Gov. Gretchen Whitmer held her second State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The governor mentioned several important reforms that the Legislature and her administration were able to work together on last year. I am hopeful that we can build on those successes as we begin this year’s work, including on issues important to U.P. residents, like developing a real roads plan, education, Line 5, agriculture, forestry, and manufacturing. There are many challenges we all face, and I am ready to work together to overcome them.

You can watch my video remarks by clicking the above image or visiting https://www.senatoredmcbroom.com/video/.

Winter in the U.P. is a great time to bundle up and escape to the great outdoors.

Local festivals and winter events provide more opportunities for outdoor entertainment. My Winter Guide highlights many of these activities statewide and in our community.

Download your free copy at https://www.senatoredmcbroom.com/publications/.

If you believe your property tax assessment is in error, you may appeal to your local Board of Review and, if necessary, the Michigan Tax Tribunal. My free guide on how to appeal is a good place to start that might lead to a favorable adjustment.

Download it for free from https://www.senatoredmcbroom.com/publications/.

Scam artists are constantly coming up with new ways to disguise who they are and trick people into giving them money. The latest scheme uses fake government-looking letters about overdue state taxes.

According to the Michigan Department of Treasury, taxpayers are told in the fake letter to immediately contact a toll-free number to resolve a state tax debt. The letter contains publicly available information about the person’s real tax debt to trick them into believing the letter is real. It then aggressively threatens to seize a taxpayer’s assets ― including property and Social Security benefits ― if the debt is not settled.

The state does mail official letters to taxpayers, but they outline taxpayer rights and provide several options for people to resolve outstanding debts. If you get a letter that threatens to seize your property unless you pay immediately over the phone, it’s a scam.

Taxpayers who have received the fake letter or have questions about their state debts can call Treasury’s Collections Service Center at 517-636-5265.

When winter temperatures plummet and home heating systems are running for hours, the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning increases. Approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency room each year due to accidental CO poisoning. CO is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill without warning, but there are steps you can take to keep your family safe.

Installing battery-operated or battery backup CO detectors near every sleeping area in your home, having your furnace professionally inspected every year and never using a generator inside your home are a few easy ways to help keep your family safe from CO poisoning.

For more information on carbon monoxide, including signs of CO poisoning and additional tips on way to prevent CO poisoning, visit www.cdc.gov/co.