Working to Protect and Create Jobs

    Tory served as a member of the task force that helped stop the planned closure of Chrysler’s Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, saving thousands of local jobs.  He co-sponsored legislation that will bring millions of dollars in tax incentives to our area to create and retain jobs in Macomb County, including jobs building transaxles for electric vehicles at Ford’s Van Dyke plant in Sterling Heights.  He also co-sponsored legislation to make Michigan more attractive to job providers by reducing burdensome regulations, cutting the state “health care tax,” and making it less costly to do business in Michigan. Tory voted for the “No Worker Left Behind” program to train laid-off workers for jobs that are in demand.

Holding Public Officials Accountable

   Hundreds of thousands of Michigan workers have lost their jobs or had their pay and benefits reduced. Tory believes that elected officials should share in the sacrifice that so many of our friends and neighbors have made. That’s why Tory has co-sponsored legislation that will cut the pay of Michigan legislators and return the money to the taxpayers. In addition, Tory co-sponsored legislation to dock the pay of legislators who don’t show up for work. He also voted to end lifetime health care benefits for state legislators, and to suspend all contributions that the state makes to legislators' retirement plans. Tory believes that the practice of “double-dipping” by state employees is an outrage.  That is why he voted in favor of the new law that prevents state employees from ripping off the taxpayers by collecting a salary from the state of Michigan while simultaneously collecting a pension.

Getting Tough on Dangerous Criminals

As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Tory has a major role in protecting the public. He co-sponsored the new law that gets tough on convicted sex offenders by requiring judges to impose “mandatory” prison sentences and lifetime electronic monitoring. Tory supported legislation that protects the rights of crime victims and puts more police officers on the streets. Tory has also sponsored legislation to impose longer sentences on criminals who exploit children, and he opposes the proposed “Early Release” of dangerous criminals from state prisons.

Helping Our Senior Citizens

   Tory is considered one of the strongest advocates for laws to help our senior citizens.  The very first bill that he sponsored that became law, provides much needed property tax relief for senior citizens. Tory is proud of the fact that the first law he passed as a representative helps senior citizens who are overburdened by property taxes. Tory understands that many senior citizens are having difficulty making ends meet in these difficult economic times… even having to choose whether to buy food or pay their heating bill in the middle of winter.  That is why he voted for the new law that prohibits utility companies from shutting off service to senior citizens during the colder months.

Fighting High Taxes

   Tory voted against the recent increase in the state income tax. He also voted against establishing a sales tax on personal and professional services, and was successful in repealing the new tax. Tory supports legislation to stop property taxesfrom going up when property values are going down. He believes that government must learn to live within its means, and spend taxpayer dollars on the priorities that the taxpayers want, such as public education and public safety… not jackpot pensions for public officials and bailouts for institutions that mismanaged their money and caused our economic crisis.

Improving the Quality of Education

   Tory has consistently supported increases and opposed cuts in the amount of money that school districts receive in their “per-pupil” funding.  He understands the importance of providing a first-rate education to our children, and believes that the state should fully fund public education while stopping excessive property tax increases.

Protecting Our Environment

   Tory co-sponsored the new law that protects Michigan’s fresh water resources by banning the diversion of our Great Lakes water to other states. Tory stopped the outrageous proposal to use taxpayers’ money to subsidize the company that imports out-of-state trash into Michigan. He co-sponsored the state law to ban Canadian trash from being dumped inMichigan. Tory believes that the cost of environmental cleanup should be paid for by the polluters, not by the taxpayers. His voting record has also been rated as high as 93% by both the League of Conservation Voters and Clean Water Action.