New lawmaker knows way around Capitol

Dave Hildenbrand

Position: State Representative
District: 86th (part of Kent County)
Party: Republican
Committees: Commerce; Conservation, Forestry & Outdoor Recreation (Vice Chair); Education; Insurance
Background:
Dave Hildenbrand was elected in November 2004 to the Michigan House to represent residents of Kent County. Before running for office, Hildenbrand worked in both the executive and legislative branches of state government.
Hildenbrand earned a bachelor’s degree in public resource management from Michigan State University. A precinct delegate for the Kent County Republican Party and a grassroots Republican activist for many years, he has been involved in a number of local and statewide campaigns.
Hildenbrand is a member of Right to Life of Michigan, the Kent County Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association. He is also a board member of the Lowell YMCA and is active in 4-H, Future Farmers of America and Michigan State University alumni organizations.
Hildenbrand lives with his wife, Sarah, in his hometown of Lowell.

Michigan Retailer: What experience do you bring to the office?
Rep. Hildenbrand: Before running for this office, I worked in the state legislature in a number of roles, first with Sen. Dick Posthumus and later with Sen. Bill Hardiman (R-Grand Rapids), both from Kent County. I also worked briefly for Gov. John Engler as an agricultural policy advisor, which grew out of my background, education and interest.

When Dick Posthumus was lieutenant governor, I was his deputy chief of staff and we worked together on a number of policy initiatives.

I was the lead staff person for the Michigan Educational Savings Program (MESP) introduced by Lt. Gov. Posthumus, which is Michigan’s “401(k) plan” for saving for college education. We took the idea around the state for public hearings, then put the legislation together and got it through the state legislature; Gov. Engler signed it into law in 2000.

MR: What made you decide to run for office yourself in 2004?
Rep. Hildenbrand: I’d been thinking for a long time about running. As you work in public policy you think about how you might be able to do even more, so this was the logical next step.

There was an open seat in my district due to term limits, so I put a team together and ran. The primary was tough because there were four of us running and two had run before. But I had a great team; we worked very hard and pulled it off.

MR: What are your legislative priorities?
Rep. Hildenbrand: I feel strongly that we’ve got a structural problem in the way government and the private sector interact. Government doesn’t create jobs, but it has a responsibility to create an environment that spurs economic growth. We have to do a better job in that area.

There are two sides to that task. There’s the regulatory side, which burdens many of our businesses—especially the licensing regulations that tell many of our businesses how to operate.

Then there’s the tax side, especially the Single Business Tax and personal property taxes that are hindering our businesses from competing with those in other states and countries.

While there are no magic solutions, and no single silver bullet that will create the perfect business environment, I think we have to be conscious of that perspective as we make decisions in the legislature. It’s going to take some time and some bold initiatives, and I want to be a part of that effort.

MR: What do you think of Gov. Granholm’s recently unveiled Single Business Tax restructuring plan?
Rep. Hildenbrand: I give the governor credit for putting together what appears to be a bold initiative. But clearly, her proposal picks winners and losers. It’s revenue-neutral, so it shifts taxes from some businesses to others. I just can’t go along with that.

Our entire private sector needs help. The only way we’re going to create more jobs is by helping everyone. If we shift the burden from some businesses, which will create some jobs, but only onto others, those who now have higher taxes may be forced to cut some jobs. So it’s also jobs-neutral.

MR: New House Speaker Craig DeRoche (R-Novi) has announced a new approach to the budget. What can you tell us about it?
Rep. Hildenbrand: In the past, legislators would take last year’s budget and tweak it, cut something here or adjust some figures there to arrive at a balanced budget.

This year, we’ve thrown out that approach. We’re building it from the bottom up, looking at every program to see if it needs state funding.

Every program will have to come to us—something like a job interview—and justify why it should be funded. It’s results-oriented and outcome-driven.

Some programs will be combined; some will no longer exist. But if it’s a solid program and beneficial to the state, it will be funded. We think the approach is in the best interest of the people of this state.

MR: Many retailers want to see the state’s item-pricing laws reformed. Do you support such reform?
Rep. Hildenbrand: Here’s a perfect example of government regulation hindering the private sector. My approach is to ask how we can help businesses get up to date and run more efficiently by adjusting the regulations that are hindering them.

Of course, we have to have a balance, but it seems likely that we can protect the consumer and help the retailer. It’s time to allow retailers to use new technologies in a way that’s fair to all.

MR: What is your philosophy of the relation between government and business?
Rep. Hildenbrand: Let the marketplace work. Whenever we can get government out of the way, we should do so. State government certainly plays an important role in setting regulations, but we have to trust our entrepreneurs, allow them to grow, expand and prosper.

What business owners tell me is this: level the playing field. Don’t pick winners and losers—let us all pay our fair share of taxes and face the same regulations. Let us play by the same rules and we’ll be competitive.

MR: As a new representative, what would you like retailers to know about you?
Rep. Hildenbrand: One of my top priorities is to create a better business environment. All the statistics show that Michigan’s economy is lagging behind those of other states. I want to make whatever changes I can that will allow the private sector to grow and create jobs. I look forward to working with retailers and other small business people who employ so many people in the state, to get Michigan’s economy growing again.