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Attend My Community Forum on Nov. 18
- - November 13th, 2009
I Want to Hear From You on Nov. 18 Residents are invited to attend my community forum to share their views on issues that matter to you and your family, including government reform, budget cuts and funding key priorities like education. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Vogel Rooms A and B at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, located at 1819 S. Wagner Road in Ann... more
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Senate Needs to Properly Fund Schools
- - October 22nd, 2009
Senate Failure Causes Deeper Cuts for Schools With the state already operating on a continuation budget, there is no time for political games. Yet the Senate's insistence on passing a budget filled with deep cuts but no revenues has forced a veto by the Governor and cost Michigan schools another $52 million in proposed cuts. It's time for the Senate to stop using our schools as bargaining chips in negotiations and fund a budget... more
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Michigan Future Plan will position state for turnaround
- - October 6th, 2009
While negotiations to balance the budget continue in Lansing, it is clear that Michigan is at a crossroads. We've got to make cuts without mortgaging Michigan's future. We need to spend less – and we have, reducing state spending by $1 billion – yet fund programs vital to turning our state around. That's why, today, my House colleagues and I passed the Michigan Future Plan to secure the investment we need in local police... more
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Budget Update: Avoiding a Prolonged Shutdown
- - October 1st, 2009
Budget Update as of Thursday, Oct. 1, at 2:30 p.m. Here's what's going on at this hour: Interim budget keeps government going Yesterday morning, the House passed a continuation budget that keeps the state government operating past the midnight deadline to balance the budget. Because the Senate did not pass this budget until nearly 2 a.m. this morning, state government was forced to shut down for almost two hours. I am saddened and disappointed... more
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Budget Update as of Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 at 11 a.m.
- - September 30th, 2009
Budget Update as of Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 at 11 a.m. I'm writing to you from the House Floor with a quick update as we face a midnight deadline to balance the budget. I am doing everything I can to help the Legislature meet that deadline; this morning the House passed an interim budget as a backup plan to keep the government operating after midnight, just in case. The House worked late last night to... more
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Budget Update: Voting to Protect Education
- - September 24th, 2009
Budget Update as of Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 at 2 p.m. As I told you yesterday, the House has begun voting on some of the 15 department budgets that make up the overall state budget. We have extremely tough choices to make, given the state's $2.8 billion deficit and Michigan's still-struggling economy. And we must make all these decisions in time to make the Sept. 30 deadline to balance the budget. As I examine each... more
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Budget update
- - September 23rd, 2009
Budget Update as of Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. With only a week to go before the deadline to balance the state budget, my fellow lawmakers and I are focused on moving forward as quickly as we can in order to avoid a government shutdown. The situation is evolving, but I'll update you on what's going on as of now: Six of the 15 bipartisan House-Senate conference committees have reported their compromise... more
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Capitol Update with State Representative Pam Byrnes
- - September 21st, 2009
House Votes to Put Troopers Back on the Job The House voted on Thursday to put 55 state troopers back on the job protecting our highways. Governor Granholm ordered 104 troopers laid off earlier this year – a move I never agreed with. Taxpayers paid to train these highly skilled law enforcement professionals, and we need them working and keeping our roads and communities safe. I voted to send this legislation to the Senate... more
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Budget update
- - September 18th, 2009
Budget Update as of 9/18/09 at 2 p.m. With just 12 days to go until our Sept. 30 deadline to balance the state budget, I'm writing to give you an update of what's happening at our State Capitol. Over the next 12 days I will be providing budget updates on a regular basis. It is important that we try to keep our communication lines open during this period and I will do my best to... more
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Analyzing Speaker Dillon's Health Care Reform Proposal
- - August 27th, 2009
Analyzing Speaker Dillon's Health Care Reform Proposal Last week, I was appointed Chair of the new bipartisan House Committee on Public Employee Health Care Reform that will analyze House Speaker Andy Dillon's proposal to overhaul public employee health care in Michigan. I am looking forward to this opportunity to lead the discussion of such an important issue. The Speaker has given the committee complete autonomy to analyze his public employee health care proposal. I... more