Dear Friends,

To better serve the people of the 30th Senate District, I am offering this “Week in Review.” I hope you will find it informative about what is happening in Lansing.

I encourage you to contact me with any state issue. You may call 517-373-6920 or email [email protected].  Also, please check out my Facebook page. Let me know if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.

Working for you,
Roger Victory
State Senator

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government took testimony on the fiscal year 2023 budget recommendation for the Michigan Department of Attorney General.

Attorney General Dana Nessel gave a presentation on her department’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2023 and answered questions from subcommittee members. She highlighted her office’s Organized Retail Crime Unit to investigate and prosecute organized retail fraud, which is estimated to cost Michigan stores nearly $1 billion each year.

She also highlighted a proposed $5 million Job Courts pilot program that would serve as a diversion program for certain offenders by connecting them with gainful employment.

The concept is very interesting; it would help address several labor shortage concerns and get nonviolent offenders steered in the right direction. However, there remain questions about whether this should be under the AG or if it’s a better fit in a different department or agency and if Wayne, Genesee, and Marquette counties are the best places to test the program.

Click here to watch the subcommittee hearing. The hearing starts at 3:15 into the video.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) last week took more testimony on the department’s fiscal year 2023 budget.

Officials from MDARD testified on proposed funding increases to its Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division, which is responsible for the implementation of programs and enforcement of laws concerning agricultural products, export commodities, pesticide sale and use, pest management and groundwater protection.

We also heard from the Michigan Association of Fairs and Exhibitions about the need for continuing capital improvements to help upgrade our community fairgrounds into better year-round venues.

The Fair Food Network also testified on the Double Up Food Bucks program. The program continues to see a significant increase in demand since before the pandemic. On a very positive note, families who participate in Double Up Food Bucks eat more fresh fruits and vegetables than the average American.

As we work through the process of drafting a responsible and proactive MDARD budget, we need to hear and consider the challenges and opportunities facing our agriculture and rural communities.

Click here to watch the subcommittee hearing.

Potash is a source of soluble potassium, a key nutrient for plant growth, and is mainly used for agricultural fertilizer. Michigan is home to the largest deposit of potash in North America.

Thanks to a grant recently approved by the Legislature, Michigan Potash and Salt Company is planning to build a $1 billion potash production facility in Evart Township in Osceola County.

Taking advantage of a major source of potash in the state would not only help farmers in Michigan and other states but ultimately help address rising costs at the grocery store.

In addition to helping secure Michigan’s food supply by providing farmers with local access to potash, it will increase our overall national security. While most potash imports in the U.S. are from Canada, the next largest imports come from Russia and Belarus. With the current state of global affairs, this has led to shortages and massive price increases.

A January 2021 U.S. Geological Survey mineral commodity summary stated potash reserves of more than 75 million tons are located about 2,100 meters underground in central Michigan.

Due to supply chain issues, prices for agricultural products including fertilizer have risen sharply. Michigan Farm News reported earlier this month that fertilizer costs currently are about $115 per acre higher than the same time last year.