Dear Neighbor,
It is my pleasure to share with you the latest news and updates from Lansing. As your state representative, I remain committed to serving the needs and interests of our community, and I look forward to keeping you informed on the issues that matter most. As the Legislature returns from in-district work this week, I am eager to continue to serve the people of House District 11. Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Veronica Paiz
State Representative
House District 11
Upcoming Coffee Hours
Please join me for one of my upcoming coffee hours, as I want to hear from you on important issues affecting our community.
Monday, April 17, from 6-6:45 p.m. at the Harper Woods Library, 19601 Harper, Harper Woods, MI 48225
Friday, April 14, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Senior Activity Center in St. Clair Shores, 20100 Stephens Road, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080
Tributes and Ribbon Cuttings
I love to help honor the many people, businesses and organizations that make our community great. My team and I present official state tributes to recognize local residents and businesses, and to celebrate important milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, retirements, ribbon cuttings and more. If you would like us to send a tribute or attend an event, please contact my office!
Gov. Whitmer Signs Bill Repealing 1931 Abortion Ban
On April 5, Gov. Whitmer signed legislation that revoked the 1931 law that criminalized abortion. You can rest assured we will not stand in your way to access reproductive health care.
Rep. Paiz and Gabby Giffords at a reception on March 16, at attending a gun legislation rally.
Consumer Alert in Aftermath of Severe Weather
In light of recent severe weather across the state, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning Michigan residents to beware of scam artists and price-gougers who will try to take advantage of desperate home and vehicle owners.
Nessel wants to remind people of her Advice for Homeowners Consumer Alert and caution homeowners against rushing to repair property damage to avoid falling victim to a disaster-related scam. Homeowners should research contractors before paying for a project.
Storm damage also creates an opportunity for utility imposter scams, which often involve a threat to turn off a utility unless the resident pays a certain amount of money in a short amount of time. Scammers can also impersonate a utility company to convince a consumer that a utility — like electricity — can be fixed sooner if they pay an additional fee.
Nessel is also re-issuing a consumer alert related to possible price-gouging by towing companies recovering vehicles that may be abandoned in the case of flooding and reminds drivers to beware of water-damaged vehicles being sold on the used car market.
To file a complaint with the AG, or get additional information, contact:
Consumer Protection Team P.O. Box 30213Lansing, MI 48909 (517) 335-7599 Fax: (517) 241-3771 Toll free: (877) 765-8388 Online complaint form.
State Tax Return Issues
With the tax filing deadline coming up next week on April 18, please feel free to contact my office if you have any difficulties receiving your Michigan income tax refund. For refunds, eFile returns take about two weeks and paper returns take about eight weeks. You may check the status of your refund by using the Michigan Department of Treasury’s eServices page list here. If you do not receive your refund within two weeks after filing electronically or eight weeks by paper, please feel free to contact my office, and we would be happy to assist.
March Is Reading Month
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House Agriculture Committee members were presented with the book “I Love Strawberries” from the Michigan Farm Bureau to recognize March is Reading Month. Each committee member was given a copy of the book and expressed their gratitude for the informative and engaging read. March is Reading Month is important because it promotes literacy and encourages children to develop a lifelong love for reading. This initiative helps to foster a stronger community of readers and learners, which can benefit the state’s economy and future workforce.
The Willow Project
I was one of many signatories of an open letter to President Biden in opposition to the Willow Project, a proposed large scale oil drilling and pipeline plan in Alaska. You can read it at this link for info for the newsletter: here.
Supporting the Tennessee 3
I also signed a letter in support of the “Tennessee 3” which can be found here for information on the newsletter: here.
Around The District
On Saturday, March 18, I attended the Detroit Cornerstone Village community meeting (third Saturdays at the Love Rising Lutheran Church on Moross). I learned about a new fast-food development planned for their neighborhood and plans for their community garden.
On Monday, March 27, I attended a legislative forum hosted by presidents of the American Federation of Teachers and Michigan Education Association, where I and my colleagues met with teachers and other school officials to discuss educational policy in Michigan.
On Wednesday, March 29, I joined Macomb County prosecutor Pete Lucido at the St. Clair Shores Senior Activities Center for a Stopping Crimes Against Seniors presentation to inform senior citizens and others how to protect themselves from fraud and telemarketing scams, financial exploitation, elder abuse, and essential medical paperwork for people of all ages. You can learn more about the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Senior Crime Unit at its website here, or call (586) 469-6326. No matter what county you live in, you can report elder abuse by calling (855) 444-3911 or ask questions at (800) 24-ABUSE.
On Saturday, April 1, I attended the Detroit Police Department’s Law Enforcement Explorers Program 50th Anniversary celebration. The program was established to build a better understanding between youth, the community and law enforcement officers. It is a hands-on education and career readiness program for Detroit youth who may be interested in a career in law enforcement, encourages community involvement, and overall builds good citizenship. You can learn more about the Explorers on their Facebook page: here.
FAQ on Retirement Tax Repeal
I have received many questions regarding the retirement tax repeal: it takes effect in the 2024 tax season and affects public and private pensions, 401k and 403(b), and IRAs. The repeal does not affect Social Security income, military pay, 457 plans, and postal pensions.
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