Dear Friends,
I am honored to continue serving you in the 22nd House District and hope that you feel comfortable reaching out to me with your questions, comments and concerns regarding legislation, or any other issues that impact Macomb County and our state. I am fighting hard for you in Lansing and here at home, and I am most effective at my job when acting on your input. Please contact me and my staff at any time.
I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your commitment to the community we both call home.
New Funding For Road Repairs
I voted in favor of a supplemental budget bill, House Bill 4321, which was approved earlier this year and included $175 million for the Michigan Department of Transportation budget. That money went to our local communities, with the city of Roseville receiving $313,027 for road maintenance and repairs, the city of Warren receiving $924,337 and Macomb County receiving a little more than $4.4 million.
We still need to do more to fill in all the potholes and properly fix and maintain our roads. The recently-enacted 2018-19 budget further increases road funding, but it’s not enough. That’s why my Democratic colleagues and I offered amendments throughout the process to boost funding for roads, but these were defeated every step of the way. I will keep working with my colleagues to find a plan that properly funds our roads and transportation infrastructure so that we don’t have to play catch-up through special supplemental funding bills every year.
Chirkun Supports Prevailing Wage
On June 6, the Republican-led Legislature repealed the state’s prevailing wage law, a law which ensured workers on state projects were paid a fair wage. The proposal passed in the House of Representatives with a 56-53 vote, pre-empting the issue from appearing on the November ballot.
Putting in a hard day’s work should earn a person an honest wage. But repealing our prevailing wage laws simply takes money from hard-working Michiganders and their families to benefit the bottom lines of wealthy corporations, putting our state economy and local communities in jeopardy. Without prevailing wage laws, out-of-state companies can flood the state with low-paid, unskilled workers, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill twice when our roads and public buildings deteriorate even more quickly. Repealing prevailing wage is wrong for Michigan, and our workers and that is why I voted against it.
Providing For Public Schools
I am glad that the fiscal year 2018-19 budget includes an increase in the per-pupil spending amount for our public schools. This is a step in the right direction, but according to studies in the governor’s possession, we are still underfunding our schools by nearly $2,000 per pupil. I am not pleased that this budget sends more money to cyber schools, which do not have the same operating costs as traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Schools that have expenses such as busing costs, building maintenance and breakfast and lunch costs for students should be the priority. I hope that we continue to increase our funding to our public schools so that our students have the best opportunity to receive a good education that will help them make good choices when it comes to selecting a career and finding a good job.
Affordable Higher Education
House Democrats have an innovative plan to provide debt-free community college to all qualified Michigan residents. The average Michigan college graduate begins their career with more than $30,000 in student loan debt. The HirED Opportunity Act slashes the cost of higher education by providing full-tuition scholarships to qualified individuals.
Under the Democratic plan, beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year recent high school graduates who enroll full-time in a community college program would be eligible to receive a Community College Opportunity Scholarship for debt-free tuition. To maintain eligibility of this last dollar scholarship — which would pay any remaining cost left after a student’s other financial aid is calculated — students would participate in a mentorship program, give back to their community through a community service component, and maintain both a 2.0 GPA and continuous academic enrollment for up to two years. Adults who are already in the workforce but who are seeking to return to school to earn a new credential, receive skills training or fulfill a degree program would be eligible for debt-free tuition through a new career program focused on high-demand and/or emerging industries.
A Real Solution for No-Fault Reform
A bipartisan group of legislators has come together to create the Fair and Affordable No-Fault Reform plan, which will provide real reform that Michigan drivers want and deserve. This bill package would fix our no-fault system, maintain benefits and lower rates by:
• Reducing costs for seniors by allowing those who are 62 and older to waive coverage for personal protection insurance benefits if they choose to instead rely on Medicare and lifetime retirement health care.
• Implementing a fee schedule of 185 percent of the Workmen’s Compensation Fee Schedule rate for the same service to reduce costs and insurance rates.
• Cracking down on fraud by creating a Fraud Authority board, with most of its members representing consumers.
• Increasing the amount of time an auto accident survivor has to file a claim from one year to three years.
• Prohibiting the use of discriminatory rating factors — including ZIP codes, gender, education, marital status and credit score — because we all know that these factors have nothing to do with a person’s ability to drive safely.
• Increasing transparency in how rates are set so that drivers know why they are paying certain amounts for insurance.
• Promoting coordinated coverage by offering a discount for those who coordinate their auto insurance with their health insurance.
I have also sponsored House Bill 5633 to prohibit insurance companies from raising rates on a person who files a claim for damage to a vehicle caused by a pothole. Michiganders should not be penalized for bad roads that state officials have failed to repair. I am hopeful that legislators can agree on a better plan to fund needed road repairs, as well as moving on our common-sense bills to improve our no-fault system.
Hunting and Fishing for Seniors
Hunting and fishing are year-round activities in Michigan that seniors can enjoy. Hunting, trapping and fishing give seniors a great way to connect with nature, get some exercise and enjoy time with children and grandchildren. In addition, meat from game is often leaner than other kinds of meat, providing a low-fat, high-protein source of nutrition.
Fortunately, the state of Michigan has special programs and discounts to make it easier for seniors to get out and enjoy our state’s woods, forests, lakes and streams.
Senior hunters and anglers who are Michigan residents and 65 or older pay the following:
• Base license for hunting: $5
• Deer license: $8
• Deer combo license: $28 (two deer licenses, $8 regular and $20 restricted)
• Fall turkey license: $6
• Spring turkey license: $6
• Hunt/Fish combo license: $43
• Annual all-species fishing license: $11
Additionally, veterans who are 100 percent disabled are eligible for a free hunting and fishing license not obtained through a lottery, but they must provide proof of eligibility.
I am honored to continue serving you in the 22nd House District and hope that you feel comfortable reaching out to me with your questions, comments and concerns regarding legislation, or any other issues that impact Macomb County and our state. I am fighting hard for you in Lansing and here at home, and I am most effective at my job when acting on your input. Please contact me and my staff at any time.
I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your commitment to the community we both call home.
New Funding For Road Repairs
I voted in favor of a supplemental budget bill, House Bill 4321, which was approved earlier this year and included $175 million for the Michigan Department of Transportation budget. That money went to our local communities, with the city of Roseville receiving $313,027 for road maintenance and repairs, the city of Warren receiving $924,337 and Macomb County receiving a little more than $4.4 million.
We still need to do more to fill in all the potholes and properly fix and maintain our roads. The recently-enacted 2018-19 budget further increases road funding, but it’s not enough. That’s why my Democratic colleagues and I offered amendments throughout the process to boost funding for roads, but these were defeated every step of the way. I will keep working with my colleagues to find a plan that properly funds our roads and transportation infrastructure so that we don’t have to play catch-up through special supplemental funding bills every year.
Chirkun Supports Prevailing Wage
On June 6, the Republican-led Legislature repealed the state’s prevailing wage law, a law which ensured workers on state projects were paid a fair wage. The proposal passed in the House of Representatives with a 56-53 vote, pre-empting the issue from appearing on the November ballot.
Putting in a hard day’s work should earn a person an honest wage. But repealing our prevailing wage laws simply takes money from hard-working Michiganders and their families to benefit the bottom lines of wealthy corporations, putting our state economy and local communities in jeopardy. Without prevailing wage laws, out-of-state companies can flood the state with low-paid, unskilled workers, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill twice when our roads and public buildings deteriorate even more quickly. Repealing prevailing wage is wrong for Michigan, and our workers and that is why I voted against it.
Providing For Public Schools
I am glad that the fiscal year 2018-19 budget includes an increase in the per-pupil spending amount for our public schools. This is a step in the right direction, but according to studies in the governor’s possession, we are still underfunding our schools by nearly $2,000 per pupil. I am not pleased that this budget sends more money to cyber schools, which do not have the same operating costs as traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Schools that have expenses such as busing costs, building maintenance and breakfast and lunch costs for students should be the priority. I hope that we continue to increase our funding to our public schools so that our students have the best opportunity to receive a good education that will help them make good choices when it comes to selecting a career and finding a good job.
Affordable Higher Education
House Democrats have an innovative plan to provide debt-free community college to all qualified Michigan residents. The average Michigan college graduate begins their career with more than $30,000 in student loan debt. The HirED Opportunity Act slashes the cost of higher education by providing full-tuition scholarships to qualified individuals.
Under the Democratic plan, beginning in the 2019-2020 academic year recent high school graduates who enroll full-time in a community college program would be eligible to receive a Community College Opportunity Scholarship for debt-free tuition. To maintain eligibility of this last dollar scholarship — which would pay any remaining cost left after a student’s other financial aid is calculated — students would participate in a mentorship program, give back to their community through a community service component, and maintain both a 2.0 GPA and continuous academic enrollment for up to two years. Adults who are already in the workforce but who are seeking to return to school to earn a new credential, receive skills training or fulfill a degree program would be eligible for debt-free tuition through a new career program focused on high-demand and/or emerging industries.
A Real Solution for No-Fault Reform
A bipartisan group of legislators has come together to create the Fair and Affordable No-Fault Reform plan, which will provide real reform that Michigan drivers want and deserve. This bill package would fix our no-fault system, maintain benefits and lower rates by:
• Reducing costs for seniors by allowing those who are 62 and older to waive coverage for personal protection insurance benefits if they choose to instead rely on Medicare and lifetime retirement health care.
• Implementing a fee schedule of 185 percent of the Workmen’s Compensation Fee Schedule rate for the same service to reduce costs and insurance rates.
• Cracking down on fraud by creating a Fraud Authority board, with most of its members representing consumers.
• Increasing the amount of time an auto accident survivor has to file a claim from one year to three years.
• Prohibiting the use of discriminatory rating factors — including ZIP codes, gender, education, marital status and credit score — because we all know that these factors have nothing to do with a person’s ability to drive safely.
• Increasing transparency in how rates are set so that drivers know why they are paying certain amounts for insurance.
• Promoting coordinated coverage by offering a discount for those who coordinate their auto insurance with their health insurance.
I have also sponsored House Bill 5633 to prohibit insurance companies from raising rates on a person who files a claim for damage to a vehicle caused by a pothole. Michiganders should not be penalized for bad roads that state officials have failed to repair. I am hopeful that legislators can agree on a better plan to fund needed road repairs, as well as moving on our common-sense bills to improve our no-fault system.
Hunting and Fishing for Seniors
Hunting and fishing are year-round activities in Michigan that seniors can enjoy. Hunting, trapping and fishing give seniors a great way to connect with nature, get some exercise and enjoy time with children and grandchildren. In addition, meat from game is often leaner than other kinds of meat, providing a low-fat, high-protein source of nutrition.
Fortunately, the state of Michigan has special programs and discounts to make it easier for seniors to get out and enjoy our state’s woods, forests, lakes and streams.
Senior hunters and anglers who are Michigan residents and 65 or older pay the following:
• Base license for hunting: $5
• Deer license: $8
• Deer combo license: $28 (two deer licenses, $8 regular and $20 restricted)
• Fall turkey license: $6
• Spring turkey license: $6
• Hunt/Fish combo license: $43
• Annual all-species fishing license: $11
Additionally, veterans who are 100 percent disabled are eligible for a free hunting and fishing license not obtained through a lottery, but they must provide proof of eligibility.