by Tom Shields
September 16, 2009

Frustrated like all of Michigan by a seven-year recession and a clear lack of leadership in Lansing, a new group is ready to weigh in on public policy issues.

In a town filled with biz-group acronyms MMA, NFIB, MIC, DADA, MDA, SBAM, MSMS, and MHA, most insiders see the new kids as just another voice for business. Taking a slightly different tack than organizations that tout their membership numbers or profiles, the newcomer distinguishes itself by the names on its letterhead.

This assemblage of 70 CEOs will probably be better known as the business group formerly known as Detroit Renaissance until they can brand themselves as Business Leaders for Michigan.

Detroit Renaissance leaders apparently felt their work in Detroit was done, or at least in the good hands of the new, all-business mayor who’ll not likely be in need of bail money.

With its elite membership of CEOs over the past 40 years, it’s tough to imagine a more prestigious business organization than Detroit Renaissance. No VPs. No public affairs directors. Just CEOs making decisions and putting their money behind projects in Detroit. Their business leadership has certainly benefited Detroit and the region over the years.

The new statewide organization appears born of frustration with the current leadership in Lansing. While no names are mentioned, it’s safe to say that this probably wouldn’t happen under the previous governor — unless he wanted it to.

BLM’s goals are laudable: make Michigan competitive with other states; take a more innovative approach to job creation and economic development; and differentiate Michigan by promoting its unique assets.

Of course, the devil is in the details.

And right there’s where being Detroit Renaissance ends, and entering the new world of politics as Business Leaders of Michigan begins.

Unlike being the 900-pound gorilla of economic development in Detroit, BLM now finds itself in an arena with dozens of organizations that have their own agendas and supporters in the legislature and administration. Frankly, the Lansing mainstays have just as much clout, sway, and prominence as BLM, but built over years of involvement, and through the persistent work of advocacy, relationship nurturing, and the daily grind of the oft-difficult legislative process.

Give the BLM credit for not pulling too many punches as they introduce their agenda of a smaller, more efficient and lower paid government workforce, cuts in Medicaid, two-year budgeting cycles, limits on business regulations, expansion of charter schools, and a $1 billion tax cut for businesses — with increased consumer taxes by adding a sales tax on services.

I trust BLM was not surprised when their plan was met with a bombastic rant from Mark Brewer in MIRS calling them “greedy CEOs,” accusing them of “calling for sacrifice from the working people and the unemployed while the wealthy CEOs feel no pain.”

Welcome, BLM, to our world.

Under the Dome, everyone is fair game. Sometimes what you say is as important as who says it. A group of CEOs calling for shifting business taxes to consumers is like leading with a glass jaw. Expect to be attacked even harder than most.

BLM is focused on the “big agenda,” aiming to change the way Michigan government does business. They are taking an almost academic approach to developing broad-based solutions with extensive comparative studies and economic research.

Chair David Brandon says he wants to work with other business groups to ensure a united business voice. And since it’s estimated BLM’s agenda would take hundreds of bills to implement, they’re going to need the others. They are going to need the truly heavyweight and trusted organizations like the Michigan Chamber, Michigan Manufacturers, NFIB and others fighting it out in the trenches to get things passed in Lansing.

We can always use another voice of reason, another voice for business. Just don’t expect a command performance on day one. Just because you are the group formally known as Detroit Renaissance, it doesn’t guarantee you anything under the Dome.

Tom Shields is founder and president of Marketing Resource Group (MRG), a Lansing-based political marketing and public relations firm.