September 2017
Senator Mike Kowall
(R-White Lake)
MiMfg Magazine
Representative Laura Cox
(R-Livonia)
Senator Kowall has long been a
champion of the manufacturing
industry and strong supporter of
valuable skilled trades training.
He has been a friend that the
manufacturing industry can count
on. His consistent history of
stellar vote records throughout
his legislative career has shown
his long-term commitment to
growing Michigan’s largest
and most important sector. Before Representative Cox took the
gavel as the first woman chair of the
House Appropriations Committee,
she displayed true determination
when, in her freshman year in the
Legislature, she stood tall in opposing
an effort to extend the costly and
uncompetitive Health Insurance Claims
Act (HICA) tax. Representative
Cox heeded the call of the largest
and most productive sector of the
Michigan economy to stand strong
with an unpopular but thoughtful
vote on this critical bill.
Q: What does Michigan manufacturing mean to you? Q: What does Michigan manufacturing mean to you?
Senator Kowall: Michigan Manufacturing translates
into good paying jobs for our highly skilled workforce
and serves an important role in building a thriving
American economy. Manufacturing is the sparkplug
for a strong economic future.
Q: What does it mean to be selected as a
2017 MMA Legislator of the Year?
Senator Kowall: It is a distinct honor to be recognized
by the Michigan Manufacturers Association. It’s the
organization that represents our entire manufacturing
infrastructure and jobs. Working with them to create
and maintain manufacturing jobs makes Michigan a
great place to live, work, and to raise a family.
Representative Cox: Manufacturing has long been vital to
Michigan’s economy and to the families that call our state home.
We have made great economic strides in the past few
years and the outlook for manufacturers in Michigan has
improved. We now face the challenge of finding adequate
numbers of qualified individuals to fill these new positions.
As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, my
colleagues and I sought to help both future employees and
job creators by increasing education opportunities for people
who want to learn a skilled trade. Competitive grants for
programs across the state will help prepare Michigan students
for the jobs of the future. We are making career and technical
education more accessible, so businesses seeking in-demand
workers can prosper, and those skilled tradesmen and women
can earn excellent wages and raise their families in Michigan.
Q: What does it mean to be selected as a
2017 MMA Legislator of the Year?
Representative Cox: I am honored to be selected by the
Get More!
These legislators were honored at the MMA
Legislative Reception on 9/12/17 in Lansing.
Check out event highlights: mimfg.org .
Michigan Manufacturers Association as legislator of the
year. During my time as a lawmaker it has been my goal
to pass pro-business legislation that propels Michigan
businesses forward, rather than holding them back. It’s a
fact that when Michigan’s economy is strong, Michigan’s
businesses and families can thrive.
7