Dear neighbor,

Below you will find legislative updates from the state Capitol that are important to the residents of western Oakland County. You also will find important updates and communications on my website: SenatorJimRunestad.com.

Serving you,

Senator Jim Runestad
23rd State Senate District

I voted against a pair of budget bills outlining $81.7 billion in spending for the state’s 2024 fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1. These bloated budget bills are the serving platters of the biggest boondoggle pork feast I’ve ever seen cooked up in the halls of Michigan’s Capitol; and to say it leaves a bad and bitter taste in one’s mouth is an understatement. It is utterly bewildering that the first budget passed by the new Democratic majority — which shouted for decades while in the minority about a real need for more legislative transparency — is perhaps the most secretive budget in state history and I cannot support it.

In just six months, Democrats have successfully plundered the pockets of Michigan taxpayers, burning through the state’s $9 billion budget surplus on an unsuitable spending spree of pet projects, favored corporate handouts and big government. They have done this behind closed doors, in the dark, unashamed, and unaccountable. While Santa Whitmer and her legislative elves empty the vaults and max out the credit cards to party like it’s Christmas in June, the ghost of Christmas future is waiting nearby to collect on the tab. And who will be left to pay? The Michigan taxpayers who cannot afford it, that’s who.

I cannot and will not support such wasteful and irresponsible spending. Instead, I will continue to push forward on my legislation to require more transparency, oversight, and accountability in the governmental process in the hope that future Michigan lawmakers might think twice before squandering other people’s money.

Recently, I introduced legislation to repeal an antiquated 1930s seduction clause from Michigan law so that prosecutors may no longer use it to plea down criminals who victimize women.

Far too often, soft-on-crime prosecutors are using this outdated statute to plea bargain on behalf of violent sexual predators who deserve to be held accountable to the full extent of modern laws. By repealing this law, we can remove this old-fashioned option for crime-friendly prosecutors, provide for meaningful justice under more current statutes, and better protect women.

Recent legislative actions and news reports have brought some of Michigan’s old-fashioned laws to light. Senate Bills 390 and 391 would strike what is known as Michigan’s arcane 1931 seduction and debauchery clause from state law books, which allows criminal defendants to avoid additional jail time and being placed on the state’s sex offender registry.

Former Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon was criticized for her office’s use of the antiquated law in a plea deal for three former Michigan State University football players accused of sexual assault. She told The Detroit News the seduction clause is used “consistently, but infrequently” in Michigan plea deals as “a tool that we have as prosecutors.”

More recently, MLive reported that a Western Michigan University hockey captain pleaded guilty to seduction in a deal with the Kalamazoo County prosecutor’s office.

In a previous term, I introduced Senate Bill 204 of 2019 to prevent minors who commit violent sexual assault from plea bargaining down under the Holmes Youth Training Act — that bill never even received a committee hearing. Now, I’m moving forward to simply strike from the books this archaic law that is being taken advantage of on behalf of violent sexual criminals who are over the age of 18. It is unconscionable that prosecutors would defer to these antiquated punishments, essentially putting these criminals back on the streets as soon as possible with a legal “slap on the wrist.”

My legislation mirrors House Bills 4767 and 4678 of 2007 that were introduced by former Democratic Reps. Aldo Vagnozzi and Steve Bieda. I am hopeful that this new Democratic majority in the Legislature will get behind me in this vital effort to hold rapists accountable and better protect women from these monsters in the future.

Recently, I was humbled to be recognized at the Indian American Legislative Day for my support of their community.

It has been my honor to promote a greater understanding of Indian American culture and the contributions of Indian Americans to our state – including resolutions to recognize the first Indian American Legislative Day in Michigan and promote the joyful celebration of Diwali in our state.

Michigan’s Indian American residents consistently make notable contributions in many fields, including education, medicine, technology, business and public policy.

I continue to be encouraged by India's courageous and growing democracy, and I was glad to see India Prime Minister Modi invited to speak – for a historic second time – before a joint session of Congress this month.

As he said during his first visit in 2016, “Our nations may have been shaped by differing histories, cultures, and faiths. Yet, our belief in democracy for our nations and liberty for our countrymen is common.”

Click here to see more photos from the legislative day event.

Recently, I voted no on several bills — Senate Bills 339, 367, 370 and 373 — that Democrats claimed were simply implementing Proposal 2 language into state law. This was not the case!

These bills go far beyond the language of Proposal 2 and weaken the integrity of Michigan’s elections. The bills would allow the secretary of state to wield unprecedented power to set procedures for early voting without going through the formal legislative rule making process, essentially going around the people’s elected representatives.

Early voting and other changes made in Proposal 2 of 2022 are perhaps the most significant changes in Michigan elections history and yet the secretary of state will be allowed to prescribe procedures and guidance without these important checks and balances.

These measures also expand what is considered photo identification to also allow identification issued by schools and municipalities as a legal photo identification to vote in elections. If you don’t have a securely issues government ID, no problem! Nearly any ID could now be used for voting!

To make matters worse, there are voter data security concerns that aren’t addressed including such sensitive information as a voter’s e-mail address and/or cell phone number.

Just one of these would be enough to vote no on these poorly crafted bills.

Democrats are once again chipping away at workers’ rights — this time by compelling public sector employees to turn over their private contact information to unions.

I voted against Senate Bill 169, which would force public sector employers to regularly disclose the personal contact information of workers to labor unions. This includes personal email addresses, personal phone numbers and home addresses — and there are no limitations for how unions could use the contact information.

Democrats are steamrolling ahead on their agenda to pay back their big union backers and disregarding a previous U.S. Supreme Court ruling on this subject. Personal information should be not released without a worker’s consent, especially if that worker has already decided to not join the union.

The bill has advanced to the state House of Representatives for further consideration.

The governor recently announced a new council tasked with turning around Michigan’s population trends. This council is a deflection from the governor’s failed policies that are driving people and job opportunities out of our state.

These failed policies include:

These problems cannot be fixed by a council! Michigan should instead embrace economic growth through competitive tax rates, commonsense regulation, worker freedom, government transparency and holding the bar high so our students receive a world class education.