e-Newsletter, April 20, 2009

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

In this section, I hope to provide you with a brief update on legislation of interest that has either been voted on or introduced recently in the Michigan State Senate.

 

RECENTLY INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE


Senate Bill 440

This bill amends the Insurance Code to prohibit an insurance company from owning an interest in a specific auto repair facility. The company must inform its clients that they are free to go to any repair facility of their choosing. Consumers will be protected from being steered to auto repair shops that have established relationships with insurance companies, rather than to those that may provide the best service and price.


Senate Bill 419

This bill would lower the minimum age for blood donations from 18 to 16 with parental consent.

 

COMPANIES ANNOUNCE EXPANSIONS IN LIVONIA CREATING OVER 5,000 JOBS, INVESTING OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS

Last week, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced Michigan's aggressive job creation strategy has resulted in 14 new projects, generating more than 7,700 new jobs and over $2 billion in new investment in communities across the state. The projects include: four advanced-battery manufacturing projects; six company expansions in diverse industries like agriculture, automotive research and development and IT business software; a new film production studio; and three Brownfield redevelopments that will transform blighted and abandoned sites into new centers of economic growth and activity.

Two of these projects are slated to take place in Livonia. A123Systems Inc., a Watertown, Massachusetts-based designer, developer and manufacturer of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and battery systems plans to invest over $600 million in initial coating, cell manufacturing, and pack assembly in Livonia. The planned project is expected to create over 5,000 new jobs in various locations in Michigan including Livonia. A123Systems is one of the state's six Centers of Energy Excellence and has entered into a development and manufacturing agreement with Chrysler LLC to provide battery systems for the company's ENVI product line. To learn more about A123Systems Inc., visit their website: http://www.a123systems.com.

The second project, JBautotech LLC., a Livonia-based designer and manufacturer of specialty machines and equipment plans to invest $970,000 to expand its operations in Livonia to develop advanced technologies that reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. The project is expected to create 56 new jobs, including 29 directly by the company. To learn more about JBautotech LLC, visit their website: http://jbautotech.com.

 

MICHIGAN CATASTROPHIC CLAIM ASSOCIATION NEEDS TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY

In reaction to the Michigan Catastrophic Claim Association’s (MCCA) recent decision to impose a 20% increase on the catastrophic claim fee paid by Michigan drivers, I recently called on the Senate to consider legislation that would reform the MCCA. This is a significant increase that comes at a difficult time for the many Michigan workers who depend on their ability to drive to and from work each day. Given the lack of transparency and accountability under the current law regulating the MCCA, it’s difficult to judge whether this increase is justified or not.

Earlier this year, I introduced Senate Bill 161. The legislation would reform the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association in the following ways:

  • End the current practice of meeting behind closed doors by making the proceedings of the group subject to the Freedom of Information Act and creating a transparent process.
  • End the insurance companies’ monopoly membership on the decision making body by expanding the group from five to six voting members. The new member would act as a representative and advocate for the general public.
  • Make the Michigan Insurance Commissioner a full voting member.
  • Establish additional oversight by requiring an annual independent audit of the association and the results of that audit to be reported to the Michigan State House and Michigan State Senate.
  • Accountability would be restored by making decisions to raise rates subject to the approval of the Commissioner of the Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation and allowing for the rejection of increases deemed to be excessive.

You can view a video of my statement on this issue given on the Senate floor at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrxzUhbv_gQ.

To learn more, visit my website: http://www.senate.mi.gov/anderson/pr.php?id=1276.

 

STIMULUS PROJECTS TO CREATE JOBS, BOOST ECONOMY

The Michigan Senate recently voted to pass a plan that will invest $1.9 billion in our state to create an expected 109,000 jobs, provide job training programs to displaced workers, make improvements to schools, fund community assistance programs, and support other much-needed state and community services. The funding, which is provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will help create jobs right away as well as give our communities and people the tools they need to secure the jobs of the future.

The plan that passed the Michigan Senate will provide:

  • $236 million to support energy efficiency programs, unemployment and employment services, and workforce training programs.
  • $900 million for handicapped preschool initiative grants, special education, assisting at-risk children and school improvements.
  • $435 million for weatherization programs, food assistance and other community assistance.
  • $46.7 million to support the crime victims fund, crime prevention programs and senior assistance.

 

WOULD YOU SUPPORT LEGISLATION PROHIBITING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FROM SHARING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO THIRD PARTIES?

I invite you to visit my website and participate in my current survey question on whether you support this proposal. I welcome you to click on the link below and share your thoughts on my current survey.

http://www.senate.mi.gov/anderson

It is extremely important for me to hear what you think about issues before the Michigan Legislature. Every two weeks, I post a new survey question on my website to receive your input on some of the issues facing our state. Most recently, I asked readers whether they supported a plan prohibiting increases in property taxes when the value of a home has decreased. Voters responded with 80% in favor of the proposal, 15% opposed, and 5% undecided.

 

FIGHTING FOR WORKERS, FAMILIES AS STATE BUDGETS BEGIN TO MOVE IN THE SENATE

In early April, Senate Democrats fought for crucial jobs training, worker safety programs, and resources for unemployed families as the budget for the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (Senate Bill 243) was up for consideration on the Senate floor. Democrats also fought the creation of spending on a new program created by Republicans when plummeting revenues will require additional budget reductions.

Senate Democrats fought for a number of priorities, including:

  • Restoring funding for the No Worker Left Behind Program to offer training assistance to workers training for a new job. The governor recommended funding the program at $15 million and Senate Republicans cut that funding to $6.6 million.
  • Increasing the amount of dependent benefits offered to unemployed workers from $6.00 per dependent to $20.00.
  • Restoring workplace safety provisions by removing the prohibition on ergonomic guidelines.
  • Helping citizens with the high cost of auto insurance by prohibiting the use of credit scores to determine auto insurance rates.
  • And eliminating $500,000 in spending for a new program created by Senate Republicans.

 

SENATE DEMS FIGHT FOR INCENTIVES TO HIRE MICHIGAN WORKERS FIRST

Recently in the Senate, my colleagues and I fought to pass a package of bills called ‘Hire Michigan First’ that would reward companies that employ Michigan workers with state economic development incentives. Democrats pointed out that as the state allocates federal recovery funds to create jobs, Michigan workers should be the first in line to benefit.

With unemployment the highest it’s been in decades we need to make sure that our tax dollars benefit the working families of Michigan, and are not sent away to other states. We have a talented, smart workforce that is ready to work and this legislation would ensure that these workers are being hired first for Michigan jobs. The ‘Hire Michigan First’ legislation was passed by the House of Representatives in early March and headed to the Republican-led Senate where the bills have not been addressed. Senate Democrats moved to force a vote on the legislation during session, and while our actions failed on a party-line vote, we will keep fighting for the needs of Michigan workers.

‘Hire Michigan First’ has seen a great deal of support from the online community in the form of groups, causes and petitions. In a survey earlier this year readers of this e-Newsletter overwhelmingly said they supported ‘Hire Michigan First’ legislation. The ‘Hire Michigan First’ Facebook Cause was created in the beginning of March and membership has already grown to more than 1,000 people. To visit the Facebook Cause, click on this link: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/235147.

 

COFFEE HOURS IN LIVONIA AND GARDEN CITY ANNOUNCED FOR MONDAY, APRIL 27th, 2009

On Monday, April 27th, I will be hosting coffee hours in Livonia and Garden City, and you’re invited to attend:

Monday, April 27th

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Livonia Senior Center
15218 Farmington Rd.
Livonia, MI

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Maplewood Community Center
31735 Maplewood St.
Garden City, MI