Jase Bolger
James "Jase" Bolger served as the 71st Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives from January 12, 2011 to the end of 2014 session. Bolger is a member of the Republican Party, and represented Michigan's 63rd house district from 2009 to 2014. After being term limited out, he founded a consulting firm, Tusker Strategies. Bolger was also appointed by former Governor Rick Snyder on December 29, 2016 to the Michigan Civil Service Commission and was elected chair on April 27, 2023.
Personal life, education and career
James "Jase" Bolger was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of James and Eileen Bolger. Due to his father's job as a Michigan State Police trooper, the family moved around the state often, before settling in Charlotte, Michigan when Jase entered first grade. He graduated Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a dual major in Finance and Political Science.Prior to entering politics, Bolger founded a small collections/skip tracing business that updates phone records for Fortune 100 companies. An Eagle Scout, he has also been associated with AYSO Soccer, the Rotary Club, United Way, the KAAAP mentor program, Oaklawn Hospital, the Knights of Columbus and several Chambers of Commerce. He is married and has two children. Bolger and his family are Roman Catholic.
Political career
Bolger was first elected to public office in 2004 as a Calhoun County Commissioner, he was later reelected for the same post in 2006. One of his stated priorities as a Commissioner was to minimize the county's spending which he believed was necessary to secure the county's future. During his time as county commissioner Bolger worked with the Democratic majority to achieve consolidation for three 911 Calhoun County dispatchers. The consolidation of the Battle Creek, Albion and Marshall centers into a single center, located in Marshall, resulted in improved service and a net saving of $1.5 million for local taxpayers.Bolger was first elected as a State Representative in November 2008, when he defeated Democratic nominee Phyllis Smith by a 13-point margin. He was subsequently reelected in 2010 and 2012 and served as Speaker until 2014. In 2012, Democrats campaigned heavily trying to defeat Bolger, spending nearly $1 million on mail, television and radio attack ads; however, Bolger won re-election to his third and final term.
Under Bolger's leadership, Republicans retained their majority in the Michigan House while President Barack Obama was re-elected by a 9.5 point margin in Michigan, and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow was re-elected by a 20-point margin.
He represented Michigan's 63rd legislative District, which included the eastern Kalamazoo County city of Galesburg and the townships of Brady, Charleston, Climax, Comstock, Kalamazoo, Pavilion, Richland, Ross and Wakeshma; as well as the central/southern Calhoun County city of Marshall, village of Athens, Burlington, Homer, Tekonsha and the townships of Athens, Burlington, Clarendon, Eckford, Emmett, Fredonia, Homer, Leroy, Marengo, Marshall, Newton and Tekonsha.
After completing his term Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, Bolger founded a consulting firm, Tusker Strategies. In addition to his private sector work, Bolger was appointed in 2016 to serve on the Michigan Civil Service Commission for a term ending December 31, 2024. The Commission is a bipartisan, four-member body, appointed by the governor of the state to regulate all conditions of employment for state employees. On April 27, 2023 Bolger was elected to serve as Chair of the Michigan Civil Service Commission.
Political positions and initiatives
Bolger was elected as House leader in 2011, during his time as Speaker numerous legislative packages that aided Michigan's recovery passed. Specifically, the Michigan House has passed legislation to cut duplicative regulation, as well as reforming the tax structure and pension systems. In addition to those initiatives, the Speaker has worked with Republicans statewide to pass right-to-work legislation and education reform measures. The Michigan House has also passed a balanced budget ahead of schedule all four years Bolger served as Speaker.Education reform
During Bolger's term as Speaker he achieved bipartisan support for education reform. Since 2011, the Michigan House of Representatives have passed numerous education reforms including tenure reform, expansion of cyber and charter school choices, teacher benefit reforms and early childhood development investment. During Bolger's first year as Speaker, the House passed tenure reform. Tenure reform in Michigan guaranteed students would not be left with an underperforming teacher or lose a teacher who is exceeding. Tenure reform made it easier for a school district to fire ineffective teachers, and banned the last in first out approach previously utilized.In addition to tenure reform, Bolger and the House passed legislation that expanded school choice options, guaranteeing more students access to cyber and charter schools; the legislation passed with bipartisan support. The school choice legislation gradually lifts the cap on charter schools authorized by universities and allows for more cyber school options.
During the Speaker's term, teacher benefit reforms were also accomplished. The legislation, which is described as the biggest change in the state's teacher retirement system in a generation, allows school districts to allocate less towards retirement pensions and more towards students. School district leaders have noted the change to retirement pension requirements have been a blessing, saying the separation allows school districts to spend more on school operations. The reform also created the option for teachers to commit more towards their own retirement, or have the option for a smaller pension.
The Republican-led House under Bolger increased funding for early childhood development by $65 million in 2013 and again in 2014. The changes to funding for early childhood development have resulted in at least 16,000 more students being able to attend pre-k schooling. Regarding increased early childhood development funding Speaker Bolger said,
The Speaker's comments on early childhood funding were applauded by the Children's Leadership Council of Michigan.
Job growth
Michigan saw a sharp decline in the labor force starting in 2008 and lasting until 2011, which resulted in 800,000 jobs lost. In 2009, Michigan's unemployment rate hit a record-high 14.2 percent. During that same period Michigan saw its population base shrink. In 2011, Bolger worked with Republicans in the house to pass tax, education and pension reform measures, and employers have responded positively to the changes. Since the reforms were passed in 2011, more than 300,000 jobs returned to the state. During Bolger's time as Speaker from 2011 through 2014, Michigan had the fifth highest job growth in the nation, and the state's unemployment rate decreased to 6.7 percent.Poverty decline
From 2008 until the end of 2010 under a Democrat controlled Michigan House of Representatives and Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm, Michigan's poverty rate rose from 14.4% in 2008 up to 17.5% in 2011. When elected Speaker, Bolger stated it was the goal of Republican leaders to address our state's increasing poverty rate by creating more jobs. Specifically, Bolger stated "it has to be all about job creation.After four years of Republican reforms led by Bolger, Governor Rick Snyder and former Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, Michigan saw significant economic improvement with more than 300,000 jobs added to state's economy, which aided the state's poverty rate decrease. While Bolger was Speaker, Michigan's poverty rate declined each year since 2011, from a high of 17.5% down to 16.2% in 2014.
Right to Work
In 2012, Michigan became the nation's 24th right-to-work state. Prior to passage, Speaker Bolger was the sole legislative leader who supported right-to-work when other Michigan Republicans were lukewarm on the idea. The day Bolger was elected Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives he stated that fellow Republicans should join him in reviewing the potential for right-to-work legislation. During Bolger's term as Speaker, right-to-work legislation was introduced and passed by the House on December 6, 2012. The legislation was eventually signed by Governor Rick Snyder on December 11, 2012. Nearly six years after passage, workers in Michigan earn 8.06% less than the states that border Michigan and kept collective bargaining.Tax reform and venture capital growth
Bolger worked with Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville and Governor Snyder to pass tax reform in the state. The tax overhaul was the largest in 17 years, and included eliminating the Michigan Business Tax, reforming the personal income and pension tax systems. The changes in corporate tax structure have resulted in Michigan improving its corporate tax business environment from an all-time low ranking of 49th up to seventh-best in the country. Under the new tax changes, Michigan has become a top state for venture capital projects with 312 new projects in 2013. The state ranks fifth in new project development, and 10th for projects per capita.Additionally, Bolger and the House passed legislation to improve the personal property tax system in Michigan. The personal property tax legislation, which was championed by the Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, allows for 100 percent reimbursement to municipalities and an 80 percent reduction in business taxes based on the previous system.
Balancing the budget
When Bolger assumed his new role the state was facing a $1.8 billion budget deficit, noting the budget deficit was a concern Bolger worked with Republicans to balance the budget. Prior to becoming Speaker, Michigan saw annual budget shortfalls of $1.5 billion on average, as well as repeated government shutdowns. In his first year as Speaker, Bolger, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville and Governor Rick Snyder worked to pass a budget which resulted in Michigan seeing a more than $450 million surplus.In each subsequent year the Michigan legislature has passed, and the governor has signed a balanced budget. In each of the past three years, Michigan has seen a surplus that has also helped replenish the state's Rainy Day Fund, which in 2011 had $2.2 million in reserves and now is projected to surpass $700 million in reserves for the 2014-15 fiscal year budget.