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WSW: Democrat Annie Brown Seeks State House Seat

WMUK

Annie Brown has been a teacher and serves on the South Haven School Board. Education and small business are major issues in her campaign. 

Education

Brown says Michigan needs to make education more of a priority. She says the state should take a look at the tax breaks given to large corporations to get more money into the state's classrooms.

Small Business

As a small business owner (her family owns a funeral home in South Haven), Brown would like to provide more incentives for businesses that create jobs at the local level. She says that could be a tax incentive or a grant for businesses that can document they have created jobs. 

Budget

Brown says increasing funding for education should the top priority for the state budget. She says money is also needed to fix the state's roads. She favor ending the state's tax on pension income enacted in 2011. Brown says taxing that income is unfair to seniors who have planned for their retirement. 

Roads

While she says infrastructure is a priority, Brown says an increase in the gas tax or vehicle registration fees would hit lower-income people hardest. She says the state needs to increase the fees on heavy trucks that travel on Michigan's roads. 

Energy

Brown wants more exploration in wind and solar energy. She says the 66th District is well-positioned to take advantage of wind energy. 

Discrimination

Lawmakers are considering amending the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to includes protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Brown says she favors adding those protections, saying "there is no room for any discrimination in Michigan." 

Marijuana

Brown says she does not favor making marijuana legal for recreational purposes. She says that Michigan should watch what happens in Washington and Colorado where marijuana has been legalized. 

Politics

The area that makes up the 66th District has been considered safe for Republicans. But Brown says when she talks to voters, they don't seem interested in what party people belong too. Brown says they care about values and issues such as education and jobs.

Pipelines

Brown brought a 50 year old pipe with her (see picture above). The corroded pipe carried water in South Haven. Brown says she is concerned about pipelines carrying oil under the Great Lakes. She says the state needs stricter regulations to make sure there isn't an oil spill like the one on the Kalamazoo River in 2010. 

anniebrown091814_mixdown.mp3
Interview with Annie Brown - web version

Discussion of other issues can be heard in the web version of the interview. 

Common Core

As part of the discussion on education, Brown said she has some mixed feelings on common core. She says standards are probably a good idea, but she worries about stifling creativity. 

Right to Work

Brown says the Right to Work law hasn't been good for Michigan. She says the governor has not been able to show that the law, which allows workers to "opt out" of joining a union, has brought jobs to the state. Brown says she will work to repeal the law if she is elected to the Legislature. 

Medicaid Expansion

The Legislature voted to expand Medicaid last year, as allowed under the federal Affordable Care Act. Brown says she would have voted for the expansion. She says many people need Medicaid to help with chronic medical conditions. 

Privatizing Services

The food service in Michigan prisons was privatized last year. Since then there have been a series of problems. Brown says she's not in favor of privatization. But she says when services are privatized strong oversight is needed. 

College Affordability

Brown says the state should spend more on state universities to make sure that college is more affordable. She says lawmakers should also hold universities and colleges accountable for how money is spent. 

Charter Schools

A state lawmaker has proposed a moratorium on new charter schools in Michigan. Brown favors putting a hold on new charters. She says charter schools are not operating on the same playing field as public schools. 

Same-Sex Marriage

As part of the discussion on discrimination, Brown says she believes people should have the right to marry anyone they want to. That includes same-sex couples. 

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
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