Hello Friend,

Welcome to my latest e-newsletter! I hope you had a nice, safe Memorial Day weekend.

The Michigan Legislature is still working on hammering out differences in our state budget proposals. Stay tuned for updates on that process.

Keep reading for other news about my Lansing work and our community below, and please feel free to contact my office if you have any questions, concerns or ideas about legislation. You can contact my and my staff at (517) 373-0828, by email at DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov or by visiting my website at RepLasinski.com.

Coffee Hour

Please join me for my next coffee hour to discuss what’s happening in Lansing and in Washtenaw County:

Monday, June 5, from 6-7 p.m.

Saline District Library

555 N. Maple Road in Saline

Don’t worry if you can’t make it — this email list will keep you up-to-date on future coffee hours. And of course, always feel free to call or email my office to ask questions or voice an opinion.

Additionally, I invite you to attend my upcoming Parks and Recreation Town Hall! Stay tuned for more information, but for now, mark your calendars:

Thursday, June 26, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Chelsea District Library

McKune Room

221 S. Main St. in Chelsea

What To Do In HD 52

Craving some fresh produce? Check out the Dexter Farmer’s Market this summer! Visit Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and Tuesdays from 2-6 p.m. on Alpine Street in downtown Dexter.

Beginning next week, be sure to explore the Sounds and Sights of Chelsea on Thursday nights! You can stop by any Thursday from June 8 to Aug. 17, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., for performances of all types of music. Contact my office for more information.

Legislative Update

Protecting Michiganders’ Health Care

Recently, I helped introduce the Michigan Health Care Bill of Rights to protect the health care of Michiganders from possible changes at the federal level. The plan would:

  • Protect People with Pre-existing Conditions: The Health Care Bill of Rights prevents people with pre-existing conditions from losing their protections, as is the case under the ACA.
  • Stop the “Age Tax”: Seniors and older people who aren’t eligible for Medicare are protected by banning insurance companies from increasing their rates.
  • Prevent Massive Rate Hikes: The Health Care Bill of Rights stops insurance companies from being able to raise the rates of people who get sick and need treatment or add coverage caps, which leave people with massive out-of-pocket costs. 
  • Protect Essential Health Benefits: Insurance companies won’t be able to deny Michiganders coverage for maternity and newborn care, prescription drugs, substance abuse services, preventive care, pediatric services, hospitalization, and emergency services.

I am proud to be working with my colleagues to ensure that my constituents are not harmed by irresponsible cuts to health care by Congress.

Combating Female Genital Mutilation in Michigan

This week, the House Law and Justice Committee took testimony on a bill package of which I am proud to be a co-sponsor. This bipartisan package, House Bills 4636-4642 and House Bill 4661, would create a new 15-year felony crime for those who perform female genital mutilation (FGM), facilitate FGM operations or transport people for those purposes, and amend the sentencing guidelines accordingly. It would allow for the licenses of health care professionals convicted of these crimes to be revoked and extend the statute of limitations for civil suits involving FGM to allow survivors to sue for damages for up to 10 years past their 18th birthday. It would also direct the state to develop and administer educational and outreach programming on FGM for the public. My accompanying resolution, House Resolution 105, supports the efforts of the United Nations to end FGM and urges our state to do everything we can to end FGM here at home. Listen to my testimony on HR 105 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2c9cVVG6jg*

You likely heard the recent news story about two Michigan doctors who performed FGM on little girls from Minnesota. That case prompted our work on this common-sense package to help eradicate FGM in our state, and I look forward to pushing further for its passage.

Helpful Resources

Military members and veterans

May was National Military Appreciation Month, and the Michigan Department of Treasury wanted to remind veterans of the services and exemptions for which they may be eligible. For more information, read this bulletin: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MITREAS/bulletins/19d361d

Free Fishing Weekend

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources offers two free fishing weekends a year. The next one is June 10 and 11! Learn more here: http://www.michigan.gov/freefishing

I hope you’ve found this information useful. Please contact my office if we can be of any assistance.