ENDORSEMENTS AND AWARDS
AWARDS -
2006 Outstanding Legislator of the Year- Michigan Agribusiness Association -
2006 Distinguished Service Award- Michigan Business and Professional Association -
Blue and Gold Award- Michigan Future Farmers of America ENDORSEMENTS Congressman Fred Upton Senator Ron Jelinek Governor Candidate Dick DeVos Michigan Township Association Michigan Farm Bureau Michigan Agribusiness Association Right to Life of Michigan Michigan Association of Police Organizations Deputy Sheriffs Association of Michigan Fraternal Order of Police National Rifle Association Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners Michigan Credit Union League Michigan Chamber of Commerce Small Business Association of Michigan National Federation of Independant Businesses Michigan Restaurant Association Michigan Association of Homebuilders Michigan Realtors Association Michigan Association of School Administrators |
From the July 30, 2006 Herald Palladium: IN OUR OPINION
78th House
Nitz has earned shot at winning a third term
The race in the 78th District state House Republican primary again finds incumbent Neal Nitz facing a tough challenge.
The two-term state representative defeated businessman Bill Baber of Berrien Springs two years ago, and this time around again faces Baber, along with Buchanan resident Bruce Hipshear.
It may be another close primary for Nitz, but we believe he has earned a trip back to Lansing for two more years before he is termlimited out of office.
During the past term Nitz has rung up a couple of good pieces of legislation, in addition to chairing the House Agriculture Committee.
Nitz also has beefed up his constituent services and visibility in the district during his second term.
Topping Nitz’ accomplishments is the renewable fuels package of bills, an effort he led in the state House. The bills were signed recently by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and are designed to help Michigan boost production of alternative fuels, as well as provide state assistance for gas stations to offer more alternate energy sources, such as E 85 (ethanol) and biodiesel. The package marked a wise change of course for Nitz, who during his first term had backed a renewable fuels approach that would have required stations to sell only a biodiesel blend, rather than traditional diesel.
We are encouraged by Nitz’ willingness to switch away from a poor concept that could have hamstrung stations and undercut the free market Baber, who operates a Marathon fuel station near Stevensville, is heavily invested in issues related to the fuel industry. He strongly backs the gas prices stabilization effort in the Legislature, arguing that big retailers such as Wal-Mart and Meijer should be forbidden by law to sell gasoline at below cost. He sees this as predatory pricing that could run private businessmen, such as himself, out of business. However, we see this effort by Baber as a case of priming his own pump too much, as well as an unwise push for government control over the free market.
Baber also has taken a somewhat disingenuous swipe at Nitz during the campaign by arguing that Nitz’ vote to raise the minimum wage was a great mistake. In reality, Republicans were backed into a corner on the issue by a Democratendorsed ballot initiative calling for an amendment to the state constitution tying minimum wage increases to the rate of inflation.
It was a terrible plan that stood a decent chance of passing, and Nitz and the Republicans did the right thing to pre-empt the proposal.
Bruce Hipshear, a copy machine service technician, due to his busy schedule was not available to sit before our editorial board during business hours.
In the end, we believe Nitz is the best choice for the 78th District, which encompasses southern Berrien County and a portion of Cass County.
Nitz has matured in office and deserves the opportunity to finish his work there before term limits send him into retirement. We urge the voters of the 78th District to give him that chance to return to Lansing.
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