“Reevaluating the Cost of Doing Business”

TESTIMONY OF DANIEL ZLOJUTRO

BEFORE THE SENATE REGULATORY REFORM COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL 231

Good morning Chairman Nesbitt, Senator Theis, and members of the

committee. I appreciate the opportunity to testify this morning in support of House
Bill 231, on behalf of my clients, and in regard to the future of Michigan. House
Bill 231 is a bill establishing a regulatory dialog between your chambers in the
Legislature and the Michigan Legislative Council. It is my hope that this bill will
pave the way for a future defined by economic growth and job creation.
As a lawyer and public consultant, I represent clients in matters related to
administrative law matters here in Lansing, and in our nation’s capital, so that their
businesses succeed, and justice is upheld in our great state. I also consult clients on
appropriate action to take regarding pending and long-standing regulations because
the down stream consequences of policymaking can make earning a living very
challenging in our robust and high-speed economy.
It is regarding these regulatory matters which brings me before this
committee this morning. Occupational licensure is hurting our state. Licensure
costs Michigan families over ten billion dollars every year, imposes artificial
barriers to entry that expedite income inequality, and disregards the fundamental
liberty to live a life and earn a living on one’s own terms.
At the core of these issues lies the various occupational boards and
associations supposedly tasked with administering equitable, safe, and high-quality
services to consumers. These boards are expected to promote an interest in public
health and safety, but more often than not, and as a recent report from the
Mackinac Center outlines, these boards engage in self-dealing, anti-competitive
behavior, and monopoly coercion. In 2015, the Obama Administration compiled a
report that noted of twelve high-profile studies on Occupational Licensure and its
effects, ten studies found no quality or safety benefits from occupational licensure
regimes, and in some cases, promoted behavior by practitioners in regulated fields
that actually decreased quality and safety. House Bill 231 will remedy these issues.
By outlining a review process through which the Michigan Legislative
Council may revisit the almost one-hundred-sixty licensed occupations and their
accompanying statutes and regulations, we can ensure that the adequate amount of
regulation is being imposed on those seeking to enter new careers or even enter our
state. It is my hope that this committee recognizes the benefits which would be
realized in new jobs, lower unemployment, higher economic growth, and greater
economic choice which House Bill 231 forecasts. It is only with the help of you all
on this committee that Michigan can build a reputation as a premier place to live,
work, and raise a family. By giving Michiganders the freedom to live and work on
their terms without having to pay to play, we can make the future brighter and
more prosperous for everyone who calls Michigan their home.
I want to thank you all for your attention and consideration this morning. I
hope you will support House Bill 231.