Candidate Forum Video

The Center for Michigan and PBS offered State Rep candidates the opportunity to debate each other so residents of our respective districts would know where each candidate stands on the issues. My opponent did not respond to PBS for a debate. For candidates who's opponents would not debate them, PBS and The Center for Michigan set up Candidate Forums where those specific candidates would sit with others who were also running to discuss the issues. The video for the Candidate Forum I participated in is below.


Part One:




Part Two:

Detroit News endorsement

Today I was endorsed by The Detroit News!

"District 28 (southern Warren and Centerline): Republican Jason Balaska, who has experience in retail management, opposes the business tax surcharge and seeks to ease regulatory burdens on business, gets our support in this district. His opponent is Democrat Lesia Liss."

You can read the article at the link below. The link includes their choices for candidates who are running for State Representative in Macomb County.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008810130336

Michigan Energy Prices to rise

While residents continue to struggle with the higher cost of living in our state, property taxes that continue to go up while our home values go down; and with unemployment in our state at 8.9 percent; the Michigan Legislature voted on an energy plan that will increase our electricity rates by up to 12 percent and puts a cap on competition. The bill also allows utilities to charge customers for new plant construction before the plants are operational. Under the current law, utility companies cannot increase rates before the plants are in service. Raising our electric rates will make it harder for individuals who have lost their jobs and for struggling families to pay their bills. First there was the $1.35 billion tax hike that was enacted in 2007. Then the Michigan Business Tax which hurts small businesses within our community and state. Now an increase of nearly 12 percent in our electric rates!

You can read the article detailing the legislation that was passed here at the Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080919/METRO/809190377/1409/METRO

The residents in our community and our states deserve better. We need to lower taxes, less regulation and provide property tax relief.

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day to everyone! Today is a day to thank the American worker - creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom and leadership.

"Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

To read more about the history of Labor Day, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor website here.

Having grown up in a union household, you can see how important the American worker is - and what role they play throughout our Nation and our State's history.

Happy Labor Day to all!

Jason

Site Updated

The campaign website (www.jasonbalaska.com) issues section has been updated discussing Taxes and Health Care. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me on the website by going to "contact jason" and select "i have a question" from the drop down box.

Jason

Health Care & Taxes

I will be posting an update to my campaign website (http://www.jasonbalaska.com) in regards to health care and a number of other issues. These will be posted in the "issues" section of the website toward the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions regarding the campaign, go the my website and click on "get involved". There is a contact form on the web page where you can ask me a question. I will personally respond to you with an answer.

Once I posted the update, I will notify everyone via this blog!

Jason

Website

My new campaign website is up and running! Check it out at www.jasonbalaska.com


Jason