LANSING – With news that Michigan's jobless rate spiked above 10 percent in December for the first time since 1984, State Representatives Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield) and Vicki Barnett (D-
Farmington Hills) today vowed to focus their energies on creating good-paying jobs now for Michigan workers.
"It's clear that we need new solutions to fight outsourcing and attract jobs to put our residents back to work," said Brown, who is a sponsor of the Hire Michigan First job-creation plan. "Hire Michigan First will work because it rewards businesses that create jobs for Michigan workers. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move quickly on this plan so our working families can get back on their feet."
After losing 21,000 jobs last month, Michigan's jobless rate rose to 10.6 percent for December – the highest monthly rate recorded since December 1984, according to the Michigan Department of Labor, Energy and Economic Growth (DELEG). By comparison, the national unemployment rate was 7.2 percent in December.
Last week, Brown and Barnett introduced the Hire Michigan First plan, which will ensure that Michigan workers get the first chance at jobs created by companies that benefit from state economic development programs or tax breaks. The plan cracks down on companies that hire illegal workers by canceling their state contracts and tax incentives. It also requires those companies to pay back incentives already received and bars them from obtaining future contracts.
"Today's grim economic news only reinforces my belief that we need to change the way things work in Lansing," Barnett said. "We cannot stand idly by as more of our jobs get downsized or outsourced to other states and countries. Both sides of the aisle need to come together and create a plan that will encourage entrepreneurship, stimulate small business growth and help create jobs for hardworking Michigan families."