Comment: Farewell to the 2nd,
after a long legislative career

As my time in the Senate winds down, I look back on my legislative career of almost 17 years and hope I have served my constituents well. I have always put the people first because that, I believe, is the cardinal rule that guides us and all public servants. read more...

Comment: Two key proposals
on the November ballot

When you go to the polls Nov. 2, you will vote for candidates for office and also have the opportunity to consider two statewide ballot proposals. These are important proposals and you should take time now to learn about them and think about how you want to vote. read more...

With a month left to register,
make sure you're ready to vote

In less than two months, we will go to the polls and choose a governor, state and federal senators and representatives, and local elected officials, as well as deciding on many state and local ballot issues. There is little that we do in our life that is more important than voting. We choose people to speak for us on extremely important issues, so we need to make sure that we pay attention to the candidates and the issues, and go to the polls on Election Day, Nov. 2. read more...

Financial literacy is a vital skill
for young people to learn

Along with being good readers, writers and mathematicians, students today also need to be good with their finances. A significant number of people are not good money managers. When these people get into financial trouble, the rest of us pay the price. Teaching our children about managing credit and finances now will put them on the right track, and helpavoid making the same mistakes that have led us to our country’s current economic crisis. read more...

Now more than ever, it's time
to stand up and be counted

Every 10 years, the United States takes a census of its citizens, which is required by the U.S. Constitution. You should have already received your Census form in the mail, and I encourage everyone to complete and return it promptly. Our representation in Congress, in Lansing, and our access to many state and federal programs is determined by the number of people who live in our communities. So please fill out your form and be counted!

The Census questionnaire has only 10 questions – it’s one of the shortest in history, and takes only about 10 minutes to complete. Once you are finished simply mail it back. Because the Census is so important, if you don’t return your form a Census taker will contact you to help you complete the questionnaire.

Our federal government uses Census information to determine where approximately $400 billion in federal funding is spent. According to the Brookings Institution, federal assistance programs in Michigan that relied completely or partly on Census statistics distributed funds in fiscal year 2008 totaling more than $15.5 billion. This money was spent on our schools, roads, unemployment insurance, and for programs including housing assistance, food and medical assistance for the needy, and assistance to crime victims. For every Michigan resident who is not counted in the Census, we lose about $10,000 in federal funding over the course of a decade. Based on the “undercount” from the 2000 Census, Michigan missed out on an estimated $200 million in federal funding per year for a total of $2 billion over the last 10 years. We cannot let that happen over the next decade. So please be counted! read more...

Comment: There's help to be had
for those struggling to stay warm

Winter is here, temperatures are falling and our utility bills increase as we try to keep ourselves and our families warm. Many families struggle throughout the winter with high utility bills. There are many energy company programs, as well as state and local programs, that can help with your utility costs if you meet certain criteria. No one wants you or your family to be cold this winter, so read on and see if you qualify for these program designed to keep your heat and electricity on during the coldest months of the year.

DTE Energy and Consumers Energy offer a number of programs to help customers with their energy bills. Payment assistance programs include a medical emergencies program to postpone shutoffs in the event of a medical issue, and a shut-off protection plan to spread future bills out over the year. The shut-off protection plan also includes equal monthly payments on an unpaid balance in order to avoid a shut-off.

Some consumers and all senior citizens, regardless of their income, also qualify for DTE Energy’s Winter Protection Plan. This program protects seniors and low-income customers from shut-offs between November 1 and March 31. During this period, customers must pay a portion of their estimated annual bill plus regular payments on any past-due bills. After March 31, the required bill payments will increase to cover winter bills. For more information on any of these programs call Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050, and DTE Energy at 800-477-4747. read more...

Comment: $34M in local funding cuts
undermine Michigan's educational future

As many Michigan citizens face difficult budget decisions this year, so does state government. Many of my constituents have contacted me in support of our public schools in this challenging budget year. It’s not only what most concerns people in our community; it’s what most concerns people in Michigan.

In October, the legislature passed a K-12 budget that cuts per pupil spending by $165. On October 22, those numbers became even higher when Governor Granholm issued an additional cut of $127 per pupil that will take effect later this month unless the Legislature restores the money, through cuts to other programs or through tax increases.

Additionally, Governor Granholm has issued a line-item veto that eliminates 20j “hold harmless” funding, hitting school districts that the state promised would not lose money when Proposal A passed. read more...

United we stand, and united we serve

In June, Gov. Jennifer Granholm helped kick off the United We Serve Campaign in Michigan. United We Serve is a program initiated by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to encourage volunteerism. As our state works through these difficult times, I too would like to encourage you to offer a helping hand in our communities.

United We Serve is an organized effort asking people to become volunteers. If you visit the website, or the Michigan Community Service Commission's, you will find volunteer opportunities in your communities. But there is also much that you can do on your own. All you really need to be a volunteer is a little time out of your day, a kind heart and knowledge of what your community needs.

We all have memories of our parents helping out family, neighbors, or at our schools. Many of us have our own stories of volunteering and how those activities have changed our lives for the better. Recently the needs in our communities have grown even greater as Michigan, and the country, works through a tough economy and toward recovery. read more...

A few thoughts for the graduates

This was a remarkable week for me and my family. I am proud to share that my youngest granddaughter graduated from high school on Thursday, and I am so very proud of her.

I know that many of us are celebrating middle school, high school and college graduations during this season, and I wish all of our graduates the best as they move on to the next phase of their lives. You’ve conquered a remarkable goal, and you should be proud.

I hope our young graduates will spare me a moment to share some thoughts with them–and with the rest of us, as well. read more...

Michigan needs smoke-free workplaces

I am pleased to see that smoke-free work site legislation is once again moving in the Michigan legislature. The Michigan House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 4377. This bill would prohibit most workplace smoking, but still allow smoking in gambling areas of casinos, cigar bars, tobacco specialty retail stores, and home offices. The Senate also has a smoke-free work site bill, Senate Bill 114, which I have co-sponsored, that would create smoke-free work sites with no exemptions. read more...