Dear Friends:

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and provide updates about what is going on at Michigan’s Capitol.

I am the state senator for the 18th District – covering all of Barry County and parts of Allegan, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Kent and Ionia counties. Please feel free to contact me with any issues related to state government at SenTAlbert@senate.michigan.gov, or by calling 517-373-1734 (toll-free at 855-347-8018).

Sincerely,

Thomas Albert
State Senator

After wasting a $9 billion surplus a few years ago, Lansing Democrats now want to raid the state’s emergency savings to keep growing the size of government. It’s one of the main reasons a budget proposal advanced last week in the Michigan Senate is unsustainable and unacceptable.

The Democrats’ proposal calls for taking $350 million from the state’s “rainy day” fund. While many Michigan families are facing difficult times, state government itself is not. There is no financial emergency in state government, and we should not act like there is one.

Democrats have proposed adding hundreds more workers to state government bureaucracy and are even exploring the idea of a new $25 million park at the state Capitol complex. That’s not ‘emergency’ spending.

The Democrats’ plan would cause budget problems in future years without offering real solutions to the real challenges facing our state. It does nothing to rein in high energy costs or corporate welfare, and it fails to address issues in underperforming schools.

Republicans offered dozens of amendments to improve Democrats’ budget, including proposals to improve public safety, address chronic absenteeism in schools and lower property taxes. I personally sponsored more than 40 amendments, but nearly all were rejected along party lines.

The budget plan approved by Senate Democrats is a relatively early step in the budget process. Differences between the Senate, House and governor’s plan must be ironed out to find a compromise. I am hopeful the next budget proposal that comes before the Senate will be better than the one advanced last week.

The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

I recently introduced legislation to close loopholes in Michigan law and ensure real consequences for drunk drivers who cause death or serious injury.

The main bill in the legislative package would be called “Lucia’s Law,” in memory of an Allegan County 8-month-old who was killed a year ago by a drunk driver while sitting with her family in their front yard. The case exposed serious shortcomings in Michigan’s drunk driving laws that I propose addressing with Senate Bills 919, 920 and 921. The legislation would:

Lucia’s parents, Matthew and Rebecca Seifried, have advocated for changes to state law and worked tirelessly to increase awareness about the dangers of drunk driving throughout the past year. I am hopeful this legislation will advance to help prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.

Many communities across Michigan are searching for ways to improve public safety, including help with purchasing equipment for local fire departments.

The Fire Equipment Grant Program is now available through the Michigan Department of Treasury. It’s designed to help local units of government purchase critical equipment and gear for on-call, part-time and volunteer firefighters.

The grants are competitive and contingent on available funding. Applications must be submitted by June 19, and awards will be announced in August. Click here for more information.

Michigan is home to more than 400,000 veterans. National Military Appreciation Month recognizes their service and the sacrifices of their families.

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency provides support services, including employment assistance, mental health resources and help accessing medical benefits. Veterans can learn more online or by calling 800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838).

I am a veteran myself, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps. I want to thank all the other Michiganders who have served in the military, and I appreciate the opportunity to help connect them with services.

The Michigan Senate approved legislation that would allow doctors to provide patients with information about organ donation.

Senate Bill 205 would allow physicians to ask about a patient’s interest in becoming a bone marrow, organ or tissue donor and provide information about how to register.

Over the past decade, more than 9,000 Michigan patients have received organ transplants, while more than 2,700 remain on a waiting list. The bill aims to increase awareness and expand participation. For more information on organ donation, or to sign up, visit Gift of Life Michigan.

The Michigan state park reservation website has added a new flexible dates feature to make trip planning even easier.

When booking camping or overnight lodging, the dates menu now includes more search options, including number of nights, travel month and preferred state park. You can also use the Department of Natural Resources recreation search tool to find amenities or specific activities for your trip.

State campsites, lodging and harbor slips can be reserved up to six months in advance.