Hello friends,

There is no doubt we are going through difficult times in our community, our state and our country.

If you are one of the many in our state who are having trouble filing with the Unemployment Insurance Agency, please reach out to my office at 517-373-1758. My staff will do what they can to get you the help you deserve.

I would also like to invite you to join me this Tuesday, May 5, at 3 p.m. for a tele-town hall focused on the COVID-19 situation and senior safety.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to change by the hour, I am continuing to advocate for policies that will help keep our families safe, secure and as strong as possible as we continue to fight this virus. Read below to learn more about recent developments in our state.

In your service,

Senator Jim Runestad
Serving the 15th State Senate District

On Thursday I voted to extend safety protocols for businesses and public places, and I voted to assert the Legislature’s role in states of emergency. For several weeks my colleagues and I have been trying to negotiate with Gov. Whitmer to provide a blueprint for how to safely restart our economy while continuing to fight the spread of the coronavirus. My legislative colleagues and I have been asking the governor to shift from a policy of declaring which businesses can be open and which goods and services are classified as “essential” to focusing more on which jobs and services can be conducted safely.

On Wednesday night the governor broke off negotiations, rejecting our offer of a week-by-week extension of her emergency powers, with oversight. I could no longer support an extension of her unilateral power. Instead, I voted to put safety protocols for businesses and public places into law. I also voted in favor of continuing to protect our health care workers as they bravely work to treat patients suffering the effects of the virus.

Since then, the governor has declared — incorrectly — that she does not need the Legislature’s approval to extend her emergency powers. It’s unfortunate, but if the governor will not work with the Legislature to fight the coronavirus together, the courts will have to decide for us.

Last week news came to light that the governor’s administration had hired a firm owned by a political campaign operative to manage a large-scale public health tracing effort. The contract violated the state’s procurement process and at the very least raised the appearance of political favoritism.

Thankfully, the contract was voided by the governor after the news came to light. But Michigan taxpayers still need to know how it was allowed to happen, and why the no-bid contract did not go through the State Emergency Operations Center, which is managed by the Michigan Police and where it should have been reviewed in the first place.

So I called on the attorney general to investigate the details of this case, and she agreed. I have long pushed for more public transparency — regardless of party. Especially in times of distress, Michiganders are best served when they can trust the openness and honesty of their governmental institutions. For that to be the case, an honest investigation into the matter is not only warranted, but required. Accountability and transparency should apply whether you’re a Republican or Democrat. I look forward to the results of the investigation.

Read more about her response to my request here.

I have long championed the right of nursing home patients to have video cameras installed in their rooms so that their loved ones can look after them from afar. Now Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has issued Executive Order 2020-37, which extended the ban on the public visiting health care and residential care facilities to May 3 to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to our state’s most vulnerable residents.

Executive Order 2020-37 defines residential care facilities as nursing homes and assisted living and hospice care facilities, among others. The order further clarifies that these senior homes “must make best efforts to facilitate visitations with individuals under their care by phone or other electronic communication” devices.

Click to read the rest of my op-ed in the Detroit News.

Many of our local restaurants are still open for takeout! Please consider supporting one of the many great restaurants that serve our community during this time. For a list of restaurants that are offering takeout in your area, visit my Facebook page!