What's New with Senator Basham?
Basham Announces $25.8 Million in Stimulus Funds for Projects in Downriver Area
Senator Basham recently announced that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has allotted $25.8 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects in his district. These projects include a $6.3 million upgrade for Ecorse Creek in Taylor and a $19.5 million relief sewer project in Allen Park in Wayne County.
The recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) will provide funds for targeted water quality protection projects across the state. Michigan is expected to receive $168.5 million for the State Revolving Fund (SRF) and $67.5 million for Drinking Water Revolving Funds (DWRF) in 2009 and is required to spend at least 20 percent of the funding on projects to address “green” infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements, or other environmentally innovative projects.
Senator Basham Joins Colleagues to Introduce “Hire Michigan First” Job Creation Plan
Senator Basham and fellow Democratic Senators are sponsoring a "Hire Michigan First" job-creation plan which will ensure that Michigan workers get the first chance at jobs created by companies that benefit from state economic development programs or tax breaks. The plan cracks down on companies that hire illegal workers by canceling their state contracts and tax incentives. It also requires those companies to pay back incentives already received and bars them from obtaining future contracts.
Senator Basham’s bill (SB 285) amends the Transportation Economic Development Fund Law to prohibit the use of grants from the fund for a project unless the applicant commits not to hire, or contract with any business that hires, employees that are not authorized under federal law to work in the U.S. The Transportation Economic Development Fund grants also could not be used on a project unless the applicant promises not to violate Michigan’s prevailing wage law.
Basham explained that with Michigan’s unemployment reaching the double digits, we simply can not afford to miss out on any job opportunities. He added that now more than ever the Legislature must make sure that Michigan tax dollars are creating jobs for Michigan residents.
The state purchasing, contracting and economic development statutes affected by these provisions include the Michigan Strategic Fund Act, the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act, the Management and Budget Act, the Renaissance Zone Act, the Michigan Economic Growth Authority Act, the Michigan Business Tax Act, the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act, the industrial Development Revenue Bond Act, the Plant Rehabilitation and Industrial Development Districts Act, and the Transportation Economic Development Fund Law.
Senate Bills 285 through 295 of this legislative package were referred to the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, while the final bill in the package (SB 296) has been sent to the Senate Finance Committee.
Basham Honors Dingell for Service to Country, State
Senator Basham and his colleagues in the Michigan Senate passed a resolution today honoring Congressman John Dingell, who recently became the longest serving member in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives. Dingell represents Sen. Basham and the people in his State Senate district in Congress.
John Dingell has been a member of Congress for more than 53 years. He has served with 11 presidents, chaired the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and has crafted some of the nation's most important laws regarding health care and the environment as well as the rights of workers and consumers.
Basham was a cosponsor of Senate Resolution 10, which passed the Senate unanimously as members from both sides of the aisle paid homage to Congressman Dingell. Governor Jennifer Granholm also proclaimed February 11, 2009 as John Dingell Day in Michigan, and Dingell will be honored by his friends and colleagues at a reception at the Capitol in Washington D.C. hosted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Basham Calls on Legislators to Sign Smokefree Pledge
Senator Basham has called on his fellow lawmakers to sign a pledge to support smokefree workplace legislation in Michigan. Basham is the sponsor of Senate Bill 114, which would institute a statewide policy to protect the health of Michigan workers from secondhand smoke, and he has been fighting for smokefree workplaces for over a decade.
Basham has asked all of his fellow lawmakers to sign a pledge that they will work on the smokefree workplaces issue. To hold the legislature accountable for protecting the health of Michigan workers and make sure that the public knows who is and isn’t acting in their best interest on this issue, Sen. Basham is making the information on who has signed the pledge public.
Despite Sen. Basham’s decade of work to make Michigan workplaces smokefree, the state has yet to implement such a policy. Michigan continues to opt to be the “Great Late State,” as nearly all of the Midwest, and most recently, Virginia-a major stop on Tobacco Road-have passed smokefree workplaces laws.
Citizens are encouraged to visit http://senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm and http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp to identify their legislators and how to contact their offices to encourage them to support smokefree workplaces in Michigan.
Thus far the following legislators have signed the pledge:
Senators:
Anderson, Barcia, Basham, Birkholz, Brater, Cherry, Clarke, Gleason, Hunter, Jacobs, Olshove, Patterson, Prusi, Scott, Switalski, Thomas, and Whitmer.
Representatives:
Ball, Bauer, Constan, Coulouris, Dean, Donigan, Ebli, Kennedy, Lindberg, Lipton, Liss, Lori, Meadows, Melton, Miller, Neumann, P. Scott, Segal, Slavens, Smith, Valentine, and Warren.
Senator Basham Applauds Job Creation Proposals
Senator Basham applauded key aspects of Governor Granholm’s State of the State address, especially those that focused on creating jobs, and training and educating residents for those jobs. He said creating jobs through the development of new industries in Michigan, such as renewable energy, battery development and film incentives, continues to be a critical component of the Legislature’s and the Governor’s efforts.
One aspect of those job creation efforts that Basham said he received significant immediate interest from his constituents about was on the Governor’s proposed Michigan Energy Corps, which would be utilized to reach a rigorous new energy standard of reducing Michigan’s use of imported fossil fuels for generating electricity by 45% by the year 2020.
According to Basham, the Energy Corps would put thousands of unemployed Michigan citizens back to work weatherizing homes, schools and public buildings, and installing renewable energy technologies. An opportunity for re-employment of dislocated workers from construction and other trades, the program would also provide training for citizens looking to upgrade their skills.
The Michigan Energy Corps would be supported by a variety of federal funds, including job training, Temporary Aid to Needy Families and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and used to provide both training and work for unemployed people in the state. Part of the program would also use the energy efficiency funds required from utilities under the state's new electric regulations and some federal funds to provide energy audits to residents around the state, with the cost of any needed upgrades being financed through utility bills.
Although the corps participants would have only one year in the program, provisions in current law that require utilities to implement and continue energy efficiency programs would help to keep them employed.
Constituents interested in further information regarding the Michigan Energy Corps program may contact Senator Basham at 517-373-7800 or SenRBasham@senate.mi.gov.
Tune Into The Basham Report
March Topic:
Senator Basham discusses his efforts in support of legislation that would make workplaces smokefree in the State of Michigan.
Schedule:
Wyandotte Cable – Channel 15 on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Comcast Cable (Allen Park, Ecorse, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, Riverview, Southgate & Taylor) – Channel 20 on Mondays at 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Comcast Cable (Wayne & Romulus) – Channel 25 on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m.
News You Can Use
2009 GUIDE TO AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES NOW AVAILABLE
The United Auto Workers (UAW) has recently released their 2009 guide that provides information for consumers who want to purchase vehicles produced by workers who enjoy the benefits and protections of a union contract.
All these vehicles are made in the United States or Canada by members of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) or International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America (IUE).
Because of the integration of U.S. and Canadian vehicle production, all these vehicles include significant UAW-made content and support the jobs of UAW members.
You can view this list by visiting the following website:
www.uaw.org/uawmade/auto/2009/index.cfm
When purchasing one of these models, check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). A VIN beginning with "1", "4" or "5" identifies a U.S.-made vehicle; "'2:' identifies a Canadian-made vehicle.
STATE TAXPAYER GUIDES NOW AVAILABLE
With our varying tax laws under constant review and often changing, the task of sorting all the information put before you at this time of year becomes more and more difficult.
For the 2008 tax year, I hope to make that task a little easier by providing you with the “2009 Michigan Taxpayer’s Guide.” This booklet gives you the latest information on many of Michigan’s tax laws, in simple-to-understand English, put together in a single publication.
You can view this publication online by visiting the following website: www.senate.michigan.gov/dem/publications/TaxpayersGuide.pdf
MICHIGAN MILITARY FAMILY RELIEF FUND
Michigan citizens that are required to file a Michigan Income Tax return may choose to donate a portion of their return to the Military Family Relief Fund by entering a donation amount on the "Military Family Relief Fund" line of the MI-1040. The MFRF provides grants to qualifying families of military members of the Michigan National Guard and Reserve forces stationed in Michigan who are experiencing financial hardships as a result of an active duty deployment or a line of duty related injury or illness. This is a simple yet effective way we can show our gratitude to these dedicated individuals.
Three basic items are required to qualify for assistance: A copy of deployment orders issued by headquarters, or a military contact for verification of in line of duty injury or illness cases. Copies of bills/invoices/estimates/notices for expenses. A completed DMVA application form 10-1 (Rev. 04/08).
The DMVA application form is available at the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs website, www.michigan.gov/dmva, by clicking on "Inside DMVA" and then, "Support our Troops," or by calling 1-866-271-4404. In addition to the Michigan Income Tax return, donations may also be mailed to: Military Family Relief Fund, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, P.O. Box 30261, Lansing, MI 48909-7761.
FREE 411 DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Google is offering a new service to help you find local business information completely free, directly from your cell phone by calling 1-800-GOOG-411. You can access 1-800-466-4411 from any phone, including landlines, anywhere in the U.S., at anytime. You will not have to pay for 411 calls again.
Cell phone companies charge up to $3.75 for 411 Information calls. Since most people do not carry a telephone directory in their vehicles, they incur a charge for each 411 call. You don’t have to any more.
Store this number in your cell phone: 1-800-GOOG411 (1-800-466-4411). GOOG-411 is voice-activated, so you can access it from any phone (cell or land line).
Here is how to make a call:
• Dial 1-800-GOOG-411.
• Say where you are or where you want to go.
• Say what business or type of business you are looking for.
• GOOG-411 will tell you the phone number you desire or list of businesses you mentioned.
• Then GOOG-411 will immediately connect you automatically.
If you are calling from a mobile device, GOOG-411 can even send you a text message with more details and a map. Simply say "Text message" or "Map it."
Your telephone company may deduct your minutes on the call or apply usual charges for making a phone call or receiving a text message. But, you will not be charged any additional 411 fees. News reports indicate that Google is providing this free service in order to improve its voice activated programming. (NOTE: There are other similar services but they require listening to ads or downloading software; and 1-state area code-555-1212 charges for calls.)
Try a call right now to verify. For more information see: http://www.google.com/goog411/
MDOT OFFERS CIVIL ENGINEERING INTERNSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
High school seniors graduating in 2009 can now apply for paid summer internship positions with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Upon completion of the seven-week program, students will receive a $2,500 scholarship to one of the seven participating civil engineering colleges or universities of their choice.
The Transportation and Civil Engineering (TRAC) Pipeline Internship program is designed to interest high school students in transportation and civil engineering careers. MDOT is offering the Pipeline program to help students learn about civil engineering through a series of assignments, under the direction of a civil engineer, selected to aid in career decision making.
MDOT is offering 15 TRAC Pipeline internship positions throughout the state. Students will be paid $10 per hour, and will receive the $2,500 scholarship upon successful completion. The internship positions are 40 hours per week, beginning June 15 and ending July 31, 2009.
To be eligible, students must be 17 years old, be a graduating high school senior, and have attended a class which used a TRAC program module.
For more information or to apply, visit the Michigan TRAC Program Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdot-trac, or contact Julie Van Portfliet by e-mail at vanportflietj@michigan.gov or by phone at 906-786-1830 ext. 317.
SUPPORT MICHIGAN FARMERS AND BUY LOCALLY PRODUCED TURKEY AT MEIJER
The Michigan Turnkey Producers recently announced that their Golden Legacy brand turkey is available for retail purchase at Meijer stores across Michigan.
Beginning March 2, Meijer deli cases across Michigan will showcase the Golden Legacy All Natural Oven Browned and Honey Smoked Turkey Breast products. These two top-of-the-line turkey products are full of flavor, completely natural, and even better, grown and made right here in Michigan.
Here’s what you can do to help support Michigan Turkey Producers and local farmers: Stop by your local Meijer, go to the service deli, request Golden Legacy Oven Browned or Honey Smoked turkey, and buy some fresh, all natural turkey. There are many varieties of turkey offered in the deli, but the Golden Legacy brand is the only turkey in Meijer that is grown and produced exclusively in Michigan.
What’s so good about Golden Legacy All Natural Turkey?
- Locally Grown
- Humanely Harvested
- Raised on Family Farms
- No Artificial Ingredients
- Minimally Processed
- Gluten and Allergen Free
- No Nitrates or Phosphates
- No Chemical Preservatives
Please remember to support Michigan Turkey Producers and Meijer by buying our locally grown product.
