Benson: “I want to make it as easy to get your access to healthcare, as easy to build a home, as easy to start a small business, as it is to get your license.”

This week, Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson campaigned across Michigan, meeting with community leaders, stopping at local businesses, and sharing her affordability agenda to bring costs down, drive wages up, and make Michigan the best place to call home. 

In January, she rolled out her healthcare agenda to fix Michigan’s broken healthcare system and earlier this month, she unveiled her plan to lower the cost of housing and build more homes across Michigan. Benson is the only candidate in the race for governor laser-focused on lowering costs for Michiganders.

In case you missed it… 

WNEM – Flint, MI: “Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson visited Flint Tuesday as part of her campaign for governor, outlining her affordability agenda centered on housing and healthcare. [...] 

‘I’ve seen it as Secretary of State, where I’ve managed one of our state’s largest agencies and transformed it. Gone are the wait times, right? Gone are our inefficient services. Now we actually save people time and money by making it easier to renew your license,’ Benson said. ‘I want to make it as easy to get your access to healthcare, as easy to build a home, as easy to start a small business, as it is to get your license.’”

WLNS – Lansing, MI: “[Benson’s plan is] a multi pronged approach, combining a lot of ideas we've heard from other state leaders. … The plan includes cutting red tape and regulations, creating new tax credits for first time homeowners, and a new tax on short term rentals like Airbnbs. 

“‘The next governor has to be prepared to use every tool in their toolbox in overseeing state government to drive down those costs.’ Benson likens the effort to streamline housing regulations to what she's already been able to do reforming the Secretary of State's office. ‘Right now, it can cost up to $90,000 to build a home in Michigan before you even put a brick in the ground. That's because of so many duplicative and onerous inspections and certifications. We can streamline a lot of that and actually reduce the cost and time that it takes to build increasing supply, and that overall is going to create more attainable housing.’”

WYSM – Lansing, MI: “Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is rolling out a new housing plan as her gubernatorial campaign rolls on. Benson stopped at our studios Wednesday to talk about the plan to tackle its statewide housing shortage. She says her plan calls to streamline home building to lower costs and increase supply. It also includes tax credits for first and second time home buyers and those relocating for work. Benson also says she'd push a temporary ban on private equity firms buying homes, giving neighbors the first pick at affordable prices. 

‘Because a lot of what's actually going into these escalating costs right now are these out of state firms that's really just about creating fairness, a fair process of affordable homes and affordable house buying.’ Benson said the plan would be funded by cutting wasteful government spending, not raising taxes.”

WOOD TV – Grand Rapids, MI:

U.S. Congresswoman Hillary Scholten: “So this is an incredibly consequential election for the state of Michigan [...] we need state leaders like Jocelyn Benson to help lead the state in the right direction when it comes to food stamps, when it comes to Medicaid and Medicare coverage, when it comes to supporting our public schools, what we have seen her do, not only steering us through incredible, challenging elections, but revamping secretary of state services. My son turned 16 while she was at the helm, we had the smoothest possible experience getting his license, and that's the type of efficiency that we need across all levels of government, and I think that's what Jocelyn will truly bring.”

[...]

Jocelyn Benson: “Well, first, let me say how grateful I am for Congresswoman Scholten's support and endorsement not just because she's the highest ranking elected official out here in West Michigan, and it's a crucial part of our state, but also because of her leadership. My job as governor will be to make sure we use every tool in the toolbox to drive down the cost of healthcare, and I'm proud to be the only candidate running for governor who's released a plan to ensure healthcare is affordable and accessible throughout the state. So that's just one example I think, of the contrast between myself and and the others in this race that we'll see this November, but also why Congresswoman Scholten’s support today means so much to me, because at this early stage in the race, coming on board our team to help make sure we are doing everything we can to deliver for West Michigan. I'm here regularly talking and representing and uplifting the needs of the communities within her district and throughout the state that's going to be a cornerstone of our campaign, and her support will be pivotal to making sure we make that happen.”

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