The Issues

Learn where Frank stands on the issues important to the 91st district and compare his stance with that of his opponent, Pat Outman

Question: Where does Frank Lafata stand on the Economy?

 

Answer: The current economy is very hard on the people of Michigan.  Food and gas prices continue to rise.  Healthcare costs are rising and insurance premiums, including those for the Affordable Care Act, have risen about 30% in the last year. Many in Michigan are struggling to feed their families and get the health care they need. Often having to sacrifice one to provide the other. 

 

Many of the programs designed to help the working poor and others with limited income have been cut at the federal level leaving it up to the states to decide whether to make up the lost funds or allow their citizens to continue to struggle to survive. 

 

Having faced many hardships in his childhood, I support helping those who are struggling the way his family once did.  We must provide for those less fortunate and if our federal government refuses to help, then Michigan must.

 

It is imperative that all Michiganders be able to feed their families, get medical care, buy or rent a home, and have access to affordable childcare. 

 

Affordability is what I am all about! 

Question: Where does Frank Lafata stand on farming and help for farmers?

 

Answer: Fifty-two percent (52%) of the land in District 91 is farmland.  That alone makes it imperative that we support the farming community.  I am concerned about small family-owned farms.  Here’s where I currently stand on the Farm Bill and other farming policies:

 

  • Introduce or reform programs to help small farmers keep or return to their farms

  • Supports improvements to the Community Facilities Loan and Grant Program which strengthens access to capital in rural communities

  • Supports the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act which extends access to crop and livestock insurance programs for beginning farmers

  • Supports measures to protect our farmland from foreign ownership

  • Supports research to find pesticides and fertilizers that will protect our crops with little or no harm to our environment

  • Supports provisions to improve local roads and bridges to help farmers get their product to market faster, easier and cheaper

  • Supports efforts to expand our specialty crops

  • Support measures that would identify the country of origin for our meat products

  • Support measures to address our agricultural labor crisis by passing policies or laws to protect “guest workers” from unjust persecution so they can, once again, feel safe to work here.

Question: Where does Frank Lafata stand on healthcare?

 

Answer: The health of our neighbors is important to Frank. The most recent budget bill from Washington DC threatens our local hospitals and doctors. Seniors will have to drive further for care and medication. Parents will have to take more time off work if their children need medical care. And all of us will be paying more.

 

As a State Representative, Frank Lafata will make sure that the scarce dollars of our state budget get stretched to cover as many families as possible.

Question: Where does Frank Lafata stand on Data Centers?

 

Answer: Let's be frank! I support a moratorium on the construction of new data centers. While data centers are inevitable and would provide both temporary and permanent jobs, there are too many unanswered questions at this time for me to support them.

 

In addition, there is little public support for these centers in my district and, as a representative of the people, I am committed to looking into their concerns before supporting any proposals.

 

I think we may have placed the cart before the horse when it comes to data centers. We need to have a better understanding of how they will affect our community in the long run, regulations must be developed to protect our environment and quality of life in areas surrounding the centers, provisions for oversight and transparency must be established, safeguards must be put in place to protect our water supply.

 

I am also concerned that construction is usually proposed in open land and wetlands, both of which are important to a healthy environment. Michigan loses approximately 100,000 acres of farmland every year. We need to support agricultural growth rather than build sprawling facilities on land that could be farmed or on wetlands that support our ecosystem.

 

We simply need more information and a moratorium while we gather that information is not too much to ask.

 

 

 

Question: Where does Frank Lafata stand on AI?

 

Answer: Any AI company looking to do business in Michigan must abide by a Michigan Citizens Bill of Rights for AI.

 

The rapid expansion of data centers and other resource-intensive infrastructure projects are a tax on the resources of citizens and a collapse of the AI bubble should not leave townships and citizens on the hook for irresponsible actions of big tech companies.

 

 

Question: Where does Frank Lafata stand on schools and education?

 

Answer: I support traditional public schools over other methods of schooling, particularly charter schools, that drain tax funds from our public schools leaving them with fewer resources to operate.  I support traditional public schools that are available to all students gifted, average, special needs, disabled, and English language learners.  Schools that accurately reflect the society in which we must live and function.

Schools that are highly selective, narrowly focused, and/or operate for profit often deter or prohibit students from disadvantaged families from attending.  In addition, I am concerned about transparency when it comes to managing taxpayer dollars. Traditional public schools are governed by elected school boards who answer to the public; charter schools are often managed by private entities or charter management organizations who answer to private boards or investors.

I support teacher unions to ensure those who teach our children get fair wages and decent benefits that reflect the importance of the service they provide.  Charter schools frequently employ non-union, at-will, less experienced teachers who are not required to meet the same certification requirements as traditional public-school teachers.

Michigan has approximately 365 charter schools.  Charter schools have a high failure rate, 26% within five years, 40% within ten years and 55% within 20 years! 

When these closures occur, they can occur abruptly, often within a month’s warning or mid-year.  And when these schools fail, most likely the student population is recycled back into the traditional public school system which is now operating with less funds because some of its funding had gone to the failed charter school.

A healthy, reliable, affordable educational system available to everyone is essential to our community and that is only provided by traditional public education.