Michael Goschka
| The Honorable Michael J. Goschka | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Michigan Senate from the 32nd district | |
| In office January 1, 1999 – December 31, 2006 | |
| Succeeded by | Roger Kahn |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 86th district | |
| In office January 1, 1993 – December 31, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Lew Dodak |
| Succeeded by | Valde Garcia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 21, 1953 Saginaw, Michigan |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Maryann |
Michael Goschka (born October 21, 1953)[1] is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1993 to 1999. He was then elected to the Michigan State Senate and served as Senator from 1999 to 2007.[1]
Goschka pulled off a political upset by defeating then-Speaker of the House, Lew Dodak (D-Taymouth Twp.), by 142 votes (50.18% of the vote), in 1992. He then won two subsequent elections in the same geographical district with 66.1% of the vote in 1994, and 66.6% in 1996.
Being elected to the Michigan State Senate in 1998 in a heavily-Democrat district, and winning reelection in 2002, it was in his second term that Goschka established himself as a strong proponent of Higher Education. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Goschka worked at reducing the funding gap between the lower-funded-per-student schools vs. the higher-funded-per-student schools. He successfully convinced his colleagues that a basic minimum funding floor should exist for every college student in the State of Michigan's public universities, regardless of which school they attended.
An outspoken opponent of gay rights, Goschka said in 2005, "Simply put, no homosexual or lesbian union is ever appropriate" and that homosexuals "should apologize for their lifestyle and tolerating something so terrible."[2]
Goschka was also recognized as a "Friend of Agriculture," as designated by Michigan Farm Bureau, and received their "Silver Plow" Award. Being the author of 34 laws that are on the books in the State of Michigan, Goschka was the main sponsor of two major agricultural bills that are now law, providing a $5 million interest-free loan to a large sugar beet cooperative that was formed by growers, and ending the "pop-up tax" on agricultural land that remained in agricultural use.
Goschka also was the recipient of the "Guardian of Small Business" by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), as well as the top honor given out the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he was honored by Saginaw Valley State University in May 2006 with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Viewed by many in Lansing as an ineffective legislator, the Lansing State Journal noted in 2004 that Goschka had "gone through numerous staffers in the Senate and has never held a leadership post in the Republican caucus. Translation: Few people in Lansing like him and he's tough to get along with."[3]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.mirsnews.com/leg_bio.php?lid=132
- ↑ Article, Sen. Mike Goschka's Virtue. http://www.michiganliberal.com/diary/3977/
- ↑ "Sagainaw may see family feuding." Lansing State Journal, April 23, 2004.