Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to the latest edition of my e-newsletter.

Below you’ll find an update on what’s happening in your state Capitol and some additional resources I hope you find helpful.

Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the Michigan Senate. I am grateful each and every day to work for the people of the 34th Senate District.

Sincerely,

Roger Hauck
State Senator
34th Senate District

I recently voted to protect the rights of Michigan workers by voting against the repeal of Right to Work. Workers should be able to choose whether they want to join a union — without fear of intimidation or threats.

This partisan legislation amounts to a blue-collar tax hike at a time when families are struggling to feed their families and pay their bills. Michigan workers should not be forced to hand over their hard-earned money to corrupt union bosses.

Right to Work helped our state recover from the Lost Decade and made Michigan more competitive in attracting good-paying jobs.

Repealing Right to Work proves that Democrats are not serious about the economic future of our state by returning to the failed policies of the Lost Decade.

Michigan taxpayers should not be forced to pay more for government projects just so unions can line their pockets. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats voted to reinstate prevailing wage requirements that have shown cost taxpayers millions more for roads, bridges and schools each year.

Prevailing wage is anti-competitive, and is bad for the economy and for Michigan’s workers. Prevailing wage eliminates competition, leading to fewer roads and bridges getting fixed and higher taxes. It also puts an undue strain on contractors and on state and school budgets.

Studies have shown that prevailing wage will cost Michigan’s universities, community colleges and school districts hundreds of millions of dollars more each year. This is another action by the Democratic majority to further erode our economy at the expense of hardworking families.

Last month, the Democrat-led Senate passed legislation that grossly restricts the Second Amendment rights of Michigan residents.

I support efforts to reduce violence and crime, but I believe the extreme gun bills Democrats have proposed are not the answer. We had an opportunity to address the root causes of violence in our society, such as mental health issues, poverty, and lack of opportunity — and we had an opportunity to hold criminals accountable when they break the law. Instead, Democrats passed partisan legislation that grossly violates not only the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Michiganders, but also our most dearly held values as Americans.

The safe storage laws are an undue burden on our right to defend ourselves and the Extreme Risk Protection Orders, so-called red flag laws, presume guilt and disregard a person’s rights to due process and legal representation. These proposed red flag laws require the lowest standard of evidence available to American courts and cast aside the most basic notion of American law — the presumption of innocence. The U.S. Constitution guarantees certain rights, while these bills seem to simply ignore them.

These bills are an extreme government overreach and nothing beyond a thinly veiled attempt to further erode our constitutional freedoms. I want to be clear that I voted no on these extreme bills and will continue doing everything I can to protect our constitutional rights.

March 20 marked the first day of spring and the beginning of travel season in Michigan. Many will be embarking on spring break vacations soon or looking ahead to plan their next summer adventure.

Whether you prefer a weeklong stay in a state park or are looking to plan a day trip close to home, Michigan is home to endless travel opportunities. The Pure Michigan website is a great tool to help you discover your next destination. There is even a customized trip planning tool where you can find events and destinations in any city or region of the state.

The Great Lakes Watershed Field Course is a four-day professional development experience for third through 12th grade teachers throughout the Great Lakes region.

For the 2023 course, educators will visit projects in the Grand Traverse region. Training will include invasive species control and prevention, native species habitat improvements, nutrient runoff reductions and keeping the Great Lakes clean — along with developing and implementing similar projects with their students.

The 2023 course will take place from Aug. 8-11; applications are due April 24. There is no charge to participate, but space is limited. For more information or to register visit the Great Lakes Watershed Field Course.

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” In the more than 200 years since he made that statement, our tax system has only become more complicated.

While sometimes daunting, there are many resources available to help you prepare your taxes prior to the deadline:

My staff and I stand ready to help in any way that we can. If we are unable to help, we
will help put you in touch with someone who can.