According to an October 2018 report, Michigan drivers pay the highest auto insurance rates in the country — 83% higher than the national average. Our sky-high rates were impacting Macomb County families and job providers.

Earlier this year, I proudly supported a bipartisan measure to finally reduce car insurance rates while allowing drivers to choose the option that fits the individual needs of their families.

Senate Bill 1 was signed by the governor in May. As a result of this new law, the annual Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) fee of $220 will be reduced to $100 in 2020 for drivers selecting unlimited, lifetime coverage. Drivers who choose other levels of coverage will pay no annual fee at all.

SB 1 will allow Michigan drivers to choose the option that fits the individual needs of their families and will require lower rates for drivers who select limited coverage.

Since I became your state senator, we’ve had great turnouts at our district coffee hours, and I will continue to hold them throughout the district to hear directly from the people.

To help residents on a regular basis, I will be holding coffee hours on the first Monday and third Friday of every month.

Our next scheduled coffee hour is Monday, Dec. 2 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Panera Bread, located at 36808 Van Dyke Ave. in Sterling Heights. The coffee hour is open to residents to express their opinions or concerns about state government or to request assistance with a state issue. No appointment is necessary.

If you are unable to attend the coffee hour, please contact my office toll-free at 1-866-303-0110 or via email at [email protected].

With the winter heating season in full swing, some households may struggle to pay their winter heating bills. I want to remind area families that help with home heating bills may be available.

First, if you are unable to pay your bills, please contact the utility company ASAP and explain the situation. Being proactive could help keep the heat on and save your life. The Winter Protection Plan safeguards seniors and low-income customers from service shut-offs. It allows eligible customers to avoid shutoffs while paying nothing or just a small percentage of their annual bill during the protection period. To apply, residents should contact their natural gas or utility company.

This is a deferment plan, not a financial assistance program meant to ease the burden of high winter utility bills. However, there are state programs that offer resources to assist low-income families with energy costs, including the State Emergency Relief Program, Home Heating Credit, and Weatherization Assistance Program. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/heatingassistance.

The 10th District includes the city of Sterling Heights, Macomb Township and most of Clinton Township.

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 10th District E-news. You may sign up for it also at my website.