Dear neighbor,

Below you will find legislative updates from the state Capitol that are important to the residents of western Oakland County. You also will find important updates and communications on my website: SenatorJimRunestad.com.

Serving you,

Senator Jim Runestad
23rd State Senate District

Fortunately, the bill was not put up for a vote on Feb. 1 as we had expected. We still do expect it to come up soon. I’ve added one more amendment on religious freedom and added a change to the pronoun amendment. These very important amendments are needed to stop this bill from attacking your First Amendment rights. Below is my minute and a half explanation:

I recently submitted a guest column that was published in The Detroit News about the growing illegal immigration crisis and its negative effects on local communities, particularly Michigan’s poor.

Michigan has the dubious distinction of having one of the highest poverty rates in the nation. In 2022, 13.4% of people residing in our state lived below the poverty line, compared with the national average of 11.5%. Yet, even as the state was struggling to address this existing poverty crisis, Michigan experienced a 42% increase in the number of asylum seekers (the majority of whom are actually people who are here illegally abusing our asylum system) taking up residence. Click here to read my full op-ed.

I recently spoke out in support of Michigan parents and their right to homeschool their children in response to attacks from prominent state Democrats. Last month, the chair of the state House Education Committee took to social media to call for the mandatory registration of all homeschoolers in the state in response to Attorney General Dana Nessel’s announcement of charges against two couples for alleged abuse and conspiracy to financially profit from fostering and adopting children.

These Big Brother Democrats seem eager to play fast and loose in order to encroach upon the rights of parents as the primary educators of their own children. But what they should be doing is working to hold the disaster that is the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Child Protective Services accountable in their duty to protect vulnerable children who are placed in the state’s care, often under already tragic circumstances.

According to MDHHS rules, “All children in foster care are required to attend a regular public or private school program. Home schooling is not permitted.” Instead of holding a state department accountable for what seems — to anyone who is paying attention — are habitual failures to enforce laws and policies already on the books, the attorney general and her Democratic cronies in the Legislature are looking to infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens throughout the state. This unwarranted government overreach against families who homeschool would be the very definition of an unconstitutional invasion of privacy and extreme violation of parental rights.

On Jan. 13, the people of Taiwan conducted their seventh direct presidential election since 1997. This electoral event not only signifies the democratic maturity Taiwan has achieved but also embodies the resolute commitment of its 23.5 million citizens to the principles of democracy and their constitutional governmental system.

Taiwan, with its open and rule-based election system, has emerged as a beacon of democracy in the Indo-Pacific region. However, this commitment has not come without challenges. The authoritarian regime in Beijing perceives Taiwan's democratic development as a threat to its legitimacy, resorting to economic manipulation, military coercion, and the spread of online misinformation in attempts to influence Taiwan's free elections.

The people of Taiwan, despite these challenges, stand resolute in their determination to preserve their democratic way of life, undeterred by the attempts to erode their sovereignty by the Chinese Communist Party.

Unfortunately, 2023 was one of the most partisan years on record. Gov. Whitmer and the Democrats in Lansing had no interest in working across the aisle. Instead, they rammed through a repeat of the same failed policies that led to Michigan’s Lost Decade, along with a host of draconian reduction of liberties and new policies that will destroy Michigan businesses.

I intend to continue the fight in 2024 against the anti-business, anti-parents, anti-freedom and anti-liberty agenda of the governor and the Democrats. I intend to fight nonstop against Gov. Whitmer’s efforts to take Michigan left of California. My colleagues and I understand that our constituents expect us to fight the fight and not compromise our values.

Some of my 2024 priorities include:

I recently appeared on FOX 2 Detroit's “Let It Rip” program to discuss the congressional impeachment inquiry. Click here or on the image below to watch the segment.

I was honored to spend time recently with a pack of Milford Cub Scouts and speak to them about the Michigan Legislature and the importance of elections and public service.

I am excited to host my next community hour from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 9 at the Waterford Township Hall, 5200 Civic Center Drive, in Waterford. Community hours are wonderful opportunities to connect with constituents about what is happening at the state Capitol and hear about issues that are important to them. All residents of the 23rd District are welcome to attend.

If you know of someone who would like to know about what’s going on in Lansing, please feel free to forward this email to those who are interested! And if you know of anyone who could use help with a state matter, please don’t hesitate to have them reach out to my office at any time!

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