Insurance Reform

No-fault auto insurance

The highest in the country! No-fault laws should be repealed because they deprive the victim of the right to recover damages from those responsible for causing harm. They forbid you from trying to set your own risk. Ask yourself, are the drivers of Michigan really $2000/yr. better off than the drivers of North Carolina? It’s time to repeal No-Fault laws and as your representative, I will work to do just that!

Jury Nullification

Jury Nullification

 The common law authority of a trial by jury preceded our constitution and is the foundation of our legal system. If a jury of peers deems a law unjust, oppressive or inappropriately applied, it has the right and duty to acquit the defendant. Even more than referendums, jury nullification puts the people in control of the law, finding a defendant not guilty when charged with a law the jury finds unjust. As your representative I will introduce legislation revising jury instructions so jurors are informed of their rights before deliberation.

Local educational control

Local educational control

 

Education should be left to the educators (not the politicians), and there should be a free market for schools. As someone who managed 5 charter elementary schools in Michigan for 17 years, I know we would have actually benefitted from less state and federal interference.  We spent time, resources and money complying with state and federal reporting requirements.


Voucher programs and for-profit private schools give parents freedom to choose and power over their child’s education.  Such an open market can lead to the creation of magnet schools, technical schools, and all sorts of other innovations that can benefit students of all different abilities.  I oppose central planning of education, both at the National level and the State level.

Occupational licensing

Occupational licensing

 Everyone who is able to work should have the opportunity to do so. One way the state can help is to drastically reduce the number of jobs you need a state license to perform. Right now in Michigan, about 21% of workers, in 162 different occupations,  need a license to hold a job. Having a criminal record is an automatic disqualification for many licenses, keeping many otherwise qualified people from having good jobs. As your State Rep, I will not vote for any bill creating a new occupational license and will work to remove restrictions on existing ones.

Overregulation

Regulatory control 

We all learned in school about the branches of government, how there is a legislative branch that makes the laws, an executive branch that enforces the passed laws and a judicial branch that interprets how the law applies. The reality is that more and more, the legislative branch creates executive bodies with broad goals and allows them to make up their own rules on how to achieve those goals. They are sometimes even given their own review panels that bypass the courts! These bureaucrats are not elected by the people and don’t answer to you. Legislators get to play both sides of the fence where they can both take credit and distance themselves from bad decisions.
Agencies should only enforce laws passed by the legislatures and the legislators should be responsible for their decisions. As your representative, I will not vote for any law that allows anyone in an unelected position to be able to create regulations that affect your life. Take back control of your government and vote Libertarian this November!

Asset Forfeiture

 

During 2016, one out of every 10 Michigan residents whose property was taken by law enforcement using civil asset forfeiture was never charged with a crime.

Legislation requiring law enforcement to obtain a conviction prior to the government taking ownership of assets from citizens is being considered in the Michigan House.

I support this legislation

Ending Cannabis Prohibition

– On January 4, 2018, Trump administration Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that he is rescinding the current Department of Justice policy which places a low priority on enforcing marijuana prohibition in States with laws that have legalized the growing, possession and use of marijuana. The current policy, now rescinded, led to an explosion in the growth of the medical marijuana sector and legalization for medical purposes here in Michigan. Over half of the States now have legalized medicinal marijuana and eight states allow recreational use.
I strongly oppose this action by the Donald Trump administration. Federal prohibition of marijuana use violates both individual rights and States’ rights.
I believe, as do all Libertarians, that individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and must accept the responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. We also believe that laws should be limited to protecting individuals from the initiation of force and fraud. Therefore we support the repeal of laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as Federal and State laws limiting or prohibiting the use of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes.
The “war on drugs” has been a spectacular failure. Though billions of taxpayers’ dollars have been spent, usage remains almost unchanged. What has changed is that an enormous number of individuals have been imprisoned, ruining their lives and the lives of their families. Marijuana prohibition has resulted in increased crime, official corruption and deaths. Drug cartels and related criminal activity are a direct result of prohibition. I support initiatives in Michigan that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana by adults.
The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that the powers not granted to the Federal government or prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States, or to the people. Nowhere does the Constitution grant the Federal government the power to prohibit the growing, distribution and use of marijuana. Thus, decisions regarding marijuana are clearly reserved to the States and the people. I support Federal legislation that would implement the Constitution by repealing Federal marijuana prohibition laws.  I further support the ballot initative to “Abrogate Prohibition” of cannabis by amending the Michigan Constitution.

Profit vs safety

It's not in a company's best interest to KILL ITS CUSTOMERS.

Posted by Mises Institute on Friday, April 6, 2018