Dear Neighbor,
Hi, I’m Jason. I have the privilege of serving as your state representative for Washtenaw, Wayne and Oakland Counties.
We’ve been incredibly busy in Lansing working on critical issues that affect Michiganders every day. We’re fighting to keep elected officials accountable to the people, protect working families and push for smart investments in our state.
At the same time, we’re seeing dangerous cuts and chaos from Washington being brought home to our state. At a town hall in Ann Arbor, with over 1,000 people in attendance, Michiganders made it clear: we won’t stand by while the President, Musk and his allies bring this mess to Michigan.
And let me be clear, as your representative, I will always be on the frontlines standing up for you — pushing back and marching forward.
Here are a few upcoming events and what we’ve been working on:
UPCOMING EVENTS
Community Conversation
Saturday, March 22, at 11 a.m.
MoonWinks Café, 5151 Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor
Fixing Roads and Expanding Public Transit
Reliable roads and public transit aren’t luxuries — they’re necessities for working people who need to get to work, school and medical appointments. That’s why I introduced legislation to expand public transit funding, making it easier for people to get where they need to go while reducing congestion and improving road conditions. There are active conversations happening in Lansing on building a long-term, sustainable road funding plan that makes serious investments in Michigan’s infrastructure — not just quick fixes. I will continue to work with my colleagues to bring these investments back to our community with a focus on some of the greatest areas of need, particularly local roads.
Closing the Public Servant-to-Lobbyist Pipeline in State Government
Public service should be about serving the people — not setting up a high-paying lobbying job. Right now, Michigan is one of just eight states with no waiting period before elected officials can start lobbying the government they just left. That’s unacceptable. It’s a revolving door that breeds cynicism and distrust with those who trusted us to make decisions that help them, and it’s time that we put a stop to it. I supported House Bills 4062–64 because they do just that.
This legislation, previously introduced by legislators from both parties, puts a two-year ban on public officials from lobbying after they leave office. It’s a common-sense guardrail to ensure decisions are made for the right reasons — not personal profit. The people of Michigan are tired of politicians cashing in on their connections the moment they leave office; if we want Michiganders to trust their government, elected officials need to prove they deserve that trust.
Repealing Michigan’s Gay Marriage Ban
Even though marriage equality is protected nationwide, Michigan’s constitution still has a ban on same-sex marriage — a reminder of past discrimination that should have no place in our state. We’ve seen an increase in attacks on marriage equality across the country in the last few months — even inside our state House. Just two weeks ago, a Republican state representative introduced a resolution to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn marriage equality in our nation. But we won’t back down in the face of threats to our rights.
I introduced a resolution to officially repeal this outdated ban by putting it back on the ballot, ensuring our state stands for fairness and equality for all under the law. This fight is personal — not just for myself, but for our friends and family who have built lives and futures on the back of this court ruling. Politicians should have no place in deciding who gets treated with dignity and who doesn’t.
Standing with Patients: Rare Disease Advisory Council Reintroduced
For the 1 in 10 Michiganders living with a rare disease, getting the right care can be a struggle. It was incredibly difficult for me when I was diagnosed with Becker’s muscular dystrophy at 13 years old. Having an opportunity to see peers thrive in spite of their diagnosis motivated and drove me to make sure other Michiganders living with rare diseases get the support they need.
That’s why I reintroduced my legislation to create a Rare Disease Advisory Council in Michigan. This council will bring together patients, doctors and experts to give a greater voice to individuals living with a rare disease in state government, providing elected officials more information to make better decisions.
State Government Budget Cuts
At a press conference, I joined my colleagues in calling attention to the House Republican-led budget that removes funding from our state budget by 92%. Representatives were only given minutes to read the bills before putting it up for a vote. It removes core services Michiganders depend on every day, with $5 BILLION in funding removed from our public schools. The most shocking part? Many of these programs in addition to having funding reduced were completely not provided for1.
- The Department of Health and Human Services along with the caregiver services they provide — NOT INCLUDED1. Programs that help seniors with in-home care, transportation and health screenings were completely disregarded.
- The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy — NOT PROVIDED FOR1 along with the safe drinking water protections and environmental cleanup initiatives they offer.
- The Department of Transportation — NOT INCLUDED1 which could be detrimental for road repair and public transportation.
- The Secretary of State — NOT PROVIDED FOR1, meaning they can no longer provide driver’s licenses, vehicle registration and run our elections.
A budget is a reflection of priorities, and this one makes it clear: instead of investing in Michigan’s future, this budget pulls the rug out from under families, students and workers. I’ll keep fighting for a responsible budget that puts people first — not chaos that leaves our communities struggling.
Tariffs and the Higher Costs for Michiganders
The President’s approach to tariffs is already affecting small businesses, working families, and Michigan’s economy. The constant “will he, won’t he” game — announcing tariffs, then pulling them back, only to threaten them again, has created widespread instability. I’ve heard from many members of our community about the effect this will have on their pocketbooks, and on our relationships with our allies — particularly Michigan’s partnership with Canada.
Let’s be clear: tariffs are taxes on you, the consumer — and it’s on a lot of the things you buy. When you slap a tariff on raw materials like steel or aluminum, it doesn’t just make cars more expensive. Everything from appliances to medical equipment gets more expensive because the machines needed to make them also get more expensive. Tariffs on semiconductors mean higher prices for phones, computers, washing machines and refrigerators. Tariffs on fertilizers and agricultural equipment make it more expensive to grow food, which means higher grocery prices for everyone. Companies face cutting jobs, raising prices, even closing down — and working people pay the price.
We need solutions that strengthen our economy and give hard working families a better life — this is the exact opposite of that. I’ll keep fighting for policies that lower costs and create real economic security.
Our Community Speaks: Over 1,000 People at Town Hall
Last week, I joined several of my colleagues and U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell at a town hall in Ann Arbor with over 1,000 attendees. Thank you to everyone who was able to make it out for this event, and a special acknowledgement to the hundreds of people who filled the overflow rooms and broke attendance records.
The message was loud and clear: Michigan deserves leadership focused on real solutions — not political games. I’m proud to attend community events and town halls and hear your thoughts, positive or negative — and I have no plans to stop anytime soon.
We have a lot of work ahead, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to fight for you in Lansing. If you have any questions, thoughts, concerns or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office for help.
Yours in service,
Jason Morgan
State Representative
Michigan’s 23rd House District