The hard work that makes Michigan strong is the hard work that Rob Hower wants to do for Michigan’s 22nd District in Lansing.
It’s been a long Michigan tradition for families to have a cabin “up north,” where parents, children, and grandchildren can make happy memories together. Now, because of high housing costs, many people in our state can barely afford a starter home.
Michiganders don’t ask for much. They work for it. The ability to pay off a decent house, to send the kids to good schools, to have health and dental care have been baselines that Michiganders can be proud of. Hard work should be a ticket to prosperity and stability.
However, in southeast Michigan, the cost of living is climbing. Grocery expenses are high. Health care access is threatened, and Michigan has lost some jobs. We’re faced with hard choices. Rob Hower knows it firsthand: the money provided by the National Institute of Health for Rob’s life-saving research has been slashed. Rob’s work hours at the University of Michigan have been cut by 75%. And if healthcare costs continue to climb, Rob and other small business owners like him will be faced with some tough decisions concerning employment and health care. These are real issues and real problems that Rob thinks about every day.
Rob knows that Michiganders are in this together. Whether you live in a new suburban neighborhood or on a quiet county road, you’ve worked hard for what you have. Now it’s time to get to work for all Michiganders. Let’s rebuild a way forward in which we all have a stake and a say.
Divisiveness creates deadlocks and stalemates. Rob believes in committed dialogue, across the aisle, with everyone on the political spectrum. The typical Michigan family has members across that spectrum, too. It’s time for us to get back to the kitchen table and work together. If Rob is elected to the state senate, Rob promises engagement, a listening ear, and the patience to hammer out a plan that answers to the interests and advancement of Michiganders.
ECONOMY
Southeastern Michigan literally drove the American economy for generations. Good jobs were plentiful, and from those good jobs came strong infrastructure, union memberships, home ownership and generational wealth for Michiganders. However, if we don’t develop opportunities, then young people can’t launch.
The economic landscape has changed. History illustrates what works: wages that keep pace with the cost of living, comprehensive health insurance to keep families well, and affordable housing so that people can build equity and strong communities. Smart initiatives, such as loans and grants for new homeowners, are valuable tools for creating stability in southeast Michigan. We all benefit when we make economic choices that are good for our communities.
EDUCATION
A strong Michigan economy means that learning doesn’t end with high school. Rob Hower supports educational initiatives that have proven to help Michigan families. Continuing education and building things better go hand in hand for Michiganders.
There is a path forward for everyone, and our state’s government can and should facilitate educational opportunities for Michigan’s citizens. If you’re pursuing continuing credits, maintaining a professional license, apprenticed in a trade, or pursuing a degree, then you’re contributing to Michigan’s future. Rob believes that if we support Michiganders with educational opportunities of all kinds, then together, we will map the path forward for our state.
INNOVATION
Rob Hower invents things. It’s his job. And Rob knows that cutting government funding for research means that we risk falling behind in the technological leadership and innovation that is our history. Privatization may be a popular idea, but it is not the optimum way to fund expansion in technical fields, and profit should not be the only goal that motivates research and development. As a scientist himself, Rob knows that our country and our state can continue to lead research efforts that will improve the lives of Michiganders, and keep valuable tech jobs right here in Michigan.
