Rep. Jack O’Malley, R-Lake Ann; audio on weekend U.P. road inspection
House Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Jack O’Malley talks about how he will join Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Houghton, this Saturday morning for a tour of areas impacted by the 2018 Fathers Day flood. Rep O’Malley says he wants to learn more about the situation in the hopes that the state could leverage federal dollars to help…
Rep. Brandt Iden, R-Oshtemo Twp.; audio on gaming reform legislation
Rep. Iden talks about House passage Wednesday of a wide-ranging bipartisan plan updating the way gaming is conducted and regulated statewide. Rep. Iden says the plan adds consumer protections to what is already taking place and says he hopes the Governor will begin to negotiate on the issue.
Rep. Hank Vaupel actualities on House passage of pari-mutuel wagering reform
Rep. Vaupel talks about House passage Wednesday of his HB 4310, which allows people to use updated technologies for wagering on horse racing, further helping the state’s agricultural industry. The horse racing industry supports more than 12,000 jobs and contributes nearly $1 billion to Michigan’s economy each year. In addition, horse racing provides financial support…
Rep. Phil Green, R-Millington; audio on budget negotiations at state Capitol
Rep. Green, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, talks about the input from his constituents regarding the Governor’s line-item vetoes in the state’s 2020 budget, and how his community tells him that the Governor’s cuts hurt.
Rep. Brad Slagh, R-Zeeland; audio on townhall meeting on water levels
Rep. Slagh talks about the October 30th townhall meeting on water level issues he will host at the Holland City Hall Council Chambers, between 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. Staff from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will be on hand to answer questions and provide information.
Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, R-Levering; audio on Governor’s cuts and state Administrative Board
Talking with reporters on the floor of the Michigan House following session Thursday afternoon, Speaker Chatfield says he wants to make sure money appropriated by the legislature will not be shifted around by the Governor again through the State Administrative Board, but adds meetings between the Governor and legislative leaders on policy issues have focused…
Rep. Jack O’Malley, R-Lake Ann; audio on school bus safety legislation
Rep. Jack O’Malley talks about a multi-bill, bi-partisan package of legislation designed to improve school bus safety in Michigan, including tougher penalties for passing a bus with its red lights flashing, and a proposed law that would make it illegal for non-students to board a school bus. The package remains in committee. …
Rep. Mike Mueller, R-Linden; audio on restoring veteran-related budget items
Rep. Mueller, a four-year U.S. Navy veteran, says he remains concerned by the Governor’s vetoes of money for the County Veteran Service Fund in the state’s 2020 Fiscal Year budget, as well as a line item for the veterans Buddy to Buddy Program.
Rep. Rodney Wakeman, R-Saginaw Twp.; audio on public school funding cuts
In a week when the state sent out public school aid payments for October, Rep. Wakeman says kids in public charter schools are being hurt by the Governor’s line-item veto cuts. When signing budget bills for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, Gov. Whitmer cut $35 million from the school aid fund for public charter…
Rep. Roger Hauck, R-Union Twp.; audio on surprise medical billing legislation
Rep. Hauck talks about his new legislation to protect Michigan residents from surprise medical bills. The bipartisan plan requires medical providers to give notice if their service will result in out-of-pocket costs to a patient, along with a written estimate of those costs. In emergency situations, where consent cannot be given, the patient will still…
Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain; audio on pneumatic air bow legislation
Rep. LaFave talks about his HB 4332, which would permit the use of pneumatic air bows in Michigan. The bows utilize compressed air, and Rep. LaFave says their use would open new hunting opportunities for people with physical limitations that prevent them from using a firearm or pulling back the string on a bow. The…
Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Twp.; audio on election reform legislation
Rep. Bollin talks about her legislation designed to improve local elections.
Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Berrien Springs; audio on teacher appreciation stipend legislation
Rep. Paquette talks about legislation he plans to introduce this week creating a voluntary Michigan income tax checkoff to support a new Made a Difference Teacher Initiative Fund, which would provide stipends for teachers nominated by students at least five years out of school. Rep. Paquette is teacher who says being remembered by former students…
Rep. Phil Green, R-Millington; audio on rural and critical access hospitals
Rep. Green says his district at the tip of Michigan’s Thumb is negatively impacted by the Governor’s vetoes of funding for rural and critical access hospitals, adding people ranging from seniors to expectant families to individuals dealing with chronic conditions have been impacted.
Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Houghton; audio on 80-cent-a gallon gas tax
Rep. Markkanen says residents in his district wouldn’t support the idea of an 80-cent-a-gallon gas tax, as recently floated by the director of the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain; audio on 80-cent-a gallon gas tax
Rep. LaFave says he’s troubled that the director of the Michigan Department of Transportation is suggesting an 80-cent per gallon gas tax is needed to adequately fund road repairs.