Monday, May 27, 2024, is Memorial Day — a day set aside to remember the men and women who died in military service to our country.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was first recognized in the 1860s as a day to remember those who died fighting in the Civil War. As the years passed and the U.S. experienced other major conflicts where military lives were lost, including World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War, the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May and declared it a federal holiday.

The Michigan Senate recently hosted its annual memorial ceremony. It was my honor to lead the ceremony in the Pledge of Allegiance and to humbly honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country, as well as their families, who also made tremendous sacrifices for our nation.

Just one year after squandering the state’s $9 billion budget surplus on pet projects and corporate handouts, Senate Democrats have approved yet another budget that overspends and underdelivers. Last year’s drastic spending funded countless pet projects, while addressing very few priorities — leaving us with more government to fund down the road and many of the same problems we started with.

This year, without the $9 billion cushion, the massive budget recently passed by Democrats relies on a $700 million income tax hike, a $670 million raid on the teacher pension fund and a 1,200% tax increase on trash. Taking more from taxpayers who are struggling enough as it is and raiding over a half-a-billion dollars from teachers’ retirement — which is already underfunded — is a misguided and irresponsible way to “balance the books.”

Many of my Republican colleagues and I offered amendments that would end corporate welfare and instead return money to taxpayers, make necessary infrastructure repairs, help keep fentanyl out of our communities, provide cancer screenings for veterans, restore funding cuts to veterans homes and safeguard tax dollars from being used to pay rent or legal fees for people who are here illegally. Democrats voted every amendment down.

I tried to support this budget plan, and there are many good things included, but the spending is simply too much. I don’t think what was put before us for a vote provided Michigan taxpayers with a good value for the money that was being spent. A lot of people still need help — more than they need new commissions or more bureaucracy. I think we could have done more to address what the people of this state have clearly stated their priorities are.

Ultimately, I had to vote no because the bad outweighed the good. This wasn’t a responsible, balanced budget.

Confirmed cases of Avian Influenza have been detected in dairy cattle in the U.S., including herds in nine Michigan counties. As of May 13, infected dairy cattle have been identified in Allegan, Barry, Clinton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Montcalm and Ottawa counties. Immediate measures are being taken to contain the disease. There is no concern that the virus poses a risk to consumers.

Avian Influenza, more commonly known as bird flu, is highly contagious and often fatal in domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl, but human infections are uncommon. The virus is spread naturally among flocks through free-flying waterfowl. Since 2022, cases of bird flu have been confirmed in 48 states, including flocks in 23 Michigan counties.

Effective April 29, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is requiring mandatory testing of all dairy cattle moved between states. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued a Determination of Extraordinary Emergency for “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Risk Reduction Response Order” to protect Michigan's poultry and dairy cattle from further spread of the virus. Accurate and timely reporting is important to better understand and contain the virus.

According to the department, the outbreak does not pose a risk to consumers of milk or other dairy products. Only milk from healthy dairy cattle is authorized for distribution into the commercial market; milk from the infected cattle is destroyed so it does not enter the human food supply. Pasteurization offers an additional layer of protection to the consumer as it has been proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Overall, the outbreak is limited and is not expected to have a major impact on the supply of milk or other dairy products.

For more information on Avian Influenza visit the USDA or MDARD, or sign up to receive email updates for up-to-date information.

The weekly fishing report is an email newsletter from the DNR that provides subscribers with updates on fishing conditions from around the state. Information comes directly from creel clerks and other DNR staff who spend their days in and around Michigan lakes and rivers. The report is organized by region and provides information on recent weather conditions and species updates, along with links to a Great Lakes Temperature Map and Daily Streamflow Conditions.

Each year, Michigan residents look forward to spring when the days are longer and the skies are clear. But springtime in Michigan can also bring severe weather.

If a severe storm hits your community, it is important to pay attention to state and local officials and follow their instructions. It is usually best to avoid traveling to hard-hit areas if possible, as it can hinder cleanup efforts. Keep these things in mind as you begin your own clean up:

The Michigan State Police MIREADY program has plenty of resources and educational materials to guide Michigan residents prepare for and recover from weather emergencies and other disasters.

Michigan’s 33rd Senate District now includes Montcalm and Newaygo counties, along with parts of Ionia, Lake, Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.

Thank you for subscribing to my electronic newsletter! I am honored to represent you in the 33rd Senate District of Michigan. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Please feel free to forward this on to others who may be interested in receiving the 33rd District E-news. You may sign up for it also at my website.