In the first 100 days of this term, Democrats have been all too eager to tell our neighboring states, the rest of the nation, and the world that Michigan is closed for business. Michigan Democrats have repealed worker freedoms, spent billions of dollars in corporate welfare, and fleeced taxpayers by reinstating a misguided prevailing wage policy. The start of this term has been rocky, but when the Legislature returns, Democrats have an opportunity to work with Republicans to pass commonsense policies to move our state forward.

Rahm Emanuel, the former Democrat Mayor of Chicago, and Chief of Staff to President Obama, borrowed from Churchill when he said, “You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that is it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”

We’re all aware of the ice storm that left hundreds of thousands of Michiganders without power earlier this year. Rumors are swirling that Lansing may be looking to rewrite Michigan’s energy policies. Given the rampant partisanship we’ve seen in the first 100 days, I have no faith that the Democrat majority won’t take advantage of the crisis to push through a fringe environmental agenda that will only exacerbate the difficulties facing small businesses and Michigan residents. New mandates, regulations, taxes, fees, inspections, and more could be coming soon to a family farm or small business near you.

As the Republican Leader of the Energy, Communications, and Technology Committee, my focus is making sure Democrats don’t drive our economy off a cliff chasing one-time Biden bucks and green energy programs that aren’t ready for prime time. Renewables are great, and the market is moving in that direction, but our top priority should be ensuring we have an adequate baseload energy supply. I know from experience that my constituents want to avoid dealing with rolling blackouts in the summer or get text messages from the governor telling them to turn their heat down in the dead of winter.

There is substantial potential for bolstering our grid, amplifying our energy supply, and leading our country and the world in the creation of novel technologies. We have an opportunity to secure our legacy as a global leader in technology, discovery, and innovation. We have a chance to achieve something remarkable, and I’m prepared to work with anyone who shares this vision.

After taking some time to listen to their constituents and not their party leadership, I have high hopes that my Democrat counterparts will return to Lansing, eager to partner with Republicans for the betterment of every Michigan citizen.