Dear Friends and Neighbors,

In the year ahead, we must focus on getting our state back on track. The failing policies of “Bidenomics” — along with massive corporate welfare handouts and tax increases on businesses and families — are clearly not moving Michigan in the right direction.

Republicans believe hardworking taxpayers know how to spend their money better than the government does, and we’ll keep fighting Democrats in Lansing who want to raise taxes on Michigan businesses and families. Republicans know we must invest in responsible energy sources that ensure our lights, heat, and cars turn on, not California-style Green New Deal schemes that will make our energy more expensive and less reliable. We refuse to accept Michigan being a bottom 10 state for educational outcomes. Instead of doing away with reading standards and school accountability as Democrats have done this past year, we’ll fight to give students, teachers and parents the support they need to get our schools into the top 10.

We have a vision for Michigan that puts communities, schools, and families first, ahead of bigger state government, special interests and ambitions for higher office. Michiganders living every day under the harmful policies of Gov. Whitmer and President Biden deserve better.

Should you have any questions or concerns about the Legislature or state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by calling 517-373-0793 or by going to SenatorAricNesbitt.com. You can also stay up to date with what I am doing in Lansing by following me on Facebook, or on Twitter. I look forward to listening and learning about your priorities and concerns for our state.

Blessings,

Aric Nesbitt
State Senator
District 20

Every January, state fiscal and economic leaders from the Legislature and Department of Treasury gather for a Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference. This conference provides us with a forecast of state revenue projections and an overview of economic activity in Michigan. This year, projections included a more than $1.3 billion General Fund surplus, showing that Michigan’s estimated revenues are greater than expenditures. This money belongs to Michigan taxpayers who know how to spend their hard-earned dollars far better than the government.

Despite Gov. Whitmer and Lansing Democrats blowing through the state’s $9.2 billion budget surplus in record time, the state is expected to once again have a revenue surplus of over $1 billion. While the state’s coffers continue to bulge, many Michiganders continue to struggle against the rising costs of living. These revenue projections confirm the state has enough money to prevent the $700 million income tax hike the governor and her Democrats in the Capitol are determined to impose.

As the Legislature moves forward in the annual budget process, it is important that efforts are focused on responsible spending policies, including needed investments in education, public safety, and transformational infrastructure, as well as putting money back in the pockets of taxpayers. We also know Michiganders cannot afford to continue shoveling millions into pet projects, unsustainable government bureaucracy, and global corporate welfare like Democrats did in 2023.

Every year, U-Haul compiles an index of which states are growing and which states are losing population based on Americans using one-way moving equipment. The index shows that states like Texas and Florida have seen consistent growth in new residents for several years in a row. Meanwhile, states like California and Illinois are consistently showing some of the highest rates of people leaving. This also correlates with census data, showing Texas as number one for growth and a net loss for California. For 2023, Michigan ranked among the bottom five states for growth. Given the radical agenda being rammed through the Legislature by the Democrat majority, this is hardly surprising.

The Michigan Legislature has a golden opportunity in 2024 to turn this trend around. We must focus on lowering the cost of living for all Michiganders, not just a select few. We must focus on supporting job-creating small businesses, not massive corporate welfare handouts to international, multibillion-dollar companies. We must focus on wisely investing in critical infrastructure — fixing our crumbling roads and bridges, failing water and sewer systems, and addressing the lack of broadband in rural areas — not wasting taxpayer dollars growing the size and scope of government bureaucracy. We must focus on holding our schools accountable and keeping parents involved in their children’s education, not kowtowing to unions and special interests. We must focus on keeping our communities safe by supporting law enforcement, not “defunding the police.”

We must focus on doing a better job for the people of Michigan, and Senate Republicans will continue fighting to get Michigan back on track.

Recently, there has been a lot of news regarding school choice and homeschooling policies in Michigan. Sen. Nesbitt has always been very supportive of school choice and believes that parents should be able to decide how best to educate their children. Every child is different and may be more apt to excel in certain learning environments, whether in a public, private, charter or home school.

When considering how to appropriate education funding or create policies that affect our schools, the number one priority must be the well-being of children. While there are certainly union interests out there that would prefer one-size-fits-all public education approaches, we know that this is not the best for all students, and Senate Republicans will continue fighting for parents' right to choose how they educate their children without big government getting in the way. Our children must always come first before the priorities of unions and special interest groups.

Our children are our future. This is a fact that we must never lose sight of. Their success and their well-being are directly related to a quality education. Whether parents choose to educate their children in a home, private, charter, or public school, we must continue to work toward ensuring our children receive the best education possible and protect parents’ rights to do what is best for their child.

Sen. Nesbitt presented a special state tribute to the Hon. David DiStefano, commemorating his retirement as Probate Judge for Van Buren County.

House and Senate Republicans participated in a busy day of interviews, laying out their plan to get Michigan back on track prior to the governor’s annual State of the State address.

Sen. Nesbitt gave the official Republican response to the State of the State address. Click here or on the image above to listen to the message.