Dear Friends,
Hello and welcome to my e-newsletter. I would like to take this moment to thank you for allowing me to serve you in the 95th House District and to act as your voice in Lansing. This issue of my e-newsletter will provide an update on what’s going on at the Capitol this month, upcoming times to meet with me and other relevant information for our community.
As your representative, I am most effective at my job when acting on your input. I encourage you to reach out to me and my staff with any questions, comments or concerns you may have about issues in the district or legislation that will impact our state. You can contact me toll-free at (855) 347-8095, by email or through my website. Thank you for your commitment to the community we both call home; I look forward to hearing from you!
Upcoming Events
Coffee Hour
I hope you can join me for my upcoming coffee hour! I look forward to having an informal conversation with you about the issues that families are facing in our community.
When: Friday, May 24, from 8 – 9:30 a.m.
Where: Dawn of a New Day Coffee House and Cafe, 210 S. Washington Ave. in Saginaw
Auto No-Fault
House Democrats outlined an auto insurance reform plan this week that will lower insurance rates by forty percent without reducing accident coverage. The D.R.I.V.E. plan delivers the first comprehensive approach to Michigan’s auto insurance system by Delivering Reduced Insurance Rates and Value to Every Michigander. Michigan’s auto insurance industry is one of the least regulated in the U.S. with Michigan drivers paying nearly two times more than drivers anywhere else in the nation, according to a University of Michigan study.
Democrats’ D.R.I.V.E. plan tackles those rates head on by requiring a forty percent rate reduction on the total bill, increasing consumer protections and ending discriminatory rate-setting practices like red-lining. The alternate plan put forth in the House last week does nothing to address these important issues, which is why I voted ‘no’ on House Bill 4397.
I remain committed to guaranteeing long-term rate reductions without sacrificing the world-class care Michiganders deserve. That means not allowing insurance companies to take advantage of loopholes that let them charge us more for who we are or where we live.
Attorney General Forms Marijuana Legal Workgroup
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently announced the creation of a marijuana legal workgroup to be housed within the Department of Attorney General. The workgroup, chaired by Attorney General Nessel, will meet on a regular basis to review, analyze and discuss laws and regulations concerning the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana in the state of Michigan.
The workgroup will be comprised of a diverse group of individuals with different backgrounds and experience including experts in marijuana law and regulation, and will make recommendations to the state Legislature, law enforcement, the judiciary, prosecutors, defense attorneys, the Department of Licensing and Regulation (LARA) and others. The workgroup’s goal is to ensure that laws and subsequent regulations are clarified and improved when necessary to ensure that the new marijuana laws in Michigan are implemented fairly, equally and appropriately.
Fostering Futures Scholarship Application Period Now Open
The Michigan Department of Treasury reminds young adults who have experienced foster care on or after their 13th birthday that they are eligible to apply for a scholarship from the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund.
The Fostering Futures Scholarship application period for academic year 2019-20 opened on March 15 and will stay open until June 30, 2019. Eligible students enrolled at a Michigan degree-granting college or university may now apply to receive scholarship funds for tuition, fees, room, board, book and supplies.
To learn more about the Fostering Futures Scholarship, go to www.fosteringfutures-mi.com.
Budget Survey
On March 5, Gov. Whitmer released her budget proposal. I look forward to working with the governor and my colleagues in the House to create a budget that properly funds our schools to prepare students for success, fixes our crumbling infrastructure and supports the health and safety of our communities.
It’s important to remember that the governor’s budget proposal has yet to be finalized. Receiving feedback from communities across the state will be an important part of the process moving forward. As your state representative, I want to know what priorities you have for our state’s budget. If you haven’t provided feedback already, please take a moment to fill out a brief survey on my website by clicking here.
If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding the budget, you can also reach out to my office at (517) 373-0152 or by email at vanessaguerra@house.mi.gov.
Never hesitate to reach out to me or my staff if you have any questions or concerns!
Sincerely,
Vanessa Guerra
State Representative
95th House District