Samuel Buzz Thomas
III
Position:
House Democratic Leader
Party: Democrat
District: State Representative, Detroit
10th District
Committees: Commerce, Energy and Technology
Background:
Lifelong resident of the district he represents. Alumnus of the University
of Pennsylvania. Began his political career on Capitol Hill as a legislative
assistant to Congresswoman Barbara Rose-Collins for two years, then moved
back to Michigan to work as Detroit campaign director for U.S. Sen. Bob
Carr. Later entered the family real estate development business as a construction
manager for Parkside Building Company and Avis Tech Park Partners, managing
residential and commercial construction. Fulfilled a life-long dream by
taking political office as a State Representative in ’96.
Community involvement:
On the board of directors for the Matthew McNeely Neighborhood Foundation,
as well as a founding member of the Independent Policy Group.
Business Involvement:
Still involved in the real estate development realm and owns the master
franchising rights to an oil change company.
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Career shaping influence
“I’ve wanted to be a politician all my life. I was the kid who
was always running for class president or on student assembly. Public
service is engrained in my family. I have two uncles who are judges and
my grandfather was a probate judge. There is something very special about
public service, and I am one of those people who wake up every morning
and think I can change the world. I have learned to temper that idealism
with reality, but I will forever be a social activist and a business realist.”
Legislative priorities affecting retail
“I fully support amending item pricing laws. We should incorporate
available technology to increase flexibility in the law. I have also been
a vocal proponent of sales tax holidays to stimulate economic growth.
I know selling this idea to the state Treasury Department is another matter,
but it would help retailers and the state’s economy in the long run.”
The Single Business Tax (SBT)
“We should have never gone to a 23-year phase out of the SBT. That
was cowardly and a cop out. If the SBT needed to go, it should have gone
immediately. I would completely eliminate the SBT and create some form
of fair, non-regressive corporate tax that is reflective of where Michigan
needs to be today. It is time to start overhauling Michigan’s entire
tax system.”
Relationship of government and business
“These go hand in hand. The government has a dual responsibility
here—to get out of the way and let the innovation of the private
sector grow, but also provide a regulatory framework and establish what
the rules of fair business are in the state. Once penalties are in place
for those who break the rules, government should step aside and let businesses
work. I don’t believe in big government, but I do believe in active
government where there is market failure.”
The new Democratic governor and Republican legislature
“It actually has the potential to be very productive. Jennifer Granholm
will want to advocate an aggressive legislative agenda because this will
be her opportunity to create jobs, raise revenue and turn the economy
around. Some analysts say that the best Michigan governments over the
past years have been with the House and Senate divided. It doesn’t
serve the Republican party well to turn Granholm into a veto governor
and create total gridlock. She is someone who people want to believe in—she
inspires folks, and both parties can recognize there is power in that.
In the new administration, there will be a challenge on both sides to
work together.”
Michigan's budget crisis
“This is the most serious budget crisis this state has faced in the
last 100 years and the new administration has got to find a way to raise
revenue. The legislature needs to have a very frank discussion about establishing
priorities for spending, our tax structure here in Michigan and how we
can best serve the state treasury.
Addressing the budget crisis
“I hope there are some creative ideas out there. One thing I think
Michigan needs to do a better job of is getting federal support—we
leave a lot of money sitting in Washington. Creative leadership needs
to find innovative ways to generate revenue and rebuild our tax base.
As far as this fiscal year’s budget, however, I would have to imagine
we are going to see a tax increase and some dipping into the Budget Stabilization
Fund. This budget needs help right away.”
The economy and education
“The new civil rights movement is economic. If I’m going to
move cities like Detroit forward, we’ve got to improve education.
That investment in education is planting a seed that will produce a new
generation of business owners. People can’t give back to their communities
when they’ve got nothing to give. Education is an issue where partisanship
must fall aside and lawmakers simply see what needs to be done and do
it.”
Final quote
“There is a quote that means a lot to me
from the late congresswoman from Texas, Barbara Jordan. ‘What the
people want is simple—an America as good as its promise.’
“That American promise is one of opportunity and
respect for all. There are too many people who don’t feel they are
part of the American dream. We can build a better country if we uphold
the principles of our republic and continue to foster respect for one
another.”
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