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, Shelby Township, 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

As we near the end of the 2024 legislative session, there are many important issues the Legislature could take up to help everyday Michiganders. Rather than focusing on lowering costs for families or tackling the growing epidemic of drug addiction, the Democratic-controlled Legislature seems focused on bills that would hurt our economy and make our state less business-friendly, such as an unneeded sweeping overhaul of Michigan’s worker’s compensation laws.

Additionally, Lansing Democrats are set to move on expanding unemployment insurance benefits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan’s Unemployment Trust Fund balance nearly fell to zero and is just now recovering. The Unemployment Insurance Agency grossly mismanaged the trust fund during the pandemic, giving out millions of dollars to fraudulent claims. If the trust fund is exhausted, the state is forced to use federal loans to issue benefit payments, costing taxpayers millions in future interest payments. Despite this risk, the Michigan House passed a bill expanding UIA benefit duration from 20 to 26 weeks without a committee hearing.

I am dedicated to working on issues that all Michiganders care about, particularly tackling inflation and lowering the cost of living, which is crushing our families and small businesses. I will keep you posted on the work done in the Michigan Legislature during the lame duck session.

I recently appeared on Local 4 News to provide an update on the progress of the I-75 sound wall project in Troy. Two sound walls will be built in Troy along the north side of I-75, from Paragon Avenue to Long Lake Road, and from Crooks Road to Coolidge Highway.

The design phase for the project is currently underway and base plans were submitted in October. Preliminary plans are to be submitted in January 2025, with final project coordination to begin in April 2025. Finally, construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026.

Last year, I secured the additional $10 million in state funding of the $14 million needed to fund the project. This project began nearly 10 years ago when residents living along the I-75 corridor became frustrated with sound pollution following the interstate expansion. Part of why it took so long is that projects like this require federal funding, which can take years to secure. Michigan law does not currently have a mechanism to fund sound wall construction at the state level.

While the work and commitment of volunteers who advocated for this project are commendable, and I am happy to be part of the process, this model is not sustainable. I recently introduced Senate Bill 643 to allow MDOT to work directly with local transportation stakeholders to identify noise abatement projects and fund the construction of sound walls, eliminating the need to rely on complicated federal guidelines.

I spoke to Local 4 about the difficulties in securing funding for sound walls and the need to reduce harmful noise pollution near highways.

I introduced Senate Resolution 145, a resolution to recognize the historic, cultural, and religious significance of the festival of Diwali. Diwali is celebrated every autumn by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains in Michigan, the United States and throughout the world, with over one billion celebrants marking the holiday.

Diwali is a holy day during which celebrants light small oil lamps and place them around the home. The lighting of the lamps is followed by prayers for attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and valor, and symbolizes the light within the individual that rids the soul of the darkness of ignorance.

For Hindus, Diwali is a celebration of the belief that light triumphs over darkness and good triumphs over evil. For Sikhs, Diwali is celebrated as the day that the Sixth Founding Guru, or revered teacher, Guru Hargobind, was released from captivity by the Mughal Emperor Jehangir. For Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of moksha, or liberation, by Lord Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras, who were the great teachers of Jain Dharma at the end of his life in 527 B.C.E.

I was honored to speak to the resolution before it was adopted by the Michigan Senate to recognize the significance of Diwali to so many Michiganders. I also recognized more than 30 residents sitting in the Senate gallery who traveled to Lansing to see this resolution be adopted.

Recently, bipartisan bills were introduced by Reps. Nate Shannon and Graham Filler to provide relief to businesses facing challenges due to the Michigan Supreme Court’s ruling that is set to raise the minimum wage, eliminate the tip credit, and implement new, mandatory paid sick leave in February 2025.

The Supreme Court’s ruling that the Legislature’s adopt and amend procedure is unconstitutional mandates that the Improved Workforce Opportunity Act (IWOWA) and the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA) will go into law in February unless amended. These bills make critical adjustments to the bills to avoid devastating impacts on businesses and the potential loss of thousands of jobs.

House Bill 6056 would preserve the tipped wage structure, ensuring that tipped workers can still be paid 38% of the minimum wage, so long as their combined wages and tips meet the full minimum wage. Service employees prefer the tipped wage system, as it often allows them to make much more than the minimum wage. Additionally, if the Legislature fails to act, Michigan businesses will face greatly increased labor costs that could lead to layoffs and business closures.

HB 6057 would make critical adjustments to the paid sick leave laws. If changes are not made, small businesses will be hit hard by the huge administrative burdens created by these laws. The bill is dedicated to keeping the spirit of the law intact, while making it easy for businesses to provide these benefits to their employees.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the majority to make needed changes to these laws to ensure that employees can continue to reap the benefits of the laws, while not crushing small businesses with new costs.

As temperatures drop, many in our communities may find themselves needing help to heat their homes this winter. The state of Michigan offers several energy assistance programs to help eligible senior and low-income households keep or restore utility services. Immediate relief may be available through a network of nonprofit organizations and other financial assistance programs.

The State Transportation Commission has approved the final version of the 2025-2029 Five-Year Transportation Program, detailing projects planned for funding and construction by the Michigan Department of Transportation over the next five years.

Updated annually, the 5YTP is required by state statute to be posted on the MDOT website and transmitted to the Michigan Legislature, state budget director and the House and Senate fiscal agencies by March 1. Public comments were gathered from Aug. 2 to Sept. 3, and a summary of this feedback is included in the plan.