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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,

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Senator Jim Runestad
23rd State Senate District

Demanding justice, integrity from the Michigan Supreme Court

I recently spoke on the Senate floor to call out potential impropriety by the Michigan Supreme Court after the secretary of state’s PAC donated over $80,000 to one justice’s reelection campaign. Click on the image below to hear my remarks. You also may click here to read more about my official request for a conduct review.

 
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Fighting for fair elections

Earlier this fall, Senate Democrats passed controversial legislation to make sweeping changes to Michigan election law. These bills are now under consideration in the House of Representatives.

This misleading bill package goes far beyond established federal voting rights laws and fails to protect good and hardworking local clerks against baseless accusations from bad actors who are not required to even produce evidence of wrongdoing under the bill. The sad result of this kind of strong-arm legislation will be a mass exodus of experienced local election professionals unwilling to put their livelihoods and personal integrity at risk. Click here to read more about this important topic.

Supporting Michigan workers

I was proud to join striking members of Teamsters Local 283 on the picket line at the Marathon Refinery earlier this month. Click here to watch a video of my conversations with the union members.

 
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Standing up for Michigan families, vulnerable residents

Vital family-forward legislation that I have sponsored has been stalled in committee by Democrats in control of the Senate as they continue to advance their own dangerous and erroneous policies.

Click on the image below to hear me criticize the majority party for blocking my bill to reform the state’s Children’s Protective Services.
 
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pocket vetoed my bill to allow families to place video cameras in nursing homes to protect their loved ones from abuse. This term, the majority party hasn’t given my bill any consideration. Click on the image below to learn more.
 
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Click on the image below to hear my update on two policies that jeopardize the integrity of Michigan families and CPS investigations.
 
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Celebrating with Meals on Wheels

I was honored to join Livingston County Senior Nutrition and Western Oakland County Meals on Wheels last month at the ribbon cutting for their new permanent location that I was able to secure funding for through the state budget process. The dedicated Meals on Wheels staff and hundreds of volunteers will now be able to serve the growing number of seniors who count on this vital assistance for years to come.

Click on the image below to see more from this exciting celebration. You also may click here to read more about important funding that helped make it possible.

 
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Our nation’s debt is hurting Michigan

Read the following letter I mailed out to residents of the 23rd Senate District this month about growing concerns over the impact of our national debt on Michigan residents:

Dear residents of the 23rd District,

The national debt has reached an unprecedented level, doubling in the last decade to surpass $35 trillion in 2024 — equating to roughly $93,500 per American. As this outrageous debt continues to grow, so will the burden it places on states like Michigan to serve local residents.

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), this deficit is projected to grow by trillions each year, setting the stage for an explosive increase over the next decade — one unlike anything the U.S. has ever faced.

While the federal government is responsible for managing the national debt, state governments, including Michigan, will be significantly impacted as they develop budgets, allocate resources, and plan for future needs. This reality must shape how we approach state-level spending and fiscal responsibility.

Following World War II, the U.S. reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio from over 100% to 25% over a period of three decades. However, circumstances were vastly different then; much of the global economy was in ruins, giving the U.S. an economic advantage. Today, the global landscape has shifted, with nations like China rivaling the U.S. in economic size and projected growth.

As the U.S. grapples with these economic challenges, state governments like Michigan’s are confronted with difficult “opportunity cost” decisions. Federal fiscal policies could have monumental consequences for states like Michigan. With a limited budget, prioritizing one initiative means sacrificing another.

For example, Social Security beneficiaries in Michigan may receive their lowest cost-of-living adjustment increase since 2021. According to The Senior Citizens League, a recent survey of over 2,100 seniors revealed that nearly 80% have faced rising costs in essentials like food, housing and prescription drugs.

Additionally, 65% reported increased monthly expenses. About two-thirds of seniors rely on Social Security for over half of their income, with 28% dependent on it entirely.

Core consumer prices rose 0.3% last month, indicating persistent inflationary pressure will continue to affect Michigan households. Many families across the state continue to feel the strain of high prices, despite the slower pace of inflation. These rising costs complicate our ability as a state to plan for the future, from funding essential programs to investing in infrastructure.

At the state level, Michigan’s government will have to grapple with these “opportunity cost” decisions in a more direct way than ever before. Limited resources mean that prioritizing one initiative often means cutting funding for another. These are real trade-offs we must consider.

For instance, do we continue meeting our obligations like Social Security and Medicare for Michigan’s seniors, or do we choose to divert these funds to other globalist priorities?

Do Michiganders want to prioritize funding to keep our local communities safe or provide federal and state benefits to the current 17 million immigrants illegally in the U.S.?

Do Michiganders want to upgrade our state’s decidedly third-rate critical infrastructure — roads, electrical grids and water systems — or do we want to give billions to multinational companies that may not prioritize our local needs?

Do we want to impose massive tax increases on our taxpayers to fund the globalist agenda or do we focus on addressing Michigan’s most pressing needs first?

These are important questions we, as Michigan taxpayers, need to address to understand and prioritize “opportunity cost” when it comes to our limited resources.

As your state senator, I will continue to work to put your priorities first — whether that’s protecting our seniors, investing in our infrastructure or safeguarding your hard-earned tax dollars.

Sincerely,

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Senator Jim Runestad
“Proudly serving the 23rd District”

Hearing from you

I was pleased to host a community hour recently in Springfield Township. It is always good to hear from residents on important state issues, big and small.

 
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The 23rd Senate District

 
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Senator Jim Runestad
7500 Connie B. Binsfeld Office Building
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536

Visit my website at: www.SenatorJimRunestad.com

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