Laurie Pohutsky

Laurie Pohutsky was born in Detroit, Michigan.[1] Pohutsky earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Michigan State University in 2010. Her career experience includes working as a customer service specialist and laboratory technician with Armune BioScience, Inc., a laboratory technician with National Surgical Healthcare and Millennium Health, and a quality control technician with Neogen Corporation.[1][2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a millennial microbiologist running for my second term in the Michigan State House of Representatives, where I serve on the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation and Health Policy committees. I have worked in the fields of toxicology, health care, and food safety and have experience with environmental testing. During my first term, I have introduced legislation to repeal the No Stricter than Federal law, which shackles Michigan's environmental regulations to federal standards. I also introduced bills to combat rising prescription drug prices and close a loophole in Michigan law that allows for marital rape in cases where a spouse has been drugged. While attending college at Michigan State University, I was a member of the gay-straight alliance and took part in community engagement and activism. I also volunteered at the local crisis hotline. I reside in Livonia, where I am a volunteer with Angela Hospice.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Health care is a human right and should never be reliant on someone's income.Protecting our environment is critical, and a crucial part of it is holding corporate polluters accountable. Strengthening our public education system and empowering our state's educators is paramount.   Featured local question

How would you close the talent gap in this state?

There are several reasons why the talent gap exists in Michigan and young people are leaving the state for other areas of the country. In order to retain talent, we need to prioritize things that will keep those workers here, including investing in our infrastructure, prioritizing public education so that residents will want to raise families in Michigan, and expand public transit in areas that lack it.

Featured local question

In a time of strained resources, what should be the state’s spending priorities?

Michigan needs to prioritize funding the areas that we saw under the most strain during the COVID-19 crisis. This means making health care more accessible and affordable, funding our public schools so that they can adapt to the changes the pandemic has forced upon them, and assisting the departments where underfunding was most detrimental, such as UIA.

Featured local question

Michigan has among the weakest ethics and transparency laws. How would you improve them?

I have voted in support of expanding FOIA to cover the legislature and Governor, and I supported legislation to expand financial disclosure for elected officials.

Featured local question

Michigan’s budget has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 virus shutdown. How would you address the deficit? Do you prefer spending cuts or tax hikes?

We need to look at budgetary priorities through the lens of COVID-19. This means that district-specific spending, including some appropriations that I personally advocated for, may need to be put on hold. However, federal relief will be pivotal for our state's recovery.

Featured local question

What’s the best approach for meeting Michigan’s roads and other infrastructure needs?

Lowering weight limits on trucks in Michigan while also eliminating some corporate tax loopholes and mandating that money go towards roads will drastically cut the amount that needs to be produced through other revenue, such as gas taxes or registration fees.

Featured local question

What’s your one big idea for improving public schools?

Although this is by no means a novel concept, it does seem to be one the state has consistently struggled with: we need to fund our public schools equitably. Not every district faces the same challenges, and we must meet them where they are rather than assuming they can each reach the same goals with the exact same resources.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am extremely passionate about environmental and health care policy. Michigan is home to a wealth of natural resources and beauty, but we have not been good stewards of these resources. I've made it a priority to advocate for evidence-based environmental policy to protect our state for generations to come. Additionally, we know that the current health care system in Michigan is inequitable, and the COVID-19 crisis has made that more evident than ever. No one should have to decide between going to the doctor or filling a prescription and putting food on the table.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my niece. She's thirteen years younger than me and is so passionate and driven that she inspires me on a daily basis to be a better person and fight for the things I believe in.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm determined, curious, tenacious, and honest. I am comfortable admitting what I don't know and eager to learn more.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave anything I do in a better condition than the one I found it in.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that I truly remember having an impact on me was the death of Matthew Shepard, who was tied to a fence and beaten to death because he was gay. I was ten years old and I so vividly remember being horrified and heartbroken that anyone could do this to a person simply because of who they are and who the love.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was waiting tables at Checker Bar and Grill in Detroit. I only worked there for the summer, but I waited tables off and on for around ten years, including while I was in college and after I moved back home and had trouble finding a job due to the recession.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is Catch 22. My dad fought in WWII, so there's a little bit of a personal connection, but I love the writing style and how it conveys the chaos of the situation.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Rain on Me" by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Watching my best friend in high school and college try to cope with mental health issues was a struggle. When I was eighteen, I became her caregiver, a task neither of us was prepared for. The situation only made things more stressful and exacerbated her issues. The lack of resources was, and still is, tremendously infuriating. Trying to help her navigate the health care system was one of the most difficult things I have ever done and is part of the reason I'm such a staunch advocate for health care reform.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

The Senate adheres more to rules around legislation taking immediate effect, which is a point of contention in the House that has even been taken to court. Although this is a little "inside baseball," it is an important distinction.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

There are benefits to state legislators having political experience, particularly when it comes to having pre-established relationships or being ahead of the learning curve. However, I think one cannot underestimate the importance of having people from different backgrounds with varied experiences and types of expertise represent our state.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

We have massively underfunded critical areas of our state, such as infrastructure and education, and now that we are facing budgetary shortfalls due to the COVID-19 crisis, playing catch-up is going to be more difficult than ever.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

As co-equal branches of government, the two need to work together to better the state. However, it is critical for one to challenge the other from time to time.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

It is not only beneficial to build relationships with other legislators, it is crucial, and that includes relationships across the aisle. These relationships give insight into different perspectives that are important to consider when it comes to decisions that will affect the entire state.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

I serve on the Health Policy and Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation committees. Because of my background as a scientist, I felt I would be well-suited for the issues that would come before these committees.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

At this point, I'm only concerned about doing the job I've been elected to to the best of my ability.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

My district has vinyl chloride contamination in the groundwater in one particular neighborhood. When I met with the residents of that area, one woman told me one of her children asked if they would be safer from the vapor intrusion in the top or bottom bunk because they were afraid to get sick. After that meeting, I repeatedly met with the corporation responsible and demanded they perform more accurate testing and expand it as necessary. I also introduced legislation to allow the state to develop its own standards for such contamination rather than being shackled to the federal standards and co-sponsored a bill to require corporate polluters to clean up the contamination they create. That story has always stuck with me and reminded me that these policies have very real consequences for the people I represent.