Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain; audio on in-district work
Rep. LaFave says while work at the state Capitol consumes a lot of his time, a holiday week affords him the opportunity to meet with constituents at their homes and small businesses back in the U.P.
Rep. Hank Vaupel, R-Fowlerville; audio on continuing legislative efforts to fight opioids
Another bill from the 2017 opioid package approved by the Michigan Legislature took effect this week. House Health Policy Committee Chair Hank Vaupel says mitigating the growth of opioids is difficult, but adds the bills that have become law in recent months have been a good place to get started. Public Act 251, which took…
Rep. Peter Lucido, R-Macomb County; audio on storm water separation legislation
Rep. Lucido talks about his new House Bill 6278, which requires all municipalities in Michigan to completely separate their sewage systems from storm water systems by Dec. 31, 2022.
Rep. Julie Calley, R-Portland; audio on summer reading program
Rep. Calley talks about her summer reading program for school kids in Ionia and Barry Counties. Children are encouraged to read as many books as they can through August. The titles of completed books and number of pages read can be recorded on a bookmark provided to the libraries by Rep. Calley or downloaded and printed…
Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain; audio on air ambulance legislation
Rep. LaFave talks about his HB 5219, currently pending before the full Michigan Senate. The legislation requires air ambulance operators to give nonemergency patients a notice to be signed before sending an air ambulance to discuss all methods of transportation and costs. Many times, patients are transported to hospitals by air ambulance without having a…
Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte; audio on Post Traumatic Stress Injury Day on June 27
Rep. Barrett, an Iraqi War veteran, talks about his House Resolution 353, which declares June 27th as Post Traumatic Stress Injury Day in Michigan. Rep. Barrett says a reference to a stress injury, as opposed to a stress disorder, better reflects the reality of a situation experienced by thousands of Michiganders, both veterans and the…
Rep. Tommy Brann, R-Kent County; audio on income tax check off for homeless fund donations
Rep. Brann talks about his HBs 5744 and 5745, which would establish a Coalition Against Homelessness Fund in state government and create a check box on the state income tax form for Michigan residents to make voluntary donations. The plan is currently pending in the House Tax Policy Committee.
Rep. Tim Kelly, R-Saginaw Twp.; audio on school safety priorities
Rep. Kelly, the Chair of the House School Aid Appropriations Subcommittee, says the coming school year will see enhanced safety at K-12 schools and college campuses, including provisions to raise standards for handling sexual assault complaints at universities and dramatically increased expansion of the state’s OK2SAY school safety program.
Rep. Gary Howell, R-North Branch; audio on additional dollars for school safety
Rep. Howell talks about his HB 6027, which would allow Michigan residents the option of voting to allow school sinking fund dollars for local school safety personnel. Rep. Howell says the idea was brought to him by school administrators in his district. Sinking fund dollars are currently restricted to use for school infrastructure and Rep….
Rep. Mary Whiteford, R-Casco Twp.; audio on mental health reform
Rep. Whiteford, who worked as a nurse prior to serving in the Michigan House, says the current House session has seen an increased focus on mental health issues, but that more needs to be done. Rep. Whiteford serves as a member of the House CARES (Community, Access, Resources, Education and Safety) Task Force which has…
Speaker of the House Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt; audio on end of Driver Responsibility Fees
Speaking to reporters on the House floor Tuesday night, Speaker Leonard said a chief accomplishment of the House in 2018 was the vote that will end driver responsibility fees on October 1. The Speaker says the fees are an impediment to employment for thousands of Michigan residents.
Rep. Dan Lauwers, R-Brockway Twp.; audio on House passage of ballast water legislation
Rep. Lauwers talks about final House passage Tuesday evening of his HB 5095, which brings Michigan’s ballast water discharge regulations in line with federal standards. Rep. Lauwers says the state’s current ballast water laws put Michigan at a competitive disadvantage with neighboring states.
Rep. Aaron Miller, R-Sturgis; audio on final passage of 2019 Michigan State Police budget
Rep. Miller, who chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Michigan State Police, says the 2019 MSP budget that went to the Governor Tuesday has funding for 155 new troopers and additional laboratory services.
Rep. Brandt Iden, R-Oshtemo Twp; audio on House passage of internet gaming legislation
Rep. Iden talks about House passage Tuesday of his a three-bill package that establishes a Division of Internet Gaming in the Michigan Gaming Control Board. Rep. Iden notes that online gaming is currently illegal in Michigan and argues the state should legalize and regulate such games to protect its citizens who chose to participate and to…
Rep. Dr. Ned Canfield, D.O., R-Sebewaing; audio on House passage of 2019 state budget
Rep. Canfield, who Chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Health and Human Services, says the state’s 2019 budget sent to the Governor Tuesday includes language designed to bring more physicians to rural, underserved areas, and adds his two years chairing the state’s largest budget has been a lesson in government.
Rep. Laura Cox, R-Livonia; audio on House passage of Fiscal Year 2019 budget
House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Laura Cox speaks on the House floor Tuesday afternoon, prior to passage of the state’s General Fund budget for the 2019 Fiscal Year. Rep. Cox says the budget controls spending, respects the taxpayer and provides additional dollars for priorities like roads and school safety.