LANSING – State Representative Lesia Liss (D-Warren) was sworn in to her first term in the Michigan House of Representatives on Wednesday during a ceremony at the State Capitol marking the beginning of the 95th Legislature.
"Michigan residents are ready for change, and they're ready for it to start now," said Liss, who represents Center Line and Warren. "I will work to create more good-paying jobs for our workers who have lost their jobs to outsourcing and downsizing, and I will fight to strengthen our schools so our children have every opportunity to succeed in the 21st century economy. Today marks a new day in Michigan, and I'm ready to take on the challenges facing our state."
After the ceremony, Liss and her colleagues went to work immediately by introducing the Hire Michigan First plan, which will ensure that Michigan workers get the first chance at jobs created by companies that benefit from state economic development programs or tax breaks. The plan cracks down on companies that hire illegal workers by canceling their state contracts and tax incentives. It also requires those companies to pay back incentives already received and bars them from obtaining future contracts.
Also on Liss' agenda is reducing lawmakers' pay, a plan that passed the House last year but was stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate.
"Our taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for extravagant perks and I will fight to make sure they don't have to," Liss said. "By cutting lawmakers' pay, we can start reining in state spending and resolving the budget problems that plague Michigan year after year. I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get Michigan back on track and ready to be a leader in the 21st century economy."