Tyler Whitney sat at attention listening to gubernatorial candidate state Rep. Jack Hoogendyk, R-Kalamazoo, talk about the need for tax re-structuring and pro-life policies in Michigan on Thursday.
The East Lansing High School junior, who also is the chairman of the school's Teenage Republican Club, was quick with his questions about how Hoogendyk would change the state, including tax policy if he's elected.
"Taxes are too high, and we have too many regulations on businesses," Hoogendyk said.
Hoogendyk added that his plans would include making cuts in government spending and giving the money saved back to people in the form of tax breaks.
"We don't have a tax policy problem, we have a spending problem," Hoogendyk said. "If the governor and the Legislature had the guts to make some hard cuts, we'd have money left over and we can take that money and give tax relief to businesses."
Gov. Jennifer Granholm's spokeswoman Liz Boyd said it's myth that Michigan is a bad tax state.
"Gov. Granholm has proposed a comprehensive strategy for revitalizing the economy," Boyd said. "If the Republicans have a plan they should put it on the table, and that includes Rep. Hoogendyk."
Tax policy and abortion are just a few of the issues the Teenage Republicans are interested in.
"We are currently working to get Republican candidates elected at the grass roots level," Whitney said. "High schools are the premier battle in the cultural war going in our country, and we must rise up against the liberal doctrine."
Hoogendyk said he came to speak to the student club because he wants to reach as many voters as possible.
"You will find no more committed individuals than young Republicans," Hoogendyk said. "They're very passionate."
Whitney said the East Lansing High School Teenage Republican Club has about 20 members and has been in existence for about a year.
Some of the students at the speech said they weren't sure who they were going to vote for when they reach 18.
"I believe Granholm has made some bad decisions, and I wanted to come here and see what he had to say," East Lansing High School senior Fahad Faruqi said. "I'm an Independent, so I'm apprehensive of voting for any candidate."
Some students came to the meeting simply to see what the group is and see if it fits in with their beliefs. Other students knew the club would be a group they would fit right in with.
"I was born and raised Republican and conservative and am very strongly pro-life," East Lansing High School freshman David Souser said.
Souser said he's interested in working on Hoogendyk's campaign and working with the East Lansing High School Teenage Republicans.
The group is part of a larger organization of Michigan Teenage Republicans, of which Whitney is the chairman.
Nate Bailey, spokesman for the Michigan Republican Party, said the Teenage Republicans is meant to get politically active students involved in Republican politics.
"It helps to encourage conservative young people who want to make a difference and take part in the process," Bailey said. "When they grow up, these are the people who would run for office, so it's certainly very important."
