Like most conservatives I know in West Michigan, I happily voted for two of the candidates in this race through out their careers.  We trusted them to stand up for our families, to reduce government growth, and to champion the virtues of the free market.  But much to my disappointment, I have come to realize that Sen. Wayne Kuipers and Rep. Bill Huizenga are not fiscal conservatives.  They are part of the problem in our state and party, and not part of the solution. They didn't just serve during a period of government growth--they were active participants.  I cannot in good conscience cast my vote for either of them in the Republican Primary.

I could here cite their votes to create a state level manufacturing "czar", their votes to tax internet sales, their votes to bail out Federal Mogul and use the tax code to pick winners and losers, their votes to subsidize ethanol, or votes to approve budget increases time and again.  But one vote in particular is enough to seal the deal for me: their support of the Michigan Business Tax.

The citizen's initiated law that required the repeal of the SBT by the end of 2007 encouraged the legislature to "adopt a tax that is less burdensome and less costly to employers, more equitable, and more conductive to job creation and investment."  In voting for the MBT over the objections of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and numerous conservative colleagues, Huizenga and Kuipers failed Michigan taxpayers.  The MBT failed to be less burdensome, more equitable, and more conducive to job creation--all requirements of the citizen's law.  In effect, the MBT was a tax increase on small businesses through out the state and it continues to cripple our economy.

Now, I realize that they intended to support a "revenue neutral" replacement tax, and that the Governor was playing hardball, but revenue neutrality was not a requirement of the citizen's initiated law.  On top of that, there were alternatives on the table that would have cut government largess with out dramatically affecting the function of Michigan's government. But my representatives weren't too interested in those alternatives. Instead they deferred to the governor and voted for a deeply flawed system of taxation.  What they demonstrated was that neither of them have the stomach for reducing the size and scope of government.  That's hard work, and it inevitably makes some people upset.  But it was the right thing do, and frankly, that's what we expected.

Thankfully, the voters of West Michigan have options.  Jay Riemersma officially entered the race in September and is leading the pack in financial support and number of donors.  In recent days Jay has picked up some big endorsements from conservative stalwart, Ken Blackwell, and West Michigan businessmen Peter Secchia, Dick Haworth, Jack DeWitt and many others.  His message of strong conservative leadership and fiscal discipline is a refreshing change of pace from the tepid shtick coming out of some of the other camps.