I would love to stop all cuts to the prison system and focus on the Mackinac Center's suggestions, but that is simply not realistic.  The agenda is driven by Governor Granholm and Speaker Dillon and I believe that it is the responsibility of the minority party to criticize bad ideas and offer ways to make these bad ideas more suitable.

The Governor is determined to reduce the prison population.  And rather than stand by as she does it her way, I have proposed creating alternative sentencing for a small group of first time offenders.  These sentences would include probation, drug testing, rehab, fines, community service, electronic tethers, etc.