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Dear Friends,
Welcome to the latest edition of my monthly e-newsletter. Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the Michigan Senate. I am grateful each and every day to work for the people of the 34th Senate District.
Budget discussions are nearing completion as we work to finalize the fiscal year 2022 budget prior to the July 1 deadline. I also want to thank those who made their voices heard and spoke up against MIOSHA’s permanent workplace rules. We need to pursue initiatives that strengthen our economy, not extra barriers for businesses who managed to survive the pandemic.
I will continue providing updates on the status of the budget and various legislative initiatives as we move forward.
As always, my office is open, and my staff and I are available to assist you. You may contact us by emailing [email protected] or by calling 1-855-347-8034.
Also, please check out my social media pages for updates on what’s going on in our state’s Capitol! You can find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Sincerely,
Jon Bumstead
State Senator
34th District
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Bumstead urges Gov. Whitmer to support proposed casino in Muskegon County
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I recently urged Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to move forward with the approval of the proposed casino in Muskegon County, despite recent opposition from Detroit and Wayne County.
I’m very disappointed with the Detroit City Council and the Wayne County Board of Commissioners’ decision to get involved and pass resolutions opposing a casino that is 200 miles across the state. Muskegon County is not included in the defined competitive market area of any of the three tribal casinos within a two-hour drive. There is no logical reason why Detroit and Wayne County would be opposed to a casino in our community.
The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians have been working for more than a decade to build a $180 million casino in Fruitport Township. In late 2020, the U.S. Department of Interior granted the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians casino project approval to acquire off-reservation land.
The proposed casino has wide-ranging bipartisan support from the Muskegon County community, and it would be an extreme disappointment if this project does not move forward — especially for residents that have waited patiently for more than ten years. The casino would be a boon for our area, and if completed, would add 1,500 full-time and 1,500 construction jobs that would generate enormous economic activity in Muskegon County.
After receiving final approval from the federal government, the project must receive concurrence from Gov. Whitmer. If the governor approves, the casino project would head to the Michigan House and Senate for further consideration.
I urge the governor to consider the economic impact of the proposed casino, and side with the people of Muskegon County over the special interests of casinos in Detroit. The fate of the Muskegon Casino, and over 1000 full-time jobs, lie in the hands of our governor. I encourage her to do the right thing for the people of Muskegon County and approve the proposal.
The people of Michigan have a strong history of supporting Detroit and Wayne County with hundreds of millions of their tax dollars to bring the city back from bankruptcy and other issues. Neither should be trying to deny the people of Muskegon County good paying jobs and economic investments because they don’t want their casinos to compete with one across the state.
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Governor agrees to pull back permanent MIOSHA rules
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Gov. Whitmer withdrew her effort to promulgate permanent MIOSHA workplace rules concerning COVID-19.
This is a huge victory for the people of Michigan. I am happy that the governor has agreed to pull back the proposed permanent rules completely; anything less would have fallen short of both mine and the public’s expectations. This is a win for businesses and employers across our state. They have spoken up and voiced their concerns about making COVID-19 workplace rules permanent, and the governor finally listened.
Making the COVID-19 workplace rules permanent after the pandemic was not logical, and the proposed permanent rules should have ended as soon as the CDC updated its guidelines. I’m glad the governor has agreed to work with the Legislature and take this positive step forward for the people of Michigan.
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SOS must reopen branches under Senate budget
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Michigan secretary of state branch offices that have been closed to walk-in customers for over a year would be required to reopen under the budget passed by the state Senate. I voted in support of this requirement after Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced her plan to continue only serving residents through appointments only even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
The secretary of state must reopen branch offices and abandon her appointment only policy. Residents of the 34th Senate District and all of Michigan have to wait MONTHS for an appointment. This is unacceptable.
Secretary Benson promised that she would deliver a wait time that would be 30 minutes or less. She is now making people wait 30 days or more. Michigan residents should not have to wait over three months to renew their driver’s license or to transfer a vehicle title. These basic services are crucial for Michigander’s to work and live.
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State to expect $3.5B more in revenue
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State fiscal and economic leaders met recently for the state’s annual May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, where they announced revised state tax revenue projections. Largely due to federal relief funds and increased consumer spending, we have $2 billion more in revenue than initially expected for this fiscal year and will have $1.5 billion more in 2022 than estimated in January.
The historic amount of funding available comes with a responsibility to use it in a smart and effective manner. With these official revenue projections in hand, we can now take the next step in working with the House and governor to finalize a state budget that puts our taxpayer dollars to productive use to meet our current needs, support our people and economy, and invest in a brighter future.
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Bumstead speaks at Muskegon Police Week Memorial
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On May 12, I had the honor of giving the keynote speech during the Muskegon Police Week Memorial. I also joined state Rep. Terry Sabo in presenting the Muskegon Regional Police Pipes and Drums with a legislative tribute.
The memorial, which is held outside the Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice, recognizes peace officers with connections to the Muskegon area who died in the line of duty dating back to 1908, when Muskegon County Sheriff Deputy J.C. Hazeltine died under suspicious circumstances.
During my speech, I highlighted how much I appreciated Muskegon area police for their hard work and dedication to public service. The job that they do for our community can never be fully repaid, but I will always support our police and continue to be a strong advocate for law enforcement in Lansing.
Public service is one of life’s greatest honors. Far too often, that service results in an officer losing their life in the line of duty. Officers face countless dangers, and nothing is more difficult than losing a friend, family member, or colleague in the line of duty.
Click here to watch memorial video.
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Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month! Motorcycle training providers are experiencing decades-high demand, so expect to see new and returning riders on the road this year. Drivers can help keep motorcycle riders safe by remembering the following tips:
1. Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles. Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots, so check — then check again — before changing lanes or making a turn.
2. Predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks. A motorcycle may look farther away than it is because of its small size, and it may be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it appears.
3. Keep a safe distance. Motorcyclists often slow down by rolling off the throttle or downshifting, thus not activating the brake light, so allow more following distance, about five to six seconds.
4. Understand lane shifting. Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
5. See the person. When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle, see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.
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Michigan's 34th Senate District
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The 34th State Senate District includes the counties of Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana.
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Thank you for subscribing to my electronic newsletter! I am honored to represent you in the state Senate. 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 34th District E-news. You may sign up for it also at my website.
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Senator Jon Bumstead
4600 Connie Binsfeld Building
P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
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