Dear Neighbor,

I hope everyone had a great week since we last spoke! The past few weeks have been busy in the House of Representatives, as we have been working on passing a variety of legislation that supports all Michiganders. I look forward to seeing many of you at my upcoming district events in the next few months.

As always, you can contact my staff and me at (517) 373-0828, by email at DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov or by visiting my website at RepLasinski.com with any questions, thoughts, or suggestions.

Executive Update

The Michigan Department of Treasury created the Growing MI Business Grant Program to help provide needed financial support to help eligible businesses recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Growing MI Business Grant Program has $409 million dollars of relief funds to provide to Michigan businesses. To be eligible for grants, business must have been in operation before October 1, 2019 and be one of the following types of business:

·       Entertainment venues

·       Recreational facilities and public places of amusement

·       Barbers and cosmetologists

·       Exercise facilities

·       Food service establishments

·       Nursery dealers and growers

·       Athletic trainers

·       Body art facilities

·       Hotels and bed & breakfast establishments

Application link and additional information: https://www.michigan.gov/abr

Deadline: Applications are open until 11:59pm on Thursday, March 31st.

Legislative Update

Repeal the Gas Tax

 

Last week in session, I voted NO on HB 5570 which would suspend the state gas and diesel tax from April 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022. I voted NO on this bill because suspending the gas tax will cost the state roughly $720M in revenue that would go to fixing our roads as well as $1 billion in federal matching highway funds and have to give back $3 billion in American Recovery Plan dollars for a total budget hole of over $6 billion. There is currently no provision in the bill that provides a backfill for this lost revenue, which could lead to cuts in other areas of the budget in order to compensate for this lost revenue. Construction jobs could be lost, and road/infrastructure projects stalled across the state. This bill is fiscally irresponsible as we do not have the full picture of how much of an impact this could have on the state fiscally. I hope you support me and my decision to vote no on HB 5570

Michigan Election Law

I voted YES on HB 5252 to require the Secretary of State (SOS), to post on its website, within two days after an initiative or referendum petition was filed, a summary of the proposed amendment or question and the date the petition was filed with the department, and to update the state of the petition on the website at least once every 30 days. I voted YES on this bill because it strengthens transparency by requiring the SOS to regularly update the public as to the status of filed petitions. I hope you support me and my decision to vote yes on HB 5252.

You may wish to sign up for committee notices in order to receive the most up-to-date information on bills. By doing so, you will receive notifications as soon as the committee chairs post the next meeting’s date and time, making you among the first to know when committees will be meeting and what legislation is placed on the agenda for debate. For your convenience, the link to the sign-up page is below:

https://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(0sq0jlmp14nw4vdjilzlwfcr))/mileg.aspx?page=listserverSignup

Information continues to change rapidly, and we are working hard to share updates and information as quickly as possible on social media.  Please take a moment to like and follow me on Facebook, as this is where information will first be shared.

Upcoming Time with Donna

We are actively planning new coffee hour dates for April and the summer, as soon as we have the information we will share here and on our social media pages. We are looking forward to seeing you in person!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/replasinski/

What to Do in HD 52

Dexter District Library Teen Virtual Cake Decorating

The Dexter District Library is hosting a virtual cake decorating contest on Wednesday, March 30th at 2pm for grades 5th through 12th. Participate with your friends and family and have the chance to win a $10 Joann gift card!

When: Wednesday March 30th at 2pm

Where: Virtual – Pick up supplies at the Dexter District Library 3255 Alpine St, Dexter MI 48130

More information: https://dexter.lib.mi.us/events/nailed-it-virtual-cake-decorating/

 

Chelsea Spring Expo

The 14th Chelsea Spring Expo, organized by the Chelsea Senior Center, is set for Saturday, April 9th from 10-2pm. Come out and enjoy a variety of booths from local businesses, crafters, non-profits, and school groups.

When: Saturday, April 9th, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Where: Washington Street Education Center 500 Washington Street Chelsea, MI 48118

More Information: Call the Chelsea Senior Center at 734-475-9242

Helpful Resources

Where to get Help with your Taxes

 

If you have questions or need assistance with filing, your 2021 individual income taxes the following resources may be helpful:

Michigan Department of Treasury: (517) 335-7508 or www.michigan.gov/taxes

Michigan Statewide Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition: www.michiganeic.org/taxpayers

United Way: Call 2-1-1 to receive a list of places that provide free help with taxes.

 

Where to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine in Washtenaw County

The Washtenaw County Health Department hosts a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at their offices in Ypsilanti. All three FDA approved vaccines and boosters are available. Please note that you must now schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine, the clinic is no longer providing walk-ins. If you would like to also receive the flu shot, you can request it at the same time. You can find more information here.

Where: Washtenaw County Health Department 555 Towner St. Ypsilanti, MI 48198

When: Please sign up for a timeslot here, if no times are available, please check back as appointment slots are updated regularly.

The Washtenaw County Health Department’s website has a list of locations in Washtenaw County where you can sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This list gives the location and any links needed to schedule your vaccine appointment. Find the list here.

Additionally, if you need assistance getting to a COVID-19 vaccination site in Washtenaw County, you can book a FREE door-to-door ride through the AARP Ride@50+ Program. This program can be used by any person of any age in Washtenaw County.

Phone Number: 844-900-4892 Code: Vaccinate Washtenaw (if this number is busy call 734-773-0907)

We will continue to provide information for vaccination clinics throughout the district as they get scheduled.

 

Order Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order 4 free at home COVID-19 tests and are estimated to ship in 7-12 days. Order your tests here and have them when you need them.

COVID-19/Coronavirus Resources

You can receive continual updates from the MI Dept. of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) by clicking here.

Washtenaw Community Mental Health (CMH)

A 24-hour crisis services and mobile crisis team that can assistance navigating mental health care services. You can call or text the CARES team at (734) 544-3050.

I Want to Hear from You

During this challenging time, I want to hear from you. What do you need? How can we help you? Please, reach out to me at DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov.

Sincerely,

Donna Lasinski

State Representative, House District 52