Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to this month’s edition of my e-newsletter. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to tackle the tough issues that will help lower the cost of living, help families get ahead, and build a brighter future for all who call Michigan home.

I greatly appreciate the many emails, phone calls and visits to my previous office hours and listening to your concerns, especially on gun law reform and Right-to-Work repeal.

As always, I welcome your feedback on current issues facing Michigan or the Greater Rochester Area, Troy, Sterling Heights and Utica communities. Constituent feedback is vital as I represent our communities in Lansing. If you are experiencing a problem with one of our state government agencies, my office is always available to assist with finding a solution. I respect your opinion and will always do my best to make myself available and accessible to you.

Please take a moment to visit my website, like my official Facebook page, send me an email or call my office at 517-373-0994. If you have any questions, concerns or opinions on what is happening, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Michael Webber
State Senator
9th District

I recently voted to protect the rights of Michigan workers by voting against the repeal of Right-to-Work and against restoring prevailing wage, both of which were passed by the slim Democratic majority in the Legislature.

Repealing Right to Work denies Michigan workers the right to choose whether they wish to be a member of a union and compels them to pay their dues or lose their jobs. In addition to being a denial of individual freedom and self-determination, this action will effectively put a ‘closed for business’ sign on the state by drying up economic development opportunities, driving out businesses, weakening our communities, and endangering the stability of Michigan families.

Putting prevailing wage back into Michigan law will further harm Michigan taxpayers by effectively outlawing fair and open competition in favor of special carve-outs for unions. There is nothing ‘prevailing’ about inflating costs for local, school, and state construction by stifling competitive bidding. Heavy-handed government favoritism spends tax dollars irresponsibly and has no place in the marketplace.

Repealing Right-to-Work and forcing inflated, government-mandated wage laws will hurt Michigan workers and taxpayers. That is why I voted no.

I joined State Rep. Mark Tisdel in introducing legislation to clarify what and who is covered under the Freedom of Information Act.

Senate Bill 154 and House Bill 4220 were introduced following a shocking Oakland County Circuit Court ruling that found a union member teacher’s class curriculum was not accountable to FOIA despite the educator being an employee of a public school system.

The need for SB 154 and HB 4220 became clear after Rochester Community Schools refused resident and parent Carol Beth Litkouhi’s FOIA request for class curriculum and a judge sided with the district.

This legislation expands the law to meet what the citizens already believe is covered under the current law. Parents have demanded accountability from their schools, and we are listening. This legislation will provide increased accountability and transparency in government.

I recently joined my Senate and House colleagues in sponsoring legislation to support Michigan’s cities, villages, townships and counties and provide much needed financial stability for local governments.

Senate Bills 182 and 183 and House Bills 4274 and 4275 would establish a Revenue Sharing Trust Fund in the Michigan Department of Treasury. Through this trust fund concept, Michigan would dedicate a portion of general sales tax revenue to a restricted fund for the purposes of distributing those resources to cities, villages, townships and counties.

Ultimately, these bills would require a statutory change by the Legislature to reduce funding below current levels. It is this statutory protection, in the form of the trust fund, that creates the distinction from how we fund revenue sharing today and it being subject only to the annual appropriations process.

Investing in our communities and the services they provide isn’t a partisan issue. Having served on the Rochester Hills City Council for seven years, I’ve seen the economic importance of having strong communities. This trust fund will help protect municipal resources and benefit every corner of this state.

While sometimes daunting, there are many resources available to help you prepare your taxes prior to the deadline:

My staff and I stand ready to help in any way that we can. If we are unable to help, we will help put you in touch with someone who can.

During March is Reading Month, I have spent time visiting classrooms across the Senate district reading to kids. I always enjoy visiting schools and seeing the interest in reading from our students.

Below you will find information on the jointly scheduled office hours with my office and State Rep. Mark Tisdel. Please feel free to drop in. No appointment is necessary to attend.

The 9th Senate District includes the cities of Rochester, Rochester Hills, Troy, and Utica along with parts of Oakland Township, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights. Tisdel represents the 55th House District, which includes the cities of Rochester and Rochester Hills and part of Oakland Township.