Fowlerville’s Hune: young but experienced

Joe Hune

Name: Joe Hune

Position: State Representative

Political Party: Republican

District: 47th (Fowlerville, Howell)

Committees: Insurance (Vice Chair), Agriculture and Resource Management, Health Policy, Transportation, Commerce.

Background: Hune grew up in Fowlerville and attended Fowlerville Community Schools, graduating in 1998. He then attended Lansing Community College and Michigan State University, majoring in agricultural business and animal science.

An active member of the agriculture community, Representative Hune is a certified weigh master, an agriculture business owner and a livestock judge. He is also a licensed real estate agent.

Hune took a job as a House page in 1998. Soon after, he was elevated to a non-partisan position as a journal clerk, under direct supervision of the Clerk of the House.

Hune’s memberships include the Michigan Association of Realtors, the Livingston Association of Realtors, the Livingston County Farm Bureau, Livingston County 4-H programs and St. Agnes Church. He is single and has no children.

Q. At 23, you are the youngest state representative. What made you decide to run for office, and how did you get elected?
A. I honestly never pictured myself as a politician—never even imagined I would run for office. I grew up in the Fowlerville area and planned to farm or at least work in the agriculture industry.

After high school, I was working at a horse farm when my hours were cut back. A friend told me I should apply for a part-time job as a page at the House of Representatives. I took the job, then went on to be a journal clerk for the Clerk of the House, Gary Randall, a job I really enjoyed.

When Randall suggested I consider running for a House seat, I was surprised, but I started thinking about it and looking at my district carefully to assess my chances. Last spring I decided to run, and eight months later, I was elected.

My campaign raised only $9,000. Most of my six competitors outspent me—some raised as much as $40,000.

With so little money, I took a tried-and-true approach to campaigning: I knocked on some 13,000 doors. My campaign as a whole knocked on over 18,000 doors. In a rural district such as mine, that’s a lot of time, a lot of getting in and out of your car.

But it worked. I won the election by only two votes, in a recount that took place after I appeared to have lost.

Q. What are your legislative priorities?
A. Since my background is in agriculture, I’m particularly interested in increasing profitability for farmers and the agricultural industry. I also campaigned on working to give Livingston County the tools it needs to handle the massive amount of growth we are seeing, but with a strong emphasis on property rights. We are the fastest growing county in the state, and with that growth comes stress on our infrastructure, schools and the like. I have a strong commitment to the basic principles of less government and more personal responsibility. I’m also pleased that I was recently appointed to the Commerce Committee—I look forward to discussing the issues that come before that committee.

Q. Michigan retailers have been seeking reform of the item pricing laws in this state. What is your stance on item pricing?
A. I am willing to look at any proposals that would make it easier for businesses to come to Michigan and thrive here, while at the same time protecting consumers.

Q. One of the big issues to face this legislature has been health insurance market reform. What do you think of the recently passed package of bills that favors Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan?
A. Small-market health insurance reform was one of the most difficult issues I’ve dealt with since joining the House. It’s obvious that the Blues have been losing money, and there are six to seven million people insured by BCBSM. My district has a particularly high percentage of workers insured by the Blues.

We needed to address the problem of cherry-picking by private insurers. This legislation may not halt it completely, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Although on most economic issues I’m very much in favor of a free market, the health insurance industry is very different from other industries. Health insurance rates affect so many people, from the individual to the small business owner who wants to provide decent benefits.

I hope the reforms we passed will have the intended effect and keep insurance rate increases under control.

Q. What is your philosophy on the relationship between government and business?
A. As a Republican, I prefer to talk about cutting rather than spending. I want to reduce government involvement in the daily lives of my constituents, whether it’s tax increases or unnecessary regulations or interference in business. I like to allow market forces to work.

Q. What has been the most memorable experience in your legislative career?
A. I’d like to say there’s been one great high point, but it has all been great, all high points—with the exception of the debate on small market insurance reform. The day that bill package was passed was probably my toughest day at this job. I was surprised at how emotional and difficult it was for everyone involved. It’s a complex issue, with many subtleties and intricacies to be worked out, and many strong feelings on both sides of the issue. It was tough.

Q. Some in the state have commented on the youth and inexperience of the current legislature, often seen as the unfortunate result of term limits. How have term limits affected the present House?
A. First, I didn’t get to this position because of term limits. And while I am a first-term representative, I have more actual experience in state government than some of my older colleagues because of my four years’ work as a legislative staffer at the House.

But it’s true that term limits have affected the legislature. The old tradition of freshmen lawmakers having to sit down and shut up just doesn’t exist anymore. We each have one voice and one vote, and now it’s time to raise our voices to get things done.