Yesterday the Michigan Senate voted with a strong bipartisan majority to pass HB 4163, which will make Michigan workplaces smokefree.

Sen. Ray Basham (D-Taylor) first introduced similar legislation as a member of the House in 1998. You can watch a clip of his testimony before the House Commerce Committee in support of HB 4163 from last June here.

Several members of the Democratic Caucus offered floor statements on the smokefree workplace legislation yesterday, which you can see here:

• Sen. Ray Basham
• Sen. Mark Schauer
• Sen. Gilda Z. Jacobs
• Sen. John Gleason
• Sen. Glenn S. Anderson
• Sen. Martha G. Scott

Here are some of the highlights on this week’s agenda. For more complete information, be sure to visit www.legislature.michigan.gov.

MONDAY, MAY 5, 2008

• Today the Senate Democrats announced a ten-bill package designed to protect senior citizens from predators to kick off “Older Americans Awareness Month” in May. The package is sponsored by Senators Glenn S. Anderson (D-Westland), Jim Barcia (D-Bay City), Ray Basham (D-Taylor), Deb Cherry (D-Burton), Irma Clark-Coleman (D-Detroit), Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit), Dennis Olshove (D-Warren), Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming) and Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek). You can read more about this legislation here.

TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2008

• Tomorrow morning Senators Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit), John Gleason (D-Flushing) and Dennis Olshove (D-Warren) will hold a press conference in Room 405 of the State Capitol Building to formally announce new legislation that will establish a two-year freeze on all mortgage and tax foreclosures in Michigan. Sen. Clarke hosted a similar press conference in Detroit last month with representatives from several community housing agencies. You can read more about the legislation here, and watch a short clip of Sen. Clarke discussing the foreclosure freeze here.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008

• This Wednesday Sen. Mickey Switalski (D-Roseville) will be hosting a press conference in the Capitol to discuss legislation he is introducing that will lower the voting age to 16 for non-bond, non-millage school elections. Again, we will be posting more information about this legislation later in the week, so be sure to keep an eye on our caucus press room for more details.
• The Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development will be meeting at 8:30 a.m. this Wednesday to hear from the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) about the No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) program. This worker development initiative was supported by Senate Dems last summer, and the $40 million in funding that was included in the House-passed DLEG budget for this year will help ensure that Michigan workers have the skills they need to compete for 21^st Century jobs.

As our state transitions into a 21st Century economy, the need for an educated workforce is greater than ever. Last summer, every public university in the State of Michigan raised tuition rates for incoming college freshman by an average of 10%. For students at Wayne State University, the tuition hike was 12.8%, plus a $13-per-credit fee.

While these recent tuition hikes are troubling—and a clear sign that the State must do more to make college more affordable—tuition savings programs like the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Michigan Education Savings Plan (MESP) can help keep the cost of higher education within reach for our state’s working families.

Since its debut in 1988 as the nation’s first guaranteed tuition program, MET has sold nearly 80,000 contracts with assets of nearly $1 billion. MET contracts can be purchased for Michigan children in increments from just one semester to four years of education (eight semesters). Several payment options are available for MET contracts, including lump sum, monthly, electronic funds transfer, and payroll deduction. Investment management, program administration and distribution for MET is provided solely by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

An alternative to MET is the Michigan Education Savings Plan. Also administered by the Department of Treasury, MESP account earnings have the opportunity to grow federal and Michigan income tax-deferred until withdrawn. An MESP account can be opened for as little as $25, and there are no annual contribution limits.

Similar to a 401(k), MESP offers seven different investment options that vary in their investment strategy and degree of risk, allowing you to select an option or combination of options that fit your needs and investment philosophy. The program was recently recognized by Money magazine as one of the top five best 529 College Savings Plans in the nation.

Both the MET and MESP programs are great options for families looking to start saving for their child’s academic career, but unfortunately neither tuition plan is exempt from enforcement of court judgments or bankruptcy proceedings under Michigan law. That’s why I recently signed on as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1200, which would extend similar exemptions for qualified pension plans, IRAs and custodial accounts to tuition savings plans.

Students shouldn’t have their future academic careers put in jeopardy because of their parents’ financial hardships. My hope is that this legislation will encourage more families to invest in these tuition savings programs, putting higher education within reach for all Michigan students.

For more information on the MET program, you can call 1-800-MET-4-KID or visit www.setwithmet.com. To learn more about MESP, call 1-877-861-MESP or visit www.misaves.com.

Earlier this month, Gov. Granholm designated April 22-27 as "No Child Left Inside Days" in Michigan. The Department of Natural Resources is using this week to promote the benefits of outdoor recreation by providing a number of opportunities and suggestions for educators, parents and guardians to help in this effort to mend the child-nature connection.

I think this is a fantastic idea. With the warm spring weather we’ve been enjoying this week, there’s no excuse for kids not to get outside and enjoy our state’s abundant natural resources. The DNR has specific suggestions for outdoor activities kids can do for all six days of “No Child Left Inside” week, which you can read here.

With kids today spending more time indoors than any previous generation, this is a perfect opportunity to remind parents about the importance of physical activity for the health and well-being of their children. High-tech, low-impact entertainment like playing video games, watching television and surfing the internet are leading to skyrocketing obesity rates in both adults and children. When paired with poor eating habits, it’s no wonder kids are becoming so overweight and out of shape compared to previous generations.

At the same time these habits are taking over at home, physical activity at school is decreasing as well. There was a time when recess and physical education were as much a part of the curriculum as math or science. While academics should always be the primary focus of education, the energy release and healthy habits developed through physical activity should not be abandoned altogether.

That’s why I have introduced Senate Bill 125, which would require 30 minutes of daily physical activity for all elementary school students in Michigan. Just as legislators provide input on what schools serve for lunch and in vending machines, and what they teach our students, we have the power to prioritize physical fitness. The legislature can help our culture change by standing up and providing the policy changes that will help our children lead healthier lifestyles.

And of course, parents can help too by encouraging kids to turn off the Xbox this week, get outside, and enjoy everything that Michigan has to offer.

Here are some of the highlights on this week’s agenda. For more complete information, be sure to visit www.legislature.michigan.gov.

MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008

• Today is National Kindergarten Day, and to mark the occasion Sen. Irma Clark-Coleman (D-Detroit) hosted a press conference on SB 162, her legislation that would mandate all-day Kindergarten for Michigan students, at the John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy in Detroit. You can watch a floor statement Sen. Clark-Coleman gave on the issue last week here.

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008

• April is National Autism Awareness Month. Tomorrow at approximately 11:30 a.m., Sen. Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit) will speak at a Capitol rally hosted by the advocacy group “Autism Votes Michigan” to call for action on legislation to support autism-related services. Last December, Sen. Hunter introduced Senate Bills 784 and 785, which would require insurance companies to provide coverage for autism-related services. He also introduced SB 957, which would create a check-off box on the state income tax form for filers to donate to the newly proposed Autism Research Fund. You can read more about his efforts here, and watch a short video of the Senator discussing his legislation here.
• The Joint Capital Outlay Committee will meet at 2:30 p.m. (or immediately following House session, whichever is later) this Tuesday to consider state building projects under the Governor’s proposed budget. You can read more specific details in the non-partisan Senate Fiscal Analysis.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008

• Sen. Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) will host a town hall meeting in Jackson at 6:00 p.m. this Wednesday to discuss the need for more affordable health care. The ongoing health care crisis is bankrupting consumers and making our companies less competitive. Experts will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about how struggling consumers can find assistance. The event will be held at Lifeways Meeting Rooms (entrance in back under green awning), 1200 N. West Avenue, Jackson.

This week the Senate Dems were invited to contribute to a guest blog series on the Michigan Municipal League’s website, www.mml.org. As the first legislative caucus in Michigan to launch a blog earlier this year, our members were more than happy to participate. In case you missed it, here are some highlights from our five entries:

Sen. Hunter: New Economic Development Programs, Incentives Can Energize Michigan Communities
“By giving downtowns the tools they need to make local improvements, and offering businesses incentives to invest in high tech jobs, we will be helping to create the type of vibrant communities that are capable of driving economic growth for a generation.”

Sen. Basham: Safe Roads, Infrastructure Key to Stimulating Economy
“Orange barrels can be frustrating for summertime drivers, but they are a positive sign of long-term investment in our state’s infrastructure. Safe roads provide a secure medium for commerce in Michigan, and will be a key factor in re-energizing the state’s economy.”

Sen. Anderson: Revenue Sharing Increases Will Help Locals Continue Michigan’s Economic Transformation
“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and as a former councilman, I understand the challenges associated with producing a fiscally responsible budget that balances government efficiency and the need to provide quality public services. That’s why I’m proud of the work being done by municipal governments across the state to serve their communities, and will continue to fight for the proposed revenue sharing increases in the state budget.”

Sen. Jacobs: The Legislative Talent Caucus
“No, it’s not a new TV show called “Michigan Idol.”  And no, we’re not looking for tap dancers. But we ARE looking for talent.  That talent may be in engineering, alternative energy, or computer technology. It may be in research, advanced manufacturing, or the life sciences. It may be product innovation or some other entrepreneurial effort. And we are looking for these talented people to make them a part of the twenty-first century workforce in our state.”

Sen. Schauer: Preventing Foreclosures, Creating Vibrant Cities Key to Long-Term Economic Success
“This crisis affects real people of all social and economic backgrounds. Everyone from lenders to community service groups agree that the key to avoiding foreclosure is to act early and communicate with your mortgage provider. Unfortunately, a big part of the problem is that homeowners are often embarrassed or afraid to seek help, which only makes their situation worse. That’s why education on this critical issue is so important.”