Retiring senator looks back on more successes than she expected

By ALEKS TAPINSH
Capital News Service
LANSING — Glancing back over her 12 years in the state Senate, Joanne Emmons, R-Big Rapids, says she accomplished more than she thought she would.
As her tenure ends, Emmons said the proudest moment of her career in the Senate is the change in school funding.
The 1994 constitutional amendment, known as Proposal A, eliminated local property tax allocated for school operations and increased the sales tax to 6 percent.
Legislation this year kept the budget in balace in spite of the effects of recession, said Emmons, chairwoman of the Finance Committee. It is a major success for the Legislature, she said.
The slowed-down economy reduced the state’s revenues.
Emmons said she doesn’t have any regrets about her years in the Senate.
“I’ve done more than I thought I could,” she said.
Due to term limits, Emmons cannot run for re-election. But she has something else to look forward to. She is running for a seat on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees.
In her decision, Emmons said, she followed the example of Dolores M. Cook, a current MSU trustee from Greenville.
Cook said she was flattered. She described Emmons as “a devoted Spartan.”
“I am looking forward to working with her on the Board of Trustees,” Cook added.
Emmons said she is also thankful to Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus for the opportunity to serve on the Finance Committee. The lieutenant governor appoints heads of legislative committees.
“He gave me opportunities that no woman ever had,” Emmons said.
© 2002, Capital News Service, Michigan State University School of Journalism