Graves, Losey Debate Jobs, Education

Joe Graves and Steve Losey are set for a rematch.

The two candidates are once again battling for a 51st District Michigan House of Representatives seat after Graves defeated Losey in a special election in February after Paul Scott was recalled.

Both took part in a Meet the Candidates debate put on by the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.

Graves, R-Argentine Township, has served as the state representative since February and is "seeking re-election to the state house to make the tough decisions when necessary."

Losey, D-Linden, a special education teacher at Redford Union Schools and Linden school board trustee, wants "to bring the voice of the middle class to Lansing."

Graves said his campaign will remain focused on public safety and jobs, while Losey said he would focus his message on education.

One of the questions debated Tuesday was on Michigan's Proposition 2.

This proposal would:

• Grant public and private employees the constitutional right to organize and bargain collectively through labor unions.        
• Invalidate existing or future state or local laws that limit the ability to join unions and bargain collectively, and to negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements, including employees' financial support of their labor unions.  Laws may be enacted to prohibit public employees from striking.      
• Override state laws that regulate hours and conditions of employment to the extent that those laws conflict with collective bargaining agreements.
• Define "employer" as a person or entity employing one or more employees. 

Losey said he is for Prosition 2.

"I don't see the logic behind not letting folks try to bargain for what they work for," Losey said. "It doesn't make any sense to me."

Graves said he is against it.

"If you don't pass Proposal 2, you still have the right to collective bargain," he said. "No one has ever tried to take that away."

Also, both Graves and Losey were asked about getting people back to work.

Losey said education is the key.

"I honestly believe the better educated our work force is, the more productive people will be," he said.

Grave mentioned his bill to get veterans getting back to work.

"If they served as plumber, electrician, military police, that is their certification, that is their training," Graves said. "All they do is come back and take the test."

Another question debated was if it was time to re-evalaute the performance and purpose of the Genesee Area Intermediate School District board, which has been under fire recently.

Graves said there has to be some way to have the appointed board held accountable.

"There was another travel scandal," Graves said. "Obviously, we need to fix this."

Losey said there needs to be some changes made, but said most boards do important work.

"I don't want to lump every ISD across the state as being some sort of crooked malfunctioning type entity, because they are not all like that," Losey said.