It is a privilege to be here today. Thank you very much for having me!

So I have to ask, how frequently have you and freshman Democrat Roy Schmidt been mistaken for one another?  Ever get any really juicy Democratic function invites or insider emails?

You know, it does happen a few times a week. There have been a few times we have had to fetch our meeting guests from his office or get a call from Roy's office saying the pizza guy accidentally delivered to his office. We have had a few mistaken documents end up in our office, but nothing to write home about.

Your politics and your early track records certainly set you apart from your colleague.  Jumping right into one of your early areas of focus, just last month you were one of the state's legislators really stepping out to call for greater transparency in state government.

What is it you'd like to see out of the administration and the legislature and why is it an important issue?

Ultimately, I would love to see the states finances end up online, in a comprehendible format for the tax payers to use and see where their taxes are being spent. I'd also love to see my democratic colleagues post their office expenditures online. It is very simple to do, costs the state little to no time and money, and is a good first step in making the state of Michigan more transparent to its residents.

I think those are issues where you're going to have pretty unanimous support from folks outside of the Capitol building.

But you've shown a willingness to sort of buck traditional Republican convention, too.  Just this week you held a press conference where you advocated for a new light-rail mass transit system to run between Lansing and Detroit?

Yes, myself and Rep. Bill Rogers from the Brighton area announced a task force to look into a state-of-the-art hydrogen powered high-speed rail line that could, if it checks out, revolutionize the transportation industry in Michigan. We created this task force along with our Democratic colleagues Rep. Jimmy Womak of Detroit and Rep. Mike Huckleberry of Greenville. Although we are supportive of the idea, our job will be not to push the project, but to make sure that all of the components check out before giving a recommendation.

The first and the most obvious question is "why now?"

Great question, and with all due respect, the question I have been asking is, "why not now?" With our state's inability for the past decade to keep and attract jobs, with our roads in disrepair without enough money to fund proper maintenance, with gas prices on their way back up, and energy costs soaring, families struggling daily to make ends meet, I feel that it is our job as legislators to look at the feasibility of any project that could move our state forward.

What caught my eye with the Interstate Traveler project was the multi-faceted potential it has. It could allow for inexpensive and fast travel between communities for business, tourism, and goods; it could allow for the generation of clean energy and water; it could help reduce our dependency on foreign sources of oil; it could provide jobs for our manufacturing and technology industries; and it has the potential to revolutionize Michigan again as an innovator in the field of transportation and commerce.

Certainly there is much work to be done on this project, and many areas that need to be looked at - and that is our job as legislators, to make sure we are protecting the taxpayers money, but I think a project like this that could jump start so many sectors of our society is worthy of being looked at.

How much is a project like this going to cost taxpayers?  Could it actually lead to savings?

Another great and important question given our current budget circumstances. One of the beauties of this is that it will be completely funded with private money and will not require any local, state or federal dollars. In fact, one of the agreements we have with the owner and creator of the company is that the moment they come forward asking for taxpayer assistance, we will walk away from it. Especially in these tight budget times, this was something we have made perfectly clear.

And an almost uniquely Michigan question, do you have any concerns on the impact this might have on automobile sales and the state's leading industry?

I think this would have the ability to rejuvenate the manufacturing and auto industries.  I know the creator of this idea has spoken with the auto companies and they know this idea is out there. They also know that they have the ability to bid for the building of pods and cars that will be moving along the line. There is also a design for a pod that will carry cars, allowing you to bring your automobile so you can have access to it once you reach your destination. Given the design of this project, people will still need cars; this may just allow them to get from point A to point B with their car, without encumbering the time and gas it takes for travel.

While we talk about uniquely Michigan items, unfortunately, we always come back to the Michigan Business Tax and the giant surcharge that the previous House passed along to the state's job makers and working families in 2007.

The Senate has already acted.  Are we ever going to see any action in the House on a repeal of that surcharge?  And is it really important that we do something on this issue?

I applaud the Senate for taking action on this issue and I hope that my colleagues in the House will see the severity of this issue. Something must be done, and I know there have already been many bills introduced on the Republican side. Whether they are moved or not that remains to be seen. I can only hope we can come to an understanding that our job makers are hurting out their, and the MBT is only draining them further.

How has the MBT affected businesses in your home district up in Northern Michigan?

Coming from a small business background myself, I have seen the problems it is causing. Not only is it complex and confusing, but business owners are seeing their business taxes double, and even triple. That is simply poor business policy.

What else are you hearing from folks in and around Traverse City?

Simple; don't vote for higher taxes. We are struggling enough as it is, let's not compound the problem by taxing us more. Our citizens are being forced to control their spending; why can't government do the same?

Is there anything else you'd like to cover today?

Just that our focuses must be on creating jobs and moving the economy forward; invest in the jobs of tomorrow by giving our kids a first class education; and transforming government to make sure it is accountable, and spending within it's means.

Representative, thanks again for your time!

Thank you for doing what you do and allowing me this privilege!