Dear Friends,
Hello, and welcome to my e-newsletter. I would like to take this moment to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you in House District 95 and to act as your voice in the Capitol. In this issue you will find information on the following:
- MPSERS Reform — House Bill 4647
- Female Genital Mutilation Legislation
- Saginaw Libraries
As your representative, I am most effective at my job when acting on your input, and 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 at vanessaguerra@house.mi.gov or through my website, guerra.housedems.com. I look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for your commitment to the community we both call home.
Recently, legislation was introduced that would amend the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement Act (MPSERS) to remove the current hybrid pension/401(k) option for new members and replace it with a 401(k)-only system. While the current proposal wouldn’t affect teachers already in the system or the payments retirees receive, it would require the state of Michigan devote millions of dollars every year to pay for the money no longer coming into the system from new hires.
My House Democratic colleagues and I will continue fighting for our teachers, students, parents and schools, and so I will continue to update you on this bill in the weeks and months ahead.
In February, our state learned of a heartbreaking incident where two young girls were transported from Minnesota to a southeast Michigan clinic for the purpose of both undergoing female genital mutilation, known as FGM. A Livonia couple was arrested on federal charges in April after allowing and performing the procedure after hours at their medical clinic, while a third individual has been fired from their emergency room doctor position for performing a FGM at the same Livonia clinic.
I am pleased to say this legislation received a hearing in the House Law and Justice Committee earlier this week with overwhelming support from both Republicans and Democrats alike. I will keep you updated on this package as it moves through the legislative process.
All ages can register for a library card, and it is becoming easier than ever. In order to receive a library card for Saginaw, an individual must:
- Live in the school district of the city
- Live outside the city but pay Saginaw property taxes
- Live in areas of Saginaw County with which Public Libraries of Saginaw has valid contracts for service
- Live in or hold a card from a library district served by the Valley Library Consortium or the Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative
- Pay $50 annually for a non-resident card
There are many benefits to holding a library card, including access to thousands of eBook titles. Simply browse your library’s website, check out with a valid card and enjoy titles on your PC, Mac or a number of e-book reader models. There are no late fees involved, and access to the list is available 24/7. All you need is an internet connection, a library card, and software that is free and available through the library website. To browse titles available now, click here.