Hello friend,
Hopefully your week has gone well, and you have some exciting plans for the weekend. Please stay safe and warm as the snow comes down! Please be aware that Monday, Feb. 19, is Presidents Day. Offices and businesses, like your local library or bank, may be closed.
As always, you can always contact my staff and me at (517) 373-0828, by email at DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov, or by visiting my website at RepLasinski.com, with any questions, thoughts, or suggestions.
Legislative Update
House Resolution 191
Last week, I was joined in Lansing by Jim Dempsey of Fisher House Michigan. Jim, a constituent of House District 52, is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, having served in the Army and Air Force Medical Service Corps. We gave testimony in front of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee in favor House Resolution 191, which supports the initiative to bring the first Fisher House to Michigan. The resolution was then moved to the floor, where it was adopted by voice vote. You can see a video of me speaking to the resolution here*.
Michigan is home to hundreds of thousands of veterans, most of whom come home from service with uniquely critical health care needs. We should be doing all we can to support our veterans and their loved ones when they make the transition back to civilian life and deal with a lifetime of health care needs. The Fisher House provides housing for family members while veterans receive the care they need at the VAAHS. Supportive and present family members are often critical to a veteran’s return to health.
House Bill 4162: Rural Broadband
By now, many of you may have heard the news that Gov. Rick Snyder is assembling a commission to address the issue of broadband access across the state. Rural broadband is one of my top priorities and the reason why I introduced House Bill 4162, which would add broadband developments to the list of public improvements for which townships may use special assessment districts. The lack of reliable, affordable broadband for some Michiganders has repercussions for our economy, our education system and our general quality of life, and there is no excuse for it. I am committed and continue to work every policy avenue to bring House Bill 4162 to success. If you have friends in other representatives’ districts across the state, please encourage them to reach out to their representatives to build support to bring House Bill 4162 out of committee and to a successful vote on the House floor.
Upcoming Time with Donna
Scio Township Coffee Hour with State Rep. Donna Lasinski
Join me for coffee and conversation. I’ll take the time to talk legislation, and take any questions you may have about what concerns you.
When: Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6-7 p.m.
Where: Classic Cup Café, 4389 Jackson Road in Ann Arbor
Education Town Hall
Join me and a panel of educators from around the district to talk about education in our community. We’ll cover the state education budget, the potential of universal Pre-K, and the importance of vocational options for our students. We’ll also have time for questions from the audience.
When: Monday, Feb. 26, from 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St. in Dexter
What To Do In HD 52
Valentine’s Cake Pops and Card Crafting
Make a cake pop bouquet and a pop-up card for yourself or your Valentine! Register for the event here.
When: Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 3-4:15 p.m.
Where: Saline District Library, 555 N. Maple Road in Saline
Chelsea’s Annual Chocolate Extravaganza
The Chocolate Extravaganza is a perfect way to shake off the winter blahs and enjoy scrumptious treats. The family-friendly event offers chocolate and Valentine-themed treats and activities in more than 30 local businesses, all with their own distinct flair. There will be free parking throughout Chelsea, and other fun events occurring. For more information about this event, please contact Maureen Tobin at (734) 475-3539 or by email at maureen@thegardenmill.com.
When: Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Chelsea Area Businesses
Helpful Resources
Want to go green in Bridgewater Township?
The Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority provides drop-off recycling stations for township residents. The bins are located next to the Bridgewater Depot in the hamlet of Bridgewater, at the corner of Austin and Boettner Roads, and in Manchester at the Manchester Market, 455 W. Main Street. Please view the list of accepted materials before dropping off your recyclables at the bins. For more information about recycling in the township, call the Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority at (734) 475-6160. I encourage everyone to do their part in making Michigan a cleaner, greener state!
Personal Property Tax Exemption for Solar Panels
The Michigan Agency for Energy (MAE) and Michigan Public Service Commission announced the release of their newest consumer tip, Personal Property Tax Exemption for Solar Panels. It explains an existing tax exemption that can be utilized by property owners to exempt small-scale solar projects, including many systems used by homeowners. For more information about MAE, please visit www.michigan.gov/energy.
Sincerely,
State Rep. Donna Lasinski
52nd House District