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.

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

The budgeting process is well under with the completion of the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference. It continues to become clear that historic inflation is squeezing household incomes across our state as the economy shows the signs of cooling off. I know from listening to parents, seniors, employers and employees in my district, that they are anxious about the high cost of living. May’s revenue estimating conference reports should serve as a warning to proceed with caution as the Legislature generates the state’s spending plan for the next year.

I proposed a number of amendments to the Senate’s budget bills to improve school security and safety, help tackle learning loss, and boost child care funding. I also formally requested the Senate include a $10 million appropriation in MDOT’s budget to complete the sections of sound wall along the I-75 corridor in Troy. While many residents along the affected I-75 corridor would like to see even more funding set aside to construct additional sound walls along the route, it is important for the Legislature to provide the necessary financial resources for MDOT to construct the portions of the wall identified by its most recent study.

It is important that we work together to pass a balanced state budget that uses tax dollars wisely and promotes policies that help Michigan taxpayers. Frankly, Michigan residents cannot afford a state budget that looks to expand the size of government bureaucracy to unsuitable levels. I look forward to working with my colleagues on passing a budget that will make responsible investments into our schools and public safety, fix our roads and aging water infrastructure, protect our Great Lakes and natural resources, and hopefully provide inflation relief for all Michiganders.

As Senate Democrats moved to repeal Michigan’s prohibition against state agencies adopting regulations more stringent than federal rules, I pushed to hold lawmakers more accountable for future policy changes that could have a major impact in the state.

If my colleagues think it is a good idea for Michigan to have more regulations than the federal government, it is important that at least an elected body, accountable to the voters, put their names on such actions instead of leaving it up to bureaucrats.

I proposed amending Senate Bill 14 in order to make its passage contingent on my previously introduced Senate Joint Resolution C, which would amend the state’s constitution to require the Legislature to approve any new rule that’s implementation would cost over $1 million within five years.

Small businesses may not have the ability to pay for lobbyists and lawyers to manage regulations, but small business owners may or likely have a direct contact to their state senator or representative.

At a time when trust in government is at an all-time low, we need to increase government transparency and accountability. If we are going to continue to grow government, we must increase its accountability to the people it serves.

My amendment was defeated by Democrats in a party-line vote. SB 14 passed the chamber by the same margin and now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

SJR C was referred to the Senate Committee on Government Operations, where it has remained since it was introduced on April 25.

I joined Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan’s congressional delegation, and a bipartisan group of state legislators on a tour of Selfridge Air National Guard Base on May 15. The base broke ground on a $28 million fighter jet maintenance hangar as well as to send a message to Washington that the Macomb County air base will be prepared for a new fighter mission. The Selfridge base is important to our national defense and economy for the region and to bring future Air Force missions to the base.

I introduced Senate Resolution 49 to support Taiwan’s vibrant democracy and denounce China’s hostile actions toward the island nation. Taiwan’s sovereignty is often threatened by the People’s Republic of China, especially during the past months. China’s Communist Party claims the self-governing democracy as its own despite never having controlled it and has vowed to take over the island, by force if necessary.

China’s actions are irresponsible and threaten the peace and security in the Asian-pacific region. There are roughly 4,720 Taiwanese Americans living in Michigan, while the United States is home to more than 300,000 Taiwanese immigrants.

SR 49 was adopted by the Senate on May 11 and has been sent to the U.S. ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the People’s Republic of China ambassador to the U.S., the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., and to the members of Michigan’s congressional delegation.

I recently joined my legislative colleagues in presenting a proclamation from Gov. Whitmer recognizing May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

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.