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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

Hauck opposes budget based on higher taxes and raiding teacher pension fund

Last year’s budget recklessly ran through the state’s $9 billion budget surplus on pet projects and corporate handouts, and we have little to show for that level of excessive spending outside of more programs and bureaucracy we’ll have to fund in the future.

Senate Democrats continued this level of irresponsible spending this year, but without the $9 billion savings account to dip into. The budget that was recently passed instead relies on a $700 million income tax hike, a $670 million raid on the teacher pension fund and a 1,200% tax increase on trash.

Despite raising taxes and taking from the teacher retirement fund, this budget does very little to fix local roads and bridges or address the state’s highest priorities. Instead, it continues us down the path of new programs and bureaucracies and sends hundreds of millions of your tax dollars to profitable multinational corporations.

Senate Republicans offered amendments that would end corporate giveaways and instead return money to taxpayers, focus spending on bridge repairs, help keep fentanyl out of our communities, provide cancer screenings for veterans, and safeguard tax dollars from being used to pay rent or legal fees for people who are here illegally. Democrats voted every amendment down.

At the end of the day, the priorities just didn’t line up, and I simply couldn’t vote in favor of this unsustainable spending that relies on taking more from taxpayers at a time when they can least afford it.

Democrat-led legislation drastically limits who can bid or work on state projects

As the state Senate continued work on the annual budget process, the Democrat majority quietly slipped a mandate into the upcoming fiscal year’s spending plan that would severely limit which companies can bid on state projects and threaten the livelihood of countless Michigan workers.

The new mandate would require every worker on a state job site to go through a registered apprenticeship program. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, laborers, HVAC technicians, and even people sweeping the floors would no longer be able to work or bid on a state project without being enrolled in or completing this apprenticeship program.

This new mandate is excessively broad — it is absurd to imagine demanding formal apprenticeship training for sweeping floors or shoveling dirt. This is not just inefficient, but also an unnecessary and costly burden on workers and businesses.

A change as significant as this new rule will affect countless workers and should be carefully considered and debated as an issue on its own, not hidden deep within a budget bill. I offered an amendment to address this glaring concern and eliminate this requirement, unfortunately, Senate Democrats chose to continue forward with this new, burdensome mandate and voted down my amendment.

Limiting who can bid on state projects in such a way puts worker’s livlihoods at risk and drives up costs. When coupled with the recent reinstatement of prevailing wage, the cost of state projects will be dramatically inflated and the state is going to come to you, the taxpayer, to help make up the difference.

You can view my floor speech encouraging my amendment to be adopted below:

 
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Bird Flu detected in Michigan dairy cattle

Confirmed cases of Avian Influenza have been detected in dairy cattle in the U.S., including herds in nine Michigan counties. As of May 13, infected dairy cattle have been identified in Allegan, Barry, Clinton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Montcalm and Ottawa counties. Immediate measures are being taken to contain the disease. There is no concern that the virus poses a risk to consumers.

Avian Influenza, more commonly known as bird flu, is highly contagious and often fatal in domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and guinea fowl, but human infections are uncommon. The virus is spread naturally among flocks through free-flying waterfowl. Since 2022, cases of bird flu have been confirmed in 48 states, including flocks in 23 Michigan counties.

Effective April 29, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is requiring mandatory testing of all dairy cattle moved between states. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued a Determination of Extraordinary Emergency for “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Risk Reduction Response Order” to protect Michigan's poultry and dairy cattle from further spread of the virus. Accurate and timely reporting is important to better understand and contain the virus.

These measures are being taken to protect Michigan’s poultry and dairy cows, but the outbreak does not pose a risk to consumers of milk or other dairy products. Only milk from healthy dairy cattle is authorized for distribution into the commercial market; milk from the infected cattle is destroyed so it does not enter the human food supply. Pasteurization offers an additional layer of protection to the consumer as it has been proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Overall, the outbreak is limited and is not expected to have a major impact on the supply of milk or other dairy products.

For more information on Avian Influenza visit the USDA or MDARD, or sign up to receive email updates for up-to-date information.

Weekly fishing report

The weekly fishing report is an email newsletter from the DNR that provides subscribers with updates on fishing conditions from around the state. Information comes directly from creel clerks and other DNR staff who spend their days in and around Michigan lakes and rivers. The report is organized by region and provides information on recent weather conditions and species updates, along with links to a Great Lakes Temperature Map and Daily Streamflow Conditions.

 
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Memorial Day 2024

Monday, May 27, is Memorial Day — a day set aside to remember the men and women who died in military service to our country.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was first recognized in the 1860s as a day to remember those who died fighting in the Civil War. As the years passed and the U.S. experienced other major conflicts where military lives were lost, including World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and the Korean War, the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May and declared it a federal holiday.

 
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Severe weather

Each year, Michigan residents look forward to spring when the days are longer and the skies are clear. But springtime in Michigan can also bring severe weather.

If a severe storm hits your community, it is important to pay attention to state and local officials and follow their instructions. It is usually best to avoid traveling to hard-hit areas if possible, as it can hinder cleanup efforts. Keep these things in mind as you begin your own cleanup:

• Look carefully for downed power lines or branches that are about to fall. Never approach a downed power line; report them to your local utility company.
• Remember to take pictures or video of the damage and review your insurance policy before beginning any repairs; notify your agent to clarify any issues.
• Be aware of scams! It is not unusual for scam artists to pose as contractors after a natural disaster. Before hiring any contractor or signing a contract, check to be sure the company is licensed and insured. Make sure you understand what you will be charged, and do not pay in full until the job is completed.
• Contact 2-1-1 for local resources that can help with your recovery efforts. 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can connect you to resources like temporary housing, transportation and financial assistance.

The Michigan State Police MIREADY program has plenty of resources and educational materials to guide Michigan residents prepare for and recover from weather emergencies and other disasters.


Senator Roger Hauck
3300 Connie B. Binsfeld Office Building
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536

Visit my website at: SenatorRogerHauck.com


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