Serving you
Serving the people of the 36th Senate District is important to me, and I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You may call toll-free at 1-855-347-8036 or email [email protected]. Also, please check out my Facebook page. Let me know if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move Michigan forward.

Updated COVID-19 figures
On Monday, Michigan health officials reported 997 new cases of COVID-19 and 115 additional deaths, which bring the state’s total number of positive cases to 25,635 and total number of deaths to 1,602. In the 36th Senate District, there have been 87 cases and 4 deaths. This information and more is available at www.Michigan.gov/coronavirus.

Calling on layoffs of nonessential state employees due to COVID-19 impact
I am extremely worried about the state’s budget as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the excessively restrictive “Stay Home, Stay Safe” lockdown order extended by Gov. Whitmer. The state has estimated the impact on the current 2020 budget will be between $1 billion and $3 billion, with another $1 billion to $4 billion hole in next year’s budget.

We are facing a serious financial challenge, and we need to consider all options to adjust our spending — such as cuts to popular programs and laying off nonessential state employees, including those in the Legislature.

The state is doing everything it can to address the global COVID-19 pandemic, but we also must soon make the hard decisions to address its tremendous impact to our economy and state budget. The longer we wait to act, the deeper the cuts will need to be.

With the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency needing more workers to handle the record number of claims filed during the COVID-19 emergency, I encouraged the governor to deploy nonessential state employees to assist with unemployment claims instead of hiring more people and layoff any nonessential workers who cannot help file unemployment claims.

Unemployment news
Michigan self-employed workers, gig workers, 1099-independent contractors and low-wage workers affected by COVID-19 can now apply for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance beginning at www.Michigan.gov/UIA. Under the federal CARES Act, workers on state unemployment have already begun receiving the set $600 federal weekly payment in addition to their state benefit amount. Michigan is one of the first states to begin sending the $600 payment. READ MORE

COVID-19 news
Below are releases from the State Emergency Operations Center about 13 new or expanded COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites – including one between Gaylord and Alpena – and a new statewide warmline for Michiganders living with persistent mental health conditions.

LANSING, MICH. – Thirteen new or expanded COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites – including in Northern Michigan – will provide greater access to residents across Michigan and a new lab will speed up test results under a plan announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Expanded testing is available through a partnership involving the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Michigan Primary Care Association, 11 health centers, and NxGen MDX Laboratory.

The efforts will increase Michigan’s daily COVID-19 testing capacity by about 40 percent when fully operational. The new drive-thru capacity will include two large-scale sites in Detroit and Flint.

New drive-thru sites will also operate in Atlanta (between Gaylord and Alpena), Bad Axe, Battle Creek, Bay City, Benton Harbor, Jackson, Kalamazoo, and Traverse City. The partnership will significantly expand drive-thru test sites currently operating in Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Saginaw. Each site will aim to serve 100 or more individuals per day. Individuals should call before coming to these drive-thru sites for pre-test evaluation and additional information. READ MORE

LANSING, MICH. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is launching a statewide warmline for Michiganders living with persistent mental health conditions. The warmline will connect individuals with certified peer support specialists who have lived experiences of behavioral health issues, trauma or personal crises, and are trained to support and empower the callers.

The warmline will operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. at 888-PEER-753 (888-733-7753). It is intended to serve individuals living with persistent mental health challenges including anxiety, depression and trauma. Individuals in crisis, including those considering suicide, are urged to contact the Disaster Distress Helpline 24/7 at 800-985-5990 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 800-273-8255. READ MORE