Capitol and Community Updates

Dear Neighbor,

I hope everyone has been enjoying the extra daylight in our days. Below are a few updates from the past few weeks in Lansing.

Standing Up to Fight Wage Discrimination

I’m proud to have stood with my House colleagues to introduce our Pay Equity Package. In March, we held a press conference on the introduction of these bills, HBs 4288–97, which if passed would combat wage discrimination by targeting penalties, incentives and hiring practices to emphasize pay equity and transparency in Michigan’s employment.

My bill in this package, HB 4297, requires an employer to disclose wage information of similarly situated employees to an employee under certain circumstances. The data is clear — there is a pay gap between men and women. This package is about pay transparency, fairness and openness in the hiring process and the employment process once you are hired. This legislation is long overdue, and I’m ready to work with my colleagues to get it passed.

March Was Reading Month

“March Is Reading Month” is one of my favorite times of the year because it means I get to read to children in our district. This year I read to 2nd graders at Savage Elementary and Tyler Elementary! I had a great time and am already looking forward to reading again next year.

Republican Roads Agenda

In March, House Republicans put their road funding bill package up for a vote. This package, HBs 4180–87 and HB 4230, would result in a loss of over $3 billion from the General Fund, which funds critical services and essential programs that Michiganders rely on. The loss of revenue to the General Fund will necessitate additional removals of funding to departments and programs, and I believe this will fall on the backs of working people.

 

The Republicans leading this initiative have not specified exactly where the required reductions will be. However, the recently passed Republican-led budget proposal offers some hints. The recently passed budget removes major financial support for students, health care, school meals, veterans and more (more information about the Republican-led budget can be found in the next section). Budgets are statements of values. Decreasing funding for those important issue areas in the budget tells me that they could be on the chopping block in the roads plan.

 

The Republicans’ roads agenda isn’t a real plan or a long-term solution to Michigan’s roads problem. We shouldn’t have to choose between fixing potholes and ensuring that children can learn on a full stomach. Michiganders deserve serious, responsible solutions, and fixing our roads shouldn’t come at the cost of disinvesting in the people of Michigan. I voted no on these irresponsible bills because Michiganders want real answers to fix and maintain our roads, and these bills aren’t it.

 

Massive Reduction to Our State Budget and Our Schools

In early March, the Republican House Speaker had us vote on the Republican-led House budget proposal for fiscal year 2025-2026. We were given virtually no time to review these bills, as we first received the bills 30 minutes before we were expected to vote on them.

 

These two budget bills, House Bills 4161 and 4162, were voted on within minutes, with no committee hearings and little time for debate or discussion. Only two Democratic representatives were allowed to speak on the floor in opposition, with one Representative having her mic cut off while in the middle of speaking. I voted no on these harmful bills, but Republicans passed them with full support.

 

This Republican-led budget plan that they passed through the House removes 92% of state investments for the non-school aid budget, and 25% (over $5 billion) of the K-12 budget. Every Republican voted for these reductions to education in front of school children visiting our Capitol on a field trip.

 

This budget will harm Michiganders through reductions to numerous budget areas, including:

Removes 100% of funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)

• The Republican-led budget removes Medicaid coverage.
• It will remove health care access from 2.7 million Michiganders.
• This means 1 in 4 Michiganders would lose health care.

Removes 100% of funding from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

• The DNR maintains our state’s parks, forests and recreation areas, as well as hunting and fishing.
• Without funding, Michigan’s tourism industry will be destroyed as state parks are forced to shut down.
• It will hurt hunters and fishers by eliminating the DNR’s ability to process and issue hunting and fishing licenses.

Removes 100% of funding from the Department of State (MDOS)

• The Secretary of State’s office oversees elections, driver’s licenses and vehicle registration, business services notary and official records. Without funding, this office would be unable to administer these services.

Removes 100% of funding from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)

• MDARD oversees food safety, public health, farming and agribusiness, economic development in rural areas, environmental protection and animal health and welfare.
• Without funding for this department we will see our state’s rural and farming economies suffer.
• Further, this will hinder Michigan’s response to the worsening avian flu outbreak.

Removes 100% of funding from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)

• EGLE oversees and protects our state’s natural resources and regulations.
• Funding being removed from EGLE will allow big business to continue to pollute our environment without any enforcement mechanism from the state.

Removes 100% of funding from the Department of Labor and Economic Development (LEO)

• LEO administers unemployment assistance in MI.
• They also oversee workplace safety, labor protections and economic incentives in the state.
• LEO helps Michigan remain competitive against other states.

Removes 100% of funding from the Office of Attorney General

• AG Nessel has been proactive and effective in challenging the current presidential administration at the state level.
• Without funding, this office will not be able to pursue criminals and protect consumers here in Michigan and push back against the president.

Removes 38% of funding from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

• The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs provides mental health support, job training, housing assistance and VA claim assistance to veterans in Michigan.
• Funding for veterans’ suicide prevention has been completely eliminated.
• This comes at the same time that the president’s administration is planning to fire 80,000 VA workers across the country.

Removes 37% of funding for the State Police

• The Republican-led budget removes funding for our state police.
• Michigan State Police provides statewide law enforcement, especially in rural areas without strong local police departments.
• They also provide specialized units, such as the Drug Enforcement Section, which would no longer be able to combat organized crime, human trafficking or drug smuggling as effectively.

Removes 25% of funding from the K-12 Budget

• The Republican-led budget removes $5 billion in funding to classrooms and $1 billion to at-risk students.
• It also eliminates the free breakfast and lunch program.
• It removes funding for:

o   special education

o   technical education

o   transportation

o   community college

o   higher education

This comes on the heels of the presidential administration preparing to eliminate the United States Department of Education.

 

What this means for Michiganders is that your vital services, good-paying jobs and opportunities would be eliminated. I voted against these bills because they disinvest in Michigan and our people.

 

Below is the session board displaying how representatives voted, as well as the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency analysis of House Bills 4161 and 4162. The bills have been sent to the Senate.

New Child Car Seat Laws Take Effect April 2

Updated laws for children in car seats took effect on April 2. Vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of death for young children, but you can reduce your child’s risk of death in a crash by 50% just by making sure they’re properly restrained in the appropriate car seat, booster seat or seat belt for their age and size.

 

Children must be secured in a car seat that is appropriate for their weight and height as indicated by the car seat’s manufacturer. Specific updates are:

• Infant to two years: A child must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 2 years old.

 

• Two to five years: The child can then move into a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 5 years old.

 

• Five to eight years: The child can then move to a belt-positioning booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt until they are 4’ 9” or 8 years old.

 

• All children under thirteen years: Children under the age of 13 must ride in the rear seat of a vehicle if the vehicle has one available.

More information about these updated laws can be found here on the Michigan State Police website.

 

Sincerely,

State Representative Reggie Miller

Michigan’s 31st District

Office Phone: (517) 373-0159

Email: ReggieMiller@house.mi.gov