important for me to reform our tax structure to make it simpler and fairer, we have done that.  I wanted to reduce or remove unnecessary regulations standing in the way of job provides, we have begun that process.  I wanted to tackle overspending and work at paying down the debts of our state and we have reduced spending and begun paying down massive debts.  

While we've accomplished many of the goals that were originally set, there is still more to do.  I am running to return to Lansing to keep our positive momentum going.   
 
What is the most pressing problem facing the State of Michigan?

Getting more people back to work continues to be at the top of my priority list.  While we have added thousands of jobs during my first two years there are still many able bodied Michigan residents who cannot find employment.  I want to work with my colleagues to continue to make Michigan a state that is business friendly and will provide more and good paying jobs.
 
Under the current administration in Michigan there have been both more revenues (taxes), and cuts
in the budget. Do you prefer a more balanced combination of the two to continue balancing the
budget or would you prefer more taxes or more cuts?

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am committed to working with state departments to ensure that tax dollars are efficiently spent.  I feel confident that through our tax policy changes that we will be more competitive as a state and be able to effectively run state government as long as we can continue to control spending.
 
What do you bring to this race, and potentially to the office you seek, that would make a difference for the people of Michigan?

I bring my 35 years of experience as a small business owner and my experience as a state representative for the past 2 years.  The people of Michigan expect that their elected representatives are responsible with their tax dollars.  I have used my experience as a business owner when addressing issues with the state budget.  As a business owner you cannot just raise your prices and pass along costs to the consumer, you must also analyze and address rising costs for doing business.  I believe that we have been successful at analyzing the state budget and allocating our resources in a strategic way that will provide the best return on investment for taxpayers.
 
Given the political polarization in Lansing and Washington, D.C., is there something you would do to try and change that culture or do you believe that highly partisan politics is simply "the way it is" in today's legislative environment?

Highly partisan politics is not that way that government should operate.  From my personal experience, I have had a lot of success working with my colleagues across the aisle.  As Chairman of the Appropriations  Subcommittee for the Department of Natural Resources I worked very well with my Democratic counterpart in  constructing that budget.  I will continue to work with members of the Democratic Party to do what is best for the people of Michigan.