Dear Neighbor,
When you flip the light switch, pay your energy bill or turn on the tap, you probably don’t think much about politics. You just expect the basic things to work; the lights stay on, the water’s clean and your bill is affordable. But for too long, Michigan’s system has worked to the benefit of big companies and the utilities instead of regular people like you trying to make ends meet.
It’s time that’s changed.
You deserve a government that shows up, listens, delivers results and plans for the future. Over the last month, I’ve been focused on making Michigan’s government more accountable, affordable and forward-thinking for you. Here’s what that looks like.
- Taking Back Our Power: We’re cracking down on utility and corporate influence in politics so decisions are made for people, not profits, with introduced legislation.
- Ratepayer Bill of Rights: Introduced legislation would hold utilities accountable, including with fair credits for outages, no winter shut-offs and no rate hikes when service fails.
- Community Events: I joined community members in Redford to talk about Michigan’s environment and energy landscape and students at the Ford School to talk about investing in our future.
- Passenger Rail: New funding for rail in Michigan will create new opportunities to connect communities across the state.
Community Conversation: MoonWinks (5151 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105) on Nov. 15 at 11 a.m.
⚡Taking Back Our Power⚡
For years, Michigan’s utility companies have used their monopoly status to shape the rules that are supposed to keep them in check. They spend millions on politics and enjoy record profits while families and small businesses face outages and watch their bills climb higher. Michiganders are tired of feeling like their voices don’t matter as much as corporate money.
That’s why I worked with other legislators to introduce the Taking Back Our Power package. It draws a clear line: if you’re a utility or a big government contractor, you shouldn’t be using your position to buy influence with campaign donations.
Your tax dollars shouldn’t be used to fund political favors.
This plan is about putting people back in charge. Not CEOs, not giant corporations — you. It’s about trust. When the rules are fair and transparent, we all win.
Ratepayer Bill of Rights
Curbing the massive influence of the utilities in Lansing is just the first step in making our energy more affordable and reliable. By stepping up and defending our political system from being bought by the highest bidder, we can protect Michigan families from being taken advantage of; we do that through the Ratepayer Bill of Rights.
You deserve to get the service you pay for and depend on, and if the utilities don’t deliver, your government should be able to hold them accountable. If your power goes out, you deserve fair compensation. If the utilities can’t keep the lights on, I don’t think it’s right for them to hike your rates. This package makes stronger protections for customers, fair credits for outages and safeguards our state against corporate neglect.
Investing in Michigan’s Transit Future
I spoke in the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee about the importance of passenger rail — and I meant it. With $100 million now in our state budget for transformational rail investments, we’re unlocking Michigan’s potential to connect our communities and grow our economy. This could lay the groundwork for big, visionary projects like a Coast-to-Coast Rail line connecting Grand Rapids to Detroit through Ann Arbor!
Reliable passenger rail’s impact is bigger than just being able to travel (although that’s always exciting) — it’s freedom and opportunity. The college student who doesn’t need a car to get home, the senior who can visit family safely and the workers who can save time and money on their commute. A smarter, more connected Michigan is possible. Now, we’re finally investing in it.
A Vision for Our Future
I joined other legislators in Redford, MI, at the Vision Project Environmental Town Hall last month, where we met with community leaders, environmental advocates and local residents to talk about how we build a Michigan that works for everyone. It includes clean air, clean water, affordable housing and the kind of energy future where everyone’s needs are met — including our planet.
And at the University of Michigan’s Ford School, I met with students to discuss the book Abundance. The chance to critically engage with smart, young leaders and debate how we build a future that truly works for everyone is one of my favorite aspects of serving in public office.
I took a few things away from these conversations: people across our state want a government that thinks ahead, makes smart investments and puts long-term planning above short-term profit. Every issue we’ve tackled this month comes down to one question: who should our state be working for? I think the answer is pretty simple: it should be you.
That’s what accountability means. It means making sure the rules aren’t written by corporations and insiders, but by the people who live with the results. It means thinking about the next generation now, not 20 years later. That takes us working together, one fight at a time.
In solidarity,
Jason Morgan
State Representative
Michigan’s 23rd House District
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