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,

Senator Jim Runestad
23rd State Senate District

The Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its 4th Annual Black and White Awards Ball on Jan. 24. The elegant event was a mix of celebration and recognition as Sen. Runestad’s office honored 11 outstanding businesses and professionals for their community contributions.

Congratulations to the following award recipients:

Sen. Runestad recently honored Highland Supply with a state tribute for providing 15 years of excellent service. Despite the many challenges small businesses face, they were able to beat the odds and survive through perseverance and hard work. Their story is one of remarkable fortitude and resilience that is rooted deeply in the values of family and community. Highland Supply is a stellar example of a business that cares deeply about the members of its community, the businesses it serves, and the people it employs.

Sen. Runestad released the following statement in response to the governor’s annual State of the State address on Feb. 26:

“Gov. Whitmer has a lot of ideas. But the past six years have proven that they aren’t always good ideas.

“Sadly, the reality is that the state of our state under Gov. Whitmer’s leadership is crumbling — crumbling roads and bridges, a sluggish economy and failing schools. Michigan ranks 40th in the nation for road quality, 39th in job growth and 40th in per capita income. Meanwhile, 75% of our fourth and eighth graders cannot read proficiently. At the same time, state spending has grown over 40% under Gov. Whitmer’s watch, and the previous Lansing Democrat trifecta succeeded in blowing through a $9 billion surplus with record-setting budgets focused on bloated government and pet projects.

“We don’t need new taxes to fix our roads — we need to prioritize our spending. Legislative Republicans have put forward a sustainable road funding plan that will do this. We can support our students and teachers by focusing on proven resources, getting back to the basics, and restoring high expectations and accountability — not rolling back standards. We can find room to cut taxes and return money back to the pockets of hardworking Michiganders instead of funneling millions into some of the world’s largest corporations.”

Earlier this year, Sen. Runestad requested that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer order flags to be raised to full-staff at the Michigan Capitol and all state buildings on Inauguration Day in honor of the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 47th president of the United States.

The request followed a similar order given by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who announced that all flags in Texas would be raised to full-staff for Inauguration Day. Former President Joe Biden had ordered all flags to be lowered to half-staff for 30 days following the death of former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100 — a timeline that coincided with Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.

Inauguration Day should be a day of hope for the state and nation.

With the rise of DOGE and the elimination of the waste, fraud and abuse at the federal level, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer must do the same thing in Michigan and ensure that resident’s tax dollars are not wasted on pointless DEI programs that only hurt the safety, security, and prosperity of Michiganders.

Sen. Jim Runestad sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Jan. 23, demanding her administration follow President Donald J. Trump’s lead and “immediately halt all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies related to hiring, training, and spending practices.”

On Nov. 5, the people of Michigan voted to end this type of nonsense and return effectiveness and efficiency to government. In replace of DEI, the state of Michigan should instead adopt Merit, Excellence, and Intelligence (MEI) initiatives. These practices would serve to strengthen Michigan’s bureaucracy so it can better effectuate the needs of the people.

It remains unclear exactly how much state government currently spends on DEI because a significant number of DEI-designated employees across the state bureaucracy are in positions that remain hidden and unidentifiable in the budget. The situation is potentially as bad or worse than at the University of Michigan, where nearly $250 million was spent on DEI activities prior to budget changes in December.

At the close of last year's lame duck session, Sen. Runestad gave a blistering speech on the Senate floor against Democrats for trying to raise taxes on Oakland County property owners.

The legislation, House Bills 4177, 5817 and 5818, would allow for the Wayne County Board of Commissioners to establish a history museum authority that could seek tax support from Oakland County residents to help fund the Detroit Historical Museum.

Although passed along party lines, the bills were never presented to the governor by the previous Democrat-controlled House majority. A judge ruled last week that the court will not force the new House majority to finish the previous House majority's business.

Sen. Runestad supports Speaker Matt Hall in allowing the previous majority's leftover bad bills to die with the close of last year's fumbled session.

Click on the image below to hear Sen. Runstad's speech on the Senate floor or read his remarks on page 92 of the Senate Journal for Dec. 20.

Sen. Runestad’s District Director Annette LeBaron is now offering in-district office hours for constituents in the 23rd District. This benefit provides an opportunity for community members to receive assistance and connect with the senator’s office in a more personal way.

Meetings will be set on the first Tuesday of each month at White Lake Charter Township Hall. Appointments must be scheduled in advance by contacting Annette at ALebaron@senate.michigan.gov or 517-373-2470.

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