The Legislature has approved a fiscal year 2023 state budget plan that increases funding for K-12 schools, reduces debt, and saves resources to provide tax relief for everyone in Michigan.

The historic budget plan focuses on the education of Michigan students, support for the economy, road and infrastructure funding, community safety, and investments in the state’s future. The plan also focuses on paying down debt and reserves money for tax relief for Michigan families.

Senate Bill 845 is an education budget that features a nearly $2.6 billion increase in K-12 school funding and boosts the minimum foundation allowance to $9,150 per student. It also provides $295 million to address student mental health, $305 million in scholarship funding to help address teacher shortages, and $168 million in school safety grants.

SB 845 also includes a 5% increase for university and community college operations, $300 million to pay down debt in the higher education retirement system, and $250 million in a fund for a new student scholarship program, details for which will be negotiated this summer.

House Bill 5783 is the general state budget and includes:

In addition to funding critical state needs and programs, I also fought to secure funds that will help folks in communities across my district. Efforts in the 2023 spending plan include:

The budget now goes to the governor, where I hope it will be signed without delay.

Michigan is home to over 36,000 miles of streams, more than 11,000 lakes and ponds and more than 150 different fish species. The DNR offers an interactive “Family Friendly Fishing Waters” map to help families locate family-friendly fishing locations across the state.

The family-friendly locations are easy to access and have a high likelihood of catching fish. Locations can be filtered by the type of fish you want to catch, what kind of fishing you are looking for (boat, pier, shore), what amenities you would like (swimming, restrooms, etc.) and entrance fee.

While it may seem like summer has just arrived, fall turkey hunting is right around the corner. Fall turkey hunting license applications for the 2022 season are now available through Aug. 1.

Applications are available for $5, online through eLicense or anywhere DNR licenses are sold. Applicants will be automatically notified of drawing results on Aug. 15 via email.

While Michiganders are struggling, state government is sitting on a record surplus of taxpayer dollars.

I joined my Republican colleagues in approving a massive, $2.5 billion tax cut that would put this record surplus in state revenue back in the pockets of the Michiganders who worked to earn it. At a time when Michiganders are struggling with rising costs on everything, I voted to let people keep more of their hard-earned money.

We approved bills to lower the state income tax, create a $500 per child tax credit, and reduce taxes for seniors and veterans. This was a major step to reduce the tax burden on families and seniors who have built their life around a fixed income, while also recognizing the tremendous sacrifice veterans have made for all of us.

We voted to suspend the state’s gas tax to save Michiganders money at the pump as prices rose to record highs, and while the governor called on the federal government to act.

When the federal government failed to act, we did.

Unfortunately, both of these measures were vetoed by the governor.

After the governor vetoed these measures, and as she asked the federal government for help a second time, Senate Republicans again introduced an effort to help reduce the burden on Michigan drivers. We also set money aside in the budget to cover potential tax relief efforts in the future.

The governor is willing to wait for Washington to do the job for her, however, I am not. Folks need help now and we can do better than begging the president for help.

I recently joined my colleagues in welcoming the 2021 Michigan Asparagus Queen Tara Oomen to the Michigan Capitol!

Tara was in town promoting Michigan agriculture and celebrating Western Michigan as one of the nation’s leading producers of asparagus.

Michigan cherries are grown from Benton Harbor to Elk Rapids, making Michigan the number one cherry producer in the U.S. In fact, Michigan supplies more than 70% of all U.S. tart cherries!

The first cherry trees were planted by a missionary on Old Mission Peninsula in 1852. The cherry trees flourished there, and soon other farmers began planting trees in the area. The first commercial tart cherry orchards in Michigan were planted in 1893 and by the early 1900s, the tart cherry industry was firmly established. Today, Michigan produces nearly 200 million pounds of cherries each year.

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