Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Now, more than ever, it is clear that we must take action to stop the dangerous and irresponsible open border policies putting lives at risk right here in Michigan. While Senate Democrats claim that “Sanctuary cities are not a thing,” illegal immigrants are endangering communities whose leadership refuses to cooperate with law enforcement.

Recently, Senate Republicans introduced a plan to protect Michigan communities against President Joe Biden’s disastrous open border policies. The failures at the southern border have led to a crisis of proportions never experienced before in our nation’s history — small communities and major U.S. cities are being overrun beyond their capacities, while fentanyl continues to flood into our communities with tragic consequences. The Stronger Borders, Safer Communities plan includes increased penalties for the creation, manufacturing, delivery, or possession of fentanyl and requires every Michigan community to cooperate with immigration officials, ending the practice of so-called “sanctuary cities.” Additionally, the plan calls on the president and Congress to immediately and fully resolve the border crisis.

Despite Democrats burying their heads in the sand, we have clear evidence that self-declared sanctuary cities — local communities that have chosen not to cooperate with immigration officials — are a failed experiment. These communities are now being overwhelmed by illegal immigrants that they do not have the space or resources to accommodate, and the dangers of criminal activity are on the rise. We must protect Michigan communities against becoming sanctuaries for chaos and harm against the public good.

Should you have any questions or concerns about the Legislature or state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by calling 517-373-0793 or by going to SenatorAricNesbitt.com. You can also stay up to date with what I am doing in Lansing by following me on Facebook, or on X. I look forward to listening and learning about your priorities and concerns for our state.

Blessings,

Aric Nesbitt
State Senator
District 20

Last month, while most Michiganders were asleep, Democrats rammed a package of partisan bills through the Senate in the dark of night to further harm small businesses in Michigan while giving massive handouts to multinational corporations.

Families and small business owners across our state continue to struggle, and Democrats in the Legislature continue to kick them while they’re down. Instead of working toward real solutions to grow Michigan’s economy and encourage prosperity, Senate Democrats — after already repealing Right to Work, resurrecting prevailing wage, and guaranteeing higher energy costs — have chosen to play a name change game of three-card monte to create even more special tax carve-outs for large corporations right on the heels of raising taxes on small businesses last year.

Once again, the Democratic majority is putting big corporations over struggling families — picking winners and losers by handing over millions of Michigan tax dollars to global corporations in secret back-room crony business deals. These tax dollars should be going back into the pockets of the hardworking Michigan taxpayers who actually need economic relief. Instead, we find ourselves taking one more giant step backward toward another Lost Decade of failed Granholm-era economic policies. The people of Michigan cannot afford to repeat history.

Combined with responsible spending, lower taxes lead to increased economic growth and development which benefits all of the individuals and businesses in Michigan. Senate Republicans will continue pursuing a plan that supports small businesses and provides relief by returning taxpayer dollars to all the families, seniors, and individuals who worked hard for their income. Sen. Nesbitt firmly believes that you know how to spend your money far more effectively than the government.

Under the Michigan Constitution, the Office of the Auditor General is provided with the exclusive right to perform financial and performance audits of all branches, departments, and agencies in state government. This office plays an important role by providing transparency and accountability to Michigan residents. Unfortunately, in a seemingly calculated and intentional attack on nonpartisan oversight, the governor’s recent budget proposal seeks to implement a significant decrease in funding for this vital office.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, however. Over the past several years, the Whitmer administration has received many failing grades from investigations and audits led by this office. In recent years, the auditor general’s office has revealed massive fraud and improper payments from the Unemployment Insurance Agency, deaths in long-term care facilities thanks to Gov. Whitmer’s dangerous and unconstitutional COVID-19 policies, failures in the Department of Education to make sure school staff went through fingerprinting and criminal background checks before working with our children, and wasteful spending in the Department of Transportation that could have gone to fixing our roads. Ironically, this irresponsible funding cut and blow to government accountability came to light during “Sunshine Week,” a time when Michiganders advocate for a more transparent and accountable state government.

We have a responsibility to pass balanced budgets that responsibly fund the government and priorities of our residents. Recklessly cutting funding to the nonpartisan Office of the Auditor General is yet another example of the governor putting her future ambitions ahead of the best interests of Michigan residents. Sen. Nesbitt is leading his colleagues in rejecting this proposal and protecting this important safeguard for Michigan.

Over the last month, there has been a large concern from farmers and food processors in Southwest Michigan over a bill that was reported to the Senate floor not too long ago. The legislation would expand the rulemaking authority of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and allow them to side-step the legislative process when making rules. Sen. Nesbitt has serious concerns with this legislation and the adverse effect it may have on farming and food production in our state.

It is not difficult to imagine how expanding the regulatory burden for farmers and food processors in Michigan could be very problematic. Inflation has already led to sky-rocketing grocery bills and making it more difficult to grow and process food would only exacerbate the problem. Furthermore, farming is difficult work as it is and granting potentially unchecked power to state bureaucrats is neither a responsible nor wise use of the Legislature’s time.

Given all of the serious issues currently facing our state — failing schools, crumbling infrastructure, massive inflation, and population decline, to name a few — it is incredibly disappointing to see Democrats in the majority focus on nonsensical regulations that do nothing to address the problems Michiganders are facing every day. Burdensome rules and even more heavy-handed bureaucracy from EGLE will not move Michigan in the right direction. We must continue working to prioritize effective policies that actually move our state forward, grow our economy, and protect our rights.

Sen. Nesbitt and his daughter Catherine helped serve dessert at the Paw Paw Knights of Columbus Fish Fry.

Sen. Nesbitt participated in groundbreaking celebrations for the Allegan Tech Center’s new auto tech building.

Sen. Nesbitt joined House Republican Leader Matt Hall to speak with small business owners.