State Representative
Betsy Coffia
Traverse City | 103rd House District
Serving 93,426 constituents in Acme Township, East Bay Township, Traverse City, Peninsula Township, Garfield Township, Long Lake Township, Almira Township, Platte Township, Empire Township, Glen Arbor Township, Cleveland Township, Kasson Township, Solon Township, Elmwood Township, Bingham Township, Centerville Township, Leland Township, Suttons Bay Township, Leelanau Township
[email protected]
(517) 373-3817
Office: S-1387 House Office Building
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Betsy Coffia
This.Don't listen to the lying Social Darwinist capitalist bootlickers. Community care was an evolutionary leap for humanity.
Sam Pritchard @thucydiplease
Contrary to lazy eugenicist ideas about nature, our premodern ancestors generally cared for the sick, disabled, and elderly, even if they weren't economically "productive."
They did, however, banish sociopaths to die alone in the desert because you can't have society with them
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It is always a joy to have the Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) AP government classes visit us each year in Lansing! Dedicated AP government teachers, Tak Ready, Karlee Tenbusch and Paige Paul from TC West and Central brought 45 students from both schools this week to tour the Capitol building and meet to do a Q&A with my colleagues State Senator John Damoose, State Representative John Roth, and myself.
The students asked great, thoughtful questions about everything from housing costs for their families, whether we support healthcare for all, our positions on AI data centers, and even our thoughts on the approach to government delivering for constituents that Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City, is bringing in his early days in office. They asked us whether we support continuing universal breakfast and lunch for them and their classmates, and talked about the need for more equity for smaller schools where their peers have robotics clubs that struggle to raise the kind of resources needed to go to big competitions. I was really impressed by the students’ focus and awareness of current issues and their empathy for others. Thank you to Mr. Ready, Ms. Paul and Ms. Tenbushch for prioritizing this experience for your students each year and to each student for getting up at 5 AM to come visit us in the people’s House. I look forward to next year and I encourage every student to consider pre-registering to vote when turning 16 or 17 now that it is legal in Michigan. (A bill I sponsored which became law last term) and to make your voice is heard on what is important to you as you look ahead to the future. It is your future, and I strongly encourage every young person to lean in and make your voice heard on what is important to you, to the adults in your life, and to the people elected to serve. 
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
Bravo Hannah!
Let us teach every girl that she absolutely can stand up to adults who violate her dignity like this creep and his complicit board did. And crucially, let’s have her back when she does. Because it will change the world.
But on the other hand, we need to create a world where being the adult in the room isn’t up to a teenager, right? THAT will change the world.
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Too often, survivors are asked to stay quiet, wait or move on. They shouldn't have to. They deserve justice and their abusers deserve exposure and full accountability for the devastation they caused.
We asked House Republicans to hold a special joint committee to look into Epstein’s activities in Michigan, including in my own home county, but they refused. Today, Michigan House Democrats spoke out to let survivors know that we haven't forgotten about them. I won't be distracted by politics or chaos created to protect this president and his Epstein-class billionaire pedophile friends.
History will judge how we behave as a nation in this unprecedented time.
Justice for survivors. Prosecute the predators. Now.
20 CommentsComment on Facebook
LIVE NOW: Rep. Betsy Coffia, Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, Rep. Reggie Miller and fellow House Democrats call for sustained investigation into Epstein’s Michigan ties and implicated individuals.
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Last week on the House Floor, I was honored to be able to commemorate the late Laurie Koelsch, a native of Traverse City, who passed away on May 3, 2025. Ms. Koelsch was a mother, caring partner and beloved friend.
A proud member of ‘We the People’ and a writer for ‘Speak UP Zine’, Ms. Koelsch dedicated her life to improving and advocating for housing in Michigan. She had experienced homelessness herself, and even after securing permanent housing, she remained a tireless advocate for others experiencing homelessness, especially women, and spoke powerfully of her knowledge of the challenges women face when they are without shelter.
As we commemorate the first anniversary of her passing, we acknowledge her dedication and love towards improving the lives of others in a community she loved.
Ms. Koelsch consistently made sure that the people around her were taken care of, even when she was in need. She was not only an advocate for affordable and attainable housing, but she also aimed to make sure that others understand that housing-first policies save lives. She fought to ensure everyone had the dignity of shelter and understood that it was the basis of what we need as humans to live healthy, full lives. She was always learning how to be a better organizer so that she could be an even stronger fighter for the human right to housing.
It was an honor to join State Representative Emily Dievendorf, who Ms. Koelsch and I worked alongside to advocate for housing across Michigan, to dedicate this commemoration to Laurie Koelsch’s life’s work and her legacy as a caring, loving person who believed that everyone deserves a safe and comfortable place to call home. Thank you to Amanda Siggins, her friend and coworker, who accepted the tribute at the Michigan Capitol.
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Betsy Coffia IN THE NEWS
Democratic Lawmakers Demand Michigan House Speaker, Republicans for Immediate Investigation into Epstein and Those Implicated
LANSING, Mich., May 19, 2025 — Today, state Reps. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) and Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) hosted a [...]
Coffia Delivers Senate Testimony in Support of Affordable Child Care
Coffia Delivers Senate Testimony in Support of Expanding Affordable, Quality Child Care State Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) and [...]
Coffia Introduces Resolution Calling for Justice for Epstein Victims
Coffia Introduces Resolution Calling for Justice for Epstein Victims and Survivors Lawmakers urge Congress to investigate all implicated individuals LANSING, [...]
This.Don't listen to the lying Social Darwinist capitalist bootlickers. Community care was an evolutionary leap for humanity.
Sam Pritchard @thucydiplease
Contrary to lazy eugenicist ideas about nature, our premodern ancestors generally cared for the sick, disabled, and elderly, even if they weren't economically "productive."
They did, however, banish sociopaths to die alone in the desert because you can't have society with them ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
It is always a joy to have the Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) AP government classes visit us each year in Lansing! Dedicated AP government teachers, Tak Ready, Karlee Tenbusch and Paige Paul from TC West and Central brought 45 students from both schools this week to tour the Capitol building and meet to do a Q&A with my colleagues State Senator John Damoose, State Representative John Roth, and myself.
The students asked great, thoughtful questions about everything from housing costs for their families, whether we support healthcare for all, our positions on AI data centers, and even our thoughts on the approach to government delivering for constituents that Zohran Mamdani, the new mayor of New York City, is bringing in his early days in office. They asked us whether we support continuing universal breakfast and lunch for them and their classmates, and talked about the need for more equity for smaller schools where their peers have robotics clubs that struggle to raise the kind of resources needed to go to big competitions. I was really impressed by the students’ focus and awareness of current issues and their empathy for others. Thank you to Mr. Ready, Ms. Paul and Ms. Tenbushch for prioritizing this experience for your students each year and to each student for getting up at 5 AM to come visit us in the people’s House. I look forward to next year and I encourage every student to consider pre-registering to vote when turning 16 or 17 now that it is legal in Michigan. (A bill I sponsored which became law last term) and to make your voice is heard on what is important to you as you look ahead to the future. It is your future, and I strongly encourage every young person to lean in and make your voice heard on what is important to you, to the adults in your life, and to the people elected to serve.  ... See MoreSee Less
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0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Bravo Hannah!
Let us teach every girl that she absolutely can stand up to adults who violate her dignity like this creep and his complicit board did. And crucially, let’s have her back when she does. Because it will change the world.
But on the other hand, we need to create a world where being the adult in the room isn’t up to a teenager, right? THAT will change the world. ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
Whose is the first name that comes to mind? ... See MoreSee Less
11 CommentsComment on Facebook
Too often, survivors are asked to stay quiet, wait or move on. They shouldn't have to. They deserve justice and their abusers deserve exposure and full accountability for the devastation they caused.
We asked House Republicans to hold a special joint committee to look into Epstein’s activities in Michigan, including in my own home county, but they refused. Today, Michigan House Democrats spoke out to let survivors know that we haven't forgotten about them. I won't be distracted by politics or chaos created to protect this president and his Epstein-class billionaire pedophile friends.
History will judge how we behave as a nation in this unprecedented time.
Justice for survivors. Prosecute the predators. Now. ... See MoreSee Less
20 CommentsComment on Facebook
LIVE NOW: Rep. Betsy Coffia, Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, Rep. Reggie Miller and fellow House Democrats call for sustained investigation into Epstein’s Michigan ties and implicated individuals. ... See MoreSee Less
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Last week on the House Floor, I was honored to be able to commemorate the late Laurie Koelsch, a native of Traverse City, who passed away on May 3, 2025. Ms. Koelsch was a mother, caring partner and beloved friend.
A proud member of ‘We the People’ and a writer for ‘Speak UP Zine’, Ms. Koelsch dedicated her life to improving and advocating for housing in Michigan. She had experienced homelessness herself, and even after securing permanent housing, she remained a tireless advocate for others experiencing homelessness, especially women, and spoke powerfully of her knowledge of the challenges women face when they are without shelter.
As we commemorate the first anniversary of her passing, we acknowledge her dedication and love towards improving the lives of others in a community she loved.
Ms. Koelsch consistently made sure that the people around her were taken care of, even when she was in need. She was not only an advocate for affordable and attainable housing, but she also aimed to make sure that others understand that housing-first policies save lives. She fought to ensure everyone had the dignity of shelter and understood that it was the basis of what we need as humans to live healthy, full lives. She was always learning how to be a better organizer so that she could be an even stronger fighter for the human right to housing.
It was an honor to join State Representative Emily Dievendorf, who Ms. Koelsch and I worked alongside to advocate for housing across Michigan, to dedicate this commemoration to Laurie Koelsch’s life’s work and her legacy as a caring, loving person who believed that everyone deserves a safe and comfortable place to call home. Thank you to Amanda Siggins, her friend and coworker, who accepted the tribute at the Michigan Capitol. ... See MoreSee Less
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www.facebook.com/share/p/1E4PCqPued/?mibextid=wwXIfr ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook