Senator John J. Gleason will be hosting a community forum in Flint on the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, to bring in medical representatives to answer questions and address concerns of local residents.

It will take place on Monday, November 2, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Mott Community College in the RTC Auditorium.

The forum will include a presentation by a panel of medical experts as well as a Question & Answer session with attendees. For more information on H1N1, residents can contact the Genesee County Health Department by calling their hotline at 810-257-3887 or visiting their H1N1 page at http://www.gchd.us/hottopics/h1n1flu.asp.

With our economy struggling and people hurting, a general tax increase is a poor option. But there is one tax change that I believe we should consider: a targeted tax increase that is good policy and justified by its unique features. I am talking about the Physician Tax, or Doctors’ Quality Assurance Assessment Program (QAAP). I support a 2% tax on a doctor’s adjusted gross revenues, similar to what we already do with HMOs, hospitals, and nursing homes, which would allow the state to receive more of our fair share of funds back from the Federal Government. If we raised $150 million with the tax, the feds would give us $350 million, and we would have $500 million dollars to help avoid devastating cuts to Michigan’s health care programs.

Some argue that about half of the doctors in the state won’t treat Medicaid patients who are people that are struggling financially and have no insurance, because the state reimbursement rates are so low that they lose money on each patient. And the budget plan that was recently pushed through would cut those already low rates an additional 8%. The result of that budget will be even fewer doctors taking Medicaid, reducing access to care, and increasing the most expensive care, the emergency room.

Dumb, right? If we want to be smart, we could use the half billion the QAAP expansion raises, and increase reimbursement rates to doctors from the low Medicaid rate to the generous Medicare rate. The result would be more doctors participating, increased access to care for the poor, efficient care instead of expensive emergency care, and increased pay for doctors. If about 3% of a doctor’s patients are Medicaid patients, the doc would break even. Any more than 3% and he would make money. If he treats fewer or none, he would actually lose money.

Doctors hate the idea of a Physician Tax. I can understand that, and I try to patiently respond to their comments, questions, and outraged objections, because what I seek is an honest evaluation and negotiation on this option. Doctors have many objections and I would submit there are ways to address them equitably if we come to the table together and negotiate instead of just saying no.

Have I been successful yet in opening a dialogue with these doctors? Not really. Most just say, vociferously, NO. A few have been patient and reasonable, and have considered the QAAP on its merits, even if they still don’t like it. But the Medical Society, the Doctors’ lobbyist, has just said no. I am now getting “robo-calls” in my district warning my constituents that I want to tax sick people. This is an attempt to intimidate me and other colleagues into turning tail and running. These guys don’t know me. It has the opposite effect.

I believe the real objection is that some doctors will not treat Medicaid patients. The public already pays significant taxes to fund Medicaid. Doctors contribute by treating those patients. What is the contribution of doctors who do not treat these patients? The QAAP expansion is a unique option for doctors that could make health care better. Isn’t it at least worth talking about?  That is my duty to you, and I will not shirk it.

Michigan has always been a leader in automotive technology, and despite the industry’s recent struggles, we now have a tremendous opportunity to continue that role in the development and production of hybrid and electric cars.  Earlier this year, Vice President Joe Biden announced an investment of over $1.3 billion in Michigan from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) electric drive vehicle battery and component manufacturing initiative to help accomplish this. Among the projects funded, $249 million will help A123Systems Inc. launch a new facility in Livonia. The company plans to invest more than $600 million in facilities in Livonia, Brownstown and Romulus, creating hundreds of jobs in the area and potentially adding thousands more once the project gets underway.

Creating jobs in emerging high-tech industries and diversification of Michigan’s economy have been two of my top priorities as a State Senator. I voted with other members of the State Senate back in 2008 to pass House Bill 6611, which created incentives for investment in the development and manufacturing of lithium-ion and other batteries used to power hybrid and electric cars.  Additionally, this year I supported House Bill 4515 and Senate Bill 319 to further expand these credits as they began to show signs of success.  The purpose of these incentives has always been to provide jobs for Michigan workers, and the fact that A123Systems has chosen to locate this important facility locally is a testament to the quality of the workforce present here and the commitment of state and local leaders to help put Michigan back to work.

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.  Production of these batteries will help reduce dependency on fossil fuels, including foreign oil, and meet growing consumer demand for greener, cleaner vehicles and reduce environmental impact.  This investment represents exactly how federal, state, and local officials can come together to support local businesses and move toward diversifying and reenergizing Michigan’s economy.

The impact of this ARRA investment in our state will be far-reaching.  The projects it will fund are estimated to create 6,800 jobs statewide in the next 18 months, and up to 40,000 jobs by 2020.  As demand increases for fuel-efficient vehicles, Michigan's auto companies will rise to the occasion, helping our economy bounce back and paving the way for our state to regain its status as an auto leader.  This announcement is very encouraging, and has proven that hard work pays off.  I will continue to make Michigan state government an enabling agent for these sorts of investments in Michigan workers and bring jobs like these back home to my district.

Michigan, we've got a problem!

Sens. Gilda Z. Jacobs (D-Huntington Woods) and Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit) will host a town hall meeting on Monday, October 19, to discuss Michigan's current tax structure and how it affects state revenues and funding for state and local services. They will cover how the state got to where we are currently, and where we can go from here.

This event is FREE and will take place from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Rd., in Detroit.

For more information, please contact:

Senator Jacobs toll-free at 888-937-4453 or

Senator Thomas toll-free at 866-348-6304.

Senate Democrats’ principled stand during a marathon legislative session before an impending government shutdown opposed drastic cuts to the state services Michigan residents hold most dear—early childhood education, college and worker retraining scholarships, police and fire services and health care. Throughout the budget process, Senate Democrats maintained that a reasonable budget solution must include tough cuts, significant reforms, and generate enough revenue to avoid extreme and dangerous cuts.

With an October 1^st deadline of balancing the fiscal year budget looming, Senate Democrats pointed out that a temporary budget to prevent a shutdown or harmful cuts was an option worth considering. After asking for a similar budget last week and receiving one from the House of Representatives earlier in the day, Senate Republicans still refused to move the legislation before midnight and left the entire state under a cloud of uncertainty for several hours.

During the debate, Senate Republicans stubbornly stuck to forcing the passage of their proposed budgets that included excessive and shortsighted cuts that would hurt our families and economic recovery. Senate Democrats have conceded that difficult budget cuts must be made, but have refused to sacrifice the essential programs that provide funding for early childhood education, college and worker retraining scholarships, police and firefighters to keep our families safe, and health care for Michigan’s vulnerable citizens.

While working with the Republicans to pass a majority of the budgets before the Senate, Democrats stood firm on our key priorities. Republicans were forced to end the shutdown and there is now a chance for a true compromise to be reached, instead of a cuts-only approach that Michigan can not afford. Senate Republicans’ extreme proposal included $73.75 million in cuts to early childhood education, $201.8 million cut from worker retraining and scholarship programs—including the elimination of the Michigan Promise Scholarship, $160 million to local police and fire protection, and $112 million in health care services.

Discussions of alternatives will continue for the next 30 days until a final budget resolution must be reached at the end of October. Senate Democrats will stay vigilant in our effort to reach a solution that prevents some of the most devastating cuts initially proposed.