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Dear neighbor,
Things in Lansing have been very busy lately. We have recently passed a major COVID-19 relief package that will deliver targeted funds to those who need it most. While this legislation was far from perfect, Michiganders needed relief now.
I have also been leading efforts to investigate the nursing home policies in Michigan that put COVID-19-positive patients into the same facilities with our most vulnerable. Much like New York, we have seen a long list of discrepancies and other concerning consequences of this disastrous policy. Families who lost loved ones in nursing homes deserve answers, and we’re going to get those answers.
I have been working with both Democrats and Republicans to pass much-need ethics and transparency reforms for lawmakers. Michigan has been ranked dead last in transparency, and it is long past time we fixed that.
I also spent some time volunteering with our local Meals on Wheels organization. Continue reading below to see some of the important work they are doing for the most vulnerable in our community, and consider helping out!
My staff and I continue the uphill battle with the Unemployment Insurance Agency to get your claims processed as quickly as possible. If you have any questions relating to unemployment — or any issue, for that matter — please don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time.
In your service,
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Senator Jim Runestad
Serving the 15th State Senate District
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Runestad calls for investigation into nursing homes policy
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Recently I called on both the attorney general of Michigan and the United States Department of Justice to launch an immediate investigation into Michigan’s COVID-19 nursing home policies.
Michigan was one of only five states that made the decision to place COVID-19-positive patients into nursing homes with other elderly patients. We knew that our seniors were the most vulnerable to the virus, yet the governor vetoed legislation I voted for that would have put COVID-19-positive patients in separate nursing home facilities.
As in New York, there remain numerous discrepancies surrounding the nursing home reporting data. The administration refuses to release data on nursing home policies and refuses to testify in committee on the topic.
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Families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 in nursing homes deserve answers: How did this happen, why was it allowed to happen, and why won’t the administration release the data? We haven’t gotten those answers yet, but we will.
As in New York, this shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Instead, it should be leaders of both sides standing up for our seniors and those most vulnerable in nursing homes.
Click here to learn more and view the letters in their entirety.
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Financial disclosure for lawmakers
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Michigan is one of only two states that do not require lawmakers to disclose their finances. Because of that, we have seen legislators vote for things that personally benefited them or their families financially.
There is a reason 48 other states and Congress have this requirement. Michigan has been ranked dead last in the country for transparency, and right now there is too much opportunity for dirty dealing in our Legislature.
That is why I am working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to require all lawmakers to have to disclose more information about their finances.
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As WXYZ reported, “These are potential conflicts that later came to light. Sen. Runestad is worried about the ones that never will ... And tonight, he's bucking many in his own party, supporting the legislation set to be introduced next week that would make financial disclosure the law in Michigan."
I say it’s long past time we get this passed here in Michigan!
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Passing more COVID-19 relief for families
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I voted to approve over $4.2 billion in additional COVID-19 relief that prioritizes what Michigan needs most right now — ensuring our seniors get vaccines, providing funding to those who have lost their jobs and those who have had their businesses closed, and making sure schools have the resources to return to in-person learning.
While far from a perfect bill, I voted to give help to Michiganders struggling under a devastated economy, broken unemployment system, and schools that remain closed. The supplemental budget featured additional funding for schools, vaccine distribution, virus testing, small businesses and mental health resources.
However, at a time when seniors need help the most, the state is letting them down with a misguided vaccine distribution plan. The administration continues to use a “social vulnerability index” that uses social factors, at least in part, to decide which communities get what number of vaccines. The problem with this is that while places like Detroit get more vaccines than they know what to do with, places like Oakland, Macomb, and suburban Wayne do not get enough vaccines. So while seniors in our community can’t even get a vaccine appointment, Detroit has been offering the vaccine to lower-priority groups.
We should be prioritizing seniors and those with underlying health conditions, regardless of where they live. It is just plain common sense. We should be more focused on saving lives than playing politics.
I spoke up about this misguided vaccine plan on the Senate floor. Click here to view what I had to say.
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I had the chance to spend a morning working at our local “Meals on Wheels” facility. The dedicated team at Meals on Wheels and their volunteers deliver thousands upon thousands of warm meals to seniors and those in need. It is a wonderful charity that has seen their workload increase significantly since the pandemic began. If you have a moment to help, consider lending a hand!
Click here to see up close and personal the important work they’re doing.
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Subscribe to my email newsletter
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If you are not already subscribed, you can sign up to receive my email newsletter here. And please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends, neighbors and anyone else who would like to stay up to date on the COVID-19 response and what is happening with state government.
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Please feel free to pass along this version of my newsletter to any friends or family you think would find this interesting. And as always, please feel free to pass along the resources found in this newsletter to those who would find them useful.
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The 15th District includes the cities of Northville, Novi, Orchard Lake, South Lyon, Walled Lake and Wixom, the townships of Commerce, Lyon, Milford, Novi, West Bloomfield and White Lake, and the villages of Milford and Wolverine Lake.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this legislative update and please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance on any matter pertaining to state government.
Best Regards,
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Senator Jim Runestad
7500 Connie B. Binsfeld Office Building
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
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