Two days after the Board of State Canvassers certified the Unlock Michigan signatures, the Senate voted to pass the measure. I voted yes!

Unlock Michigan is a citizen-led petition drive to repeal the 1945 Emergency Powers of the Governor Act, which allowed a governor to declare a state of emergency and keep it in place without input from the Legislature. The group was formed in the early days of the pandemic in response to the governor’s decision to use unilateral power to impose lockdowns. Last October, the Michigan Supreme Court said Gov. Whitmer’s actions were illegal and declared the 1945 law as unconstitutional. By approving the initiative, we can repeal that law and ensure it will never be abused again to deny the people a say in their government.

The Unlock Michigan petition was also approved by the House of Representatives, formally repealing the 1945 law. This action cannot be vetoed by the governor.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently signed into law a funding measure that uses federal and state resources to provide relief to hospitals and communities affected by flooding, while also dedicating funds to childcare programs and public safety.

Senate Bill 27, which I supported, outlines nearly $385 million in spending, most of which comes from the federal government. Included is $160 million to help hospitals cover increased costs and reduced revenue resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic; $100 million for long-term care facilities; $105 million to increase reimbursement rates for childcare programs; and funds to clean up recent flood damage.

It also includes a boost to the Secondary Road Patrol Program, which allows county sheriffs to assist local departments by patrolling less-traveled roads and is a program that has been especially helpful in the rural communities of the 33rd District.

I’ve spoken to officers from local departments and they’ve said these extra patrols have helped take a major load off of their departments, allowing them to use resources elsewhere in the community.

This program has proven to be successful and has done a great job getting additional first responders out on the streets to keep everyone safe!

The 2021 edition of the Michigan Hunting Digest is now available. This annual publication, made available by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, contains everything hunters need to know including the latest rules and regulations pertaining to hunting and trapping, as well as species-specific information.

Hunters can use the hunting digest to find license information, hunting zones and hours, rules, regulations and more.

The 2021 Hunting Digest is available online by clicking here and can be downloaded to a smartphone or other personal device for use in the field.

The 33rd state Senate District includes Clare, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, and Montcalm Counties.

Thank you for subscribing to my electronic newsletter! I am honored to represent you in the 33rd Senate District of Michigan. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Please feel free to forward this on to others who may be interested in receiving the 33rd District E-news. You may sign up for it also at my website.