Representative Dan. Kildee: An Interview with the Chief Deputy Whip

The National Club Association (NCA) recently interviewed U.S. Representative Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) to discuss his views on some of the most significant issues impacting clubs, including health care, immigration and minimum wage. Kildee was born and raised in Flint, Mich., and entered politics at the young age of 18. Later he founded the state’s first land bank, the Genesee County Land Bank, which has helped raise tens of millions of dollars for the redevelopment of Flint. Kildee currently represents Michigan’s Fifth Congressional District and serves in the Democratic leadership team as Chief Deputy Whip and sits on the Ways and Means Committee, the country’s chief tax writing committee for the House. He lives in Flint Township with his wife, Jennifer. They have three children.

CLUB DIRECTOR (CD): You got into politics as soon as you were eligible to vote by winning a seat on the Flint Board of Education at the age of 18. You served on the Genesee County Commission and became the County Treasurer serving in that role for 13 years. You then founded the Center for Community Progress, a national nonprofit that helps redevelop cities with blighted properties, which is an issue for cities like your hometown of Flint, Mich. Your uncle, Dale Kildee, served in Congress from 1977–2012 when you successfully ran to succeed him. What drives your passion for public service?

REP. DAN KILDEE (DK): I got involved in public service at a young age because I wanted to help my community. I have been fortunate to be elected to various public offices throughout my career. While my job titles have changed, my duties—being a representative—have remained the same. Thinking about the families in my hometown of Flint, and the other communities I represent, drives my passion for my job. It’s because of them that I work in Congress to boost wages, lower health care costs, fight for fair trade deals, protect our Great Lakes and bring federal resources home to our community, including Flint that continues to recover from the ongoing water crisis.

CD: Private clubs face many of the same issues as small businesses and one of the biggest concerns is health care costs. You serve on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over health care. What sorts of things are happening this Congress to address this issue for individuals and small businesses?

DK: I believe that health care is a fundamental human right and that all people deserve access to quality, affordable health care. Our current health care system relies, in part, on employers providing health coverage, and Congress needs to make sure that it is affordable for small businesses to do so. It also benefits employers to have healthy employees, since healthy individuals are more productive, motivated and focused on their work.

There are several areas in which Congress can make health care more affordable for both individuals and employers. Currently the House is examining ways to counter the high cost of prescription drugs. High drug costs place a tremendous burden on the health care system and by addressing this we will see lower costs for individuals. Congress is also working on the issue of surprise medical billing in order to prevent individuals from facing thousands of dollars in unexpected medical bills. Addressing these two areas will bring down the cost of health care in the U.S., helping to make it affordable to more employers and individuals.

CD: Increasing the federal minimum wage has been an important issue for you and the House recently passed a very significant increase in the minimum wage that would raise it from $7.25 an hour to $15 over seven years. The bill also eliminates the tip credit and separate federal minimum for newly hired employees under the age of 20. Many expect the increase will be less onerous in major metropolitan areas, but do you have any concerns about what the impact will be on small businesses in more rural areas?

DK: I support raising the minimum wage, which has not been raised in more than a decade. Many small businesses I have visited support raising workers’ wages because doing so will increase the purchasing power of millions of Americans, which is money going directly back into our economy. I do, however, understand the concern from some about how the minimum wage increase is structured, which is why the Raise the Wage Act includes a seven-year phase-in that will help small businesses plan in the years ahead.

CD: There has been a lot of discussion about the need to update our immigration laws over the past 10–15 years. There seems to be consensus around addressing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) population, increasing H-1B and H-2B seasonal visas, and creating a modernized guest worker program. H-2B visas are particularly important for clubs that need additional employees on a seasonal basis. Congress was very close to passing comprehensive immigration reform in 2013, but didn’t get it done. In your view, how do we get Democrats and Republicans working together on this very important issue?

DK: We absolutely need to fix our current immigration system. Comprehensive immigration reform will grow our economy, reduce our national deficit and modernize our failing immigration system. Both Democrats and Republicans know this and agree that our current system is broken. Therefore, it is important that both parties actively listen to what economists, business leaders, law enforcement officials and immigration experts have to say when addressing what’s best for our immigration laws. Democrats and Republicans must be willing to sit down together and negotiate on policies that not only make sense but reflects America’s core values. For instance, protecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients—commonly referred to as DREAMers—from deportation must be a priority. Most Americans, including many Republicans, Democrats and Independents, want Congress to act in a bipartisan fashion to support citizenship and permanent status for DREAMers.

CD: Golf is very popular in Michigan and there are many beautiful public access and private courses in the state. How often do you get a chance to get outdoors and enjoy the sport?

DK: I have always loved the game of golf. Although I do not get to play as much as I would like to, I do very much enjoy visiting Michigan’s beautiful golf courses.

CD: Democrats and Republicans over the years have participated in a couple of competitions against each other on the golf course. One event is built around the Ryder Cup model of playing different formats. The great Robert Tyre Jones Jr. said that he could meet someone many times in the course of doing business and not really know the person, but if he played a round of golf with him, he knew him. Notwithstanding the competitive nature of these events, do they help build relationships across the aisle?

DK: Golf certainly helps to foster relationships across the aisle. I have been on the golf course with both anchors from Fox News and former President Barack Obama. Getting outside and enjoying sports, including golf, just may help us to work more in a bipartisan fashion on the important issues facing our country.

CD: Name your ideal foursome. Include one Democrat, one Republican, and one PGA/LPGA Tour player.

DK: I would tee up with Congressman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), Former Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) and Tiger Woods.