Attracting jobs while killing them
In the obituary for state representative Kate Ebli, the News described her as a lawmaker who "worked to attract jobs to Michigan and halt the importation of trash from Canada." On January 1, importation of Canadian household trash to the landfill in Sumpter Township ended. Local officials are considering a number of options to offset the loss of $700,000 a year in revenue including elimination of the police department, cuts in senior or recreation services, or closing the township-owned banquet hall.

Legislators must recognize intentions don’t matter; results matter. To attract and retain jobs, Michigan lawmakers need to stop raising barriers to business that chase them away.

[Letter to the Editor - The Detroit News. Submitted 01/04/2011.]