Capitol and Community Updates

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As always, it is an honor to represent the residents of the 69th House District and Genesee County. The purpose of this e-newsletter is to keep you updated on my work in Lansing and around our community.

As I noted in last month’s e-news, our mass communications will be more limited this election season and as such, our e-news rollout will be shifting from monthly updates to quarterly when they are in the form of an email from our office to your inbox beginning after this edition of our e-news. However, my staff and I will still provide information about our local events, like coffee hours and town halls, as well as Lansing updates monthly on social media in a video format on my social media pages linked below, so please be on the lookout for your latest edition of the “Martus Monthly”!

In between these updates, I encourage you to please follow me on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, where I and my office post frequent updates. You can also always get in touch with us through our website, office number at (517) 373-1786 and by email, [email protected].

We are here to serve you,

Jasper R. Martus

State Representative

69th House District

Office: (517) 373-1786

Email: [email protected]

In this Edition:

Lansing Updates
In-District Event Updates
Resources

LANSING UPDATE

Budget Update for Fiscal Year 2027

As you may know, it is budget season in Lansing which has implications all across our state. While the budget process was dragged out last year, it is my hope that we will get a budget done by June 30 this year. Due to federal cuts and a stagnating economy, we will likely have less money for this budget than in previous years. I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to draft a budget that protects the progress of recent years, addresses cuts from the federal government and invests in communities like Genesee County.

As we continue this budget season, my Democratic colleagues and I have been building an plan for the people of Michigan’s future to establish policies based on affordability and economic stability for working families. The Vision for a Brighter Michigan comes after my colleagues and I hosted dozens of town halls and meetings with residents across the state, aimed at shaping a policy agenda focused on crafting legislation and state investments that lower everyday costs, expanding access to health care, strengthening education and workforce pathways and investing in local communities. That starts this year by ensuring policies like Rx Kids, a program that is helping expectant mothers in Michigan by providing them $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 per month throughout a child’s first year to help stabilize families as they are first building them, the universal school meals program and capping prescription drug cost are all parts of this year’s budget. They must remain cornerstones of Michigan’s efforts going forward to reverse the trends created by Michigan’s affordability crisis.

IN-DISTRICT EVENT UPDATE

Local Spotlight

As we all know, March was Reading Month in the state of Michigan, which is why I went to elementary schools across our community and read to students. It’s always fun to hear from kids because you never know what they are going to say! This has also reaffirmed my commitment to making sure that young people get the best education possible. Right now, that is not the case. Michigan ranks 44th in the country in children’s literacy. After decades of underinvestment, it has become clear that the status quo is not working for the children of Michigan. I will continue to work to boost literacy, whether it’s at the personal level of reading to kids or working on policies in Lansing that benefit kids all across our state.

Recent Community Events

Thank you to those of you who showed up to my most recent coffee hour! I always appreciate getting to hear and connect with constituents. My favorite part of this job is getting out with the community, listening to my neighbors and friends and hearing what issues matter to you. I’m hosting a series of coffee hours this year, and I invite you all to stop by any of them to express your thoughts on the issues that surround our community. My next coffee hour I will be hosting is on Friday, May 8 at 10 a.m. at the Flint Township Senior Center, 2071 S. Graham Road, Flint, MI 48532 where we will also have a special guest presentation from the Michigan Treasury Department regarding the Michigan Education Trust. They will discuss how you can help your child or grandchild’s college goals through a 529 prepaid tuition program, a tax-advantaged way to help people save for higher education expenses.

If you haven’t got the chance to stop by at one yet, I hope to see you there soon!

Reading to Children at Rankin Elementary for “March is Reading Month,” March 6

Speaking with constituents at Swartz Creek Senior Center, March 13

Reading to Children at Dailey Elementary for “March is Reading Month,” March 20

Reading to Children at Clio Elementary for “March is Reading Month,” March 24

RESOURCES

Below is a compiled list of federal, state and local information and resources that may be useful to you.

State and Local Resources

State and Federal Government Contacts

Metropolitan District, City, Township and County Governments

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

I want to hear from you. What do you need? How can we help you? My office is here to assist you or answer any questions you may have. Please, reach out to me by phone at (517) 373-1786 or email at [email protected].