|
Dear Neighbor,
I am honored and humbled to be your state representative. As we plow through this winter and embark on hopefully the final year of this pandemic, please know that my staff and I are here for you.
If you are in need of support or resources, have any questions regarding legislation or state government in general, please feel free to reach out to me at my office via email at samanthasteckloff@house.mi.gov or by calling (517) 373-1793.
Sincerely, Samantha Steckloff State Representative, 37th House District
In this issue:
Upcoming Coffee Hour Please join me for my next coffee hour on Monday, Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. We will be joined, as usual, by special guest state Sen. Jeremy Moss. You can join on Facebook Live by clicking here.
Gov. Whitmer’s 2023 Budget Proposal This Wednesday, Gov. Whitmer announced her proposal for our fiscal year 2023 state budget, and it is looking truly transformational.
This budget would include a $1 billion investment in school infrastructure to build new classrooms and common areas and provide more safety training grants to protect students and staff. It would also give up to $11,000 in total bonuses for teachers and certified staff, like nurses and counselors, who stay with their districts for four years, helping to stave off our teacher shortage.
It would roll back the retirement tax, saving half a million households an average of $1,000 a year and triple Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit, putting an average combined tax refund of $3,000 in the pockets of 730,000 working families.
The budget proposal includes a $6.3 billion investment in infrastructure — the biggest infrastructure budget in our state’s history. It includes a $2,500 rebate for electric vehicles — $2,000 for the car and $500 for in-home charging equipment — building on the $7,500 federal tax credit to knock nearly $10,000 off the price of an electric vehicle.
The next step in the process is in our hands. The state House and Senate will now deliberate on our versions of the budget, guided by the governor’s proposals, and make a response. We look forward to your input throughout the process!
Have a Say in Infrastructure Spending Last year, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and President Biden signed it into law. This means that Michigan is expecting to receive billions of dollars from the federal government to fix our roads and bridges, improve high-speed internet access, keep our Great Lakes and our drinking water clean, and more.
As your state representative, I want to hear from you about how you think this money should be spent. I invite you to go to this website to take the “Invest in MI Community” survey. You’ll get a chance to make your voice heard on what matters most to you. In addition, listening tour stops will be scheduled across the state, including at a place near you, to discuss those topics in greater detail. Then we’ll take those discussions to the Capitol and fight for the projects you care about.
An investment in infrastructure is an investment in us all. These federal dollars are a unique opportunity to make critical improvements, and that’s why I want to hear from you! |
