Hello Friends,
As the season’s first snowfall heralded the upcoming holiday season – although a bit early – Thanksgiving is what’s right around the corner. I am filled with gratitude for all who have joined me at district events, eager to learn about what is happening in Lansing and locally. We had a full house for the Energy and Environment Town Hall at Walsh College and received some great ideas from attendees at office hours these past few weeks. While the 100th Legislature has adjourned for in-district work, I have been able to spend time connecting with people in our community – from celebrating the 90th anniversary of Blair Memorial Library and the opening of local small businesses to engaging with newly elected city officials.
As always, our office is listening and we want you to share your thoughts and concerns on any issues that impact you or our community. The office can be reached by phone at (517) 373-1783, by email at PadmaKuppa@house.mi.gov, or by attending one of our in-district events. Upcoming district hours and events are listed below – I would love to see you there!
Sincerely,
Padma Kuppa
State Representative, 41st House District
Legislative Update
While my fellow legislators and I are working in-district, the negotiations for supplemental budgets are far from over. But the work still continues: we are working on legislation ranging from issues such as municipal revenue sharing, protecting our water and environment, to further addressing criminal justice reform.
Just as we successfully passed major bipartisan criminal justice reform, including expanding opportunities for expungement and “Raising the Age” from 17 to 18 for automatic adult prosecution, I’m working to also improve the state of municipal revenue sharing in Michigan. When we bring money back to local governments, we can further insulate and strengthen our economy in the case of a downturn. I was honored to be part of a roundtable discussion hosted by the Lincoln Institute for Land Policy last week to discuss revenue sharing. Look for updates in coming e-news editions. It took decades to arrive where we are and will take time to unravel it for our local governments. Fortunately, organizations like the Michigan Municipal League have initiatives, such as Save MI City, that we can work toward. Let’s ensure our state’s communities are prepared and supported in their endeavors!
Last week, I also introduced House Bill 5261 to protect the privacy of multi-state lottery game winners in Michigan by providing the option for them to remain anonymous if they choose to do so. Currently, the personal information of the winner like their name, city of residence, date the prize was won and amount of winnings are public record in our state.
When someone wins the lottery, the last thing on their mind should be the consequences of having their personal information released to the public. By offering the option to remain anonymous, we can take an important step toward protecting their privacy and preventing them from being preyed upon for their winnings. I look forward to working with my colleagues at the Capitol on this important piece of legislation.
Upcoming Time with Padma
Coffee & Donuts
When: Monday, Dec. 2, from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Where: Troy Community Center
3179 Livernois Road in Troy
Clawson Office Hours
When: Monday, Dec. 9, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Blair Memorial Library
416 N. Main St. in Clawson
Cookies & Recipes
Bring cookies and a recipe to share, or simply join me for conversation and treats!
When: Friday, Dec. 13, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: Clawson Senior Center
509 Fisher Court in Clawson
District Spotlight
Energy & Environment Fireside Chat
Last Tuesday, I was happy to have hosted an Energy and Environment Fireside Chat to bring together a panel of experts from across our state to discuss the important issues facing the energy and environmental landscape. My special guest panelists included the President of Walsh College Marsha Kelliher, CMS Energy’s Brandon J. Hofmeister, Lean & Green Michigan’s Bali Kumar, and the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Tremaine L. Phillips.
With a packed house at the Troy Campus of Walsh College, we also discussed and learned about important strategies for making our homes more energy efficient and reducing our personal carbon footprints. I’m glad so many people joined us for this event to take another step forward together toward building a stronger, greener future for the generations of Michiganders to come.
Senior Lunch and Learn
Last Friday, I hosted a lunch and learn for seniors in our community at the Clawson Senior Center. With special guest Sherri Rushman from the Oakland Community Health Network, we all discussed and shared practical ways to combat loneliness and isolation, and how to reconnect with more people in the community.
Feelings of loneliness, lack of companionship or social isolation have been found to cause major health implications for older adults, including memory, physical well-being, mental health and life expectancy. To combat this, we must continue to raise awareness through events like this about how people can age with dignity and maintain their health and well-being. I will always be fighting to ensure every Michigander feels encouraged, supported and welcome no matter their age.