E-Newsletter, December 5, 2008
HUNTER BILL TO HELP LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS SAVE FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS PASSES SENATE
The Senate recently passed my bill, Senate Bill 1637,allowing people to establish accounts to save for energy efficiency improvements for their homes. This bill will help low-income families save on their utility costs, and will also help us in our quest to become an energy-saving, green community.
SB 1637 is part of a package of bills that expands the Individual or Family Development Account Program in the Michigan State Housing Authority (MSHDA). The program was created in 2006 to give low-income earners a chance to save for a home, a college education, or a business and receive matching funds from public or private sources. SB 1637 would authorize MSHDA to administer this expanded version of the Individual or Family Development Account Program. The other bills in the package, SB 1635 and 1636, would amend the Individual or Family Development Account Program Act to allow people to establish accounts to save for qualified home improvements, such as the purchase and installation of a qualified Energy Star product. These products would include windows, doors, insulation, high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, and any appliances such as dishwashers, clothes washers, and refrigerators. To read Senator Hunter’s press release on SB 1637 go to:
http://www.senate.mi.gov/hunter/pr.php?id=1119
HUNTER WOODWARD LIGHT RAIL BILL VOTED OUT OF SENATE
This week the Senate passed Senate Bill 1590, a bill that I sponsored, that would allow for a street railway car system in Detroit. SB 1590 is part of a package of bipartisan Senate Bills that will allow a light rail system to run from Woodward in downtown Detroit to the New Center Area. Specifically, the package allows a non-profit organization to build and operate this system. Supporters have already raised $100 million from donors to build this light rail system. Adding this kind of mass transportation to Detroit will help attract businesses and spur economic development within the city.
HUNTER BILLS TO HELP PREVENT CIGARETTE-CAUSED FIRES MOVE TOWARD HOUSE APPROVAL
The House Committee on Regulatory Reform passed Senate Bill 1620 an 1621, bills that I sponsored, which would require cigarette manufacturers to meet certain fire-safety standards, the bills now head to the House Floor for final approval. This legislation will help us in the fight to prevent fires caused by burning cigarettes. Senate Bills 1620 and 1621 would require testing the fire-safety of tobacco products sold in Michigan. Currently, 37 other states have fire-safe tobacco laws. The purpose of these laws is to decrease cigarette-related fires by requiring that cigarettes be designed to not stay lit if they are not being drawn upon. The legislation creates a fine of not more than $100 per pack if a manufacturer, wholesaler, dealer or agent sells or offers to sell cigarettes in violation of this requirement. Any fines collected would be deposited into the Cigarette Fire Safety Standard and Firefighter Protection Act Fund that would be created in the Michigan Department of Treasury. This money may only be used to support fire safety and prevention programs.
The U.S. Fire Administration, within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, says that at least 1,000 smokers and non-smokers die every year in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. Of that number, one in four who died in home fires were not the smoker whose cigarette caused the fire, and one third of those who died were children. The administration encourages smokers to use slow burn cigarettes. To read Senator Hunter’s press release on SB 1620 and 1621 go to:
http://www.senate.mi.gov/hunter/pr.php?id=1112
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES FORECLOSURE PREVENTION BILLS
Recently the House of Representatives passed House Bills 6614 and 6615 that could halt foreclosures for those with sub-prime loans. HB 6615 would create the Home Foreclosure Prevention Act and HB 6614 would amend the Revised Judicature Act to allow a court to dismiss or delay a foreclosure action under certain circumstances. These bills are now under consideration in the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee. The Senate also recently passed legislation that allows registers of deeds to disclose how much is owed on a foreclosed house. Senate Bill 1390 could allow more people to buy back their homes in the six-month period the law allows before foreclosures are finalized.
My colleagues and I introduced a three-bill package that has yet to be taken up by the Senate that would establish the longest period of foreclosure protection of any state in the country, while also providing important safeguards for the lending industry. During the proposed two-year moratorium period, the property owner is still required to pay, but can make reduced payments while working to stabilize their financial situation. This protects lenders who would not receive any payment otherwise, and keeps citizens in their homes, preventing home vacancy and vandalism and stopping property values from dropping further. It is necessary we take action on these efforts to help keep Michigan citizens in their homes and protect them from predatory lenders.
HUNTER BILL PREVENTING DEED FRAUD RECEIVES APPROVAL BY HOUSE COMMITTEE
My bill to close a loophole that allows for con artists to run mortgage scams has been voted out of the House committee on Local, Urban, and State Affairs and is nearing final approval in the House. Senate Bill 927 will improve the process by which County Register of Deeds offices log deed information. Currently, they have to physically log information into an entry book. This method, and the volume of deeds coming into these offices, has created loopholes for con artists, and backlogs for registers. Wayne County at one time had a four to six month backlog of deeds. This helped to facilitate mortgage scams, which have grown from nine cases in 1997 to 1,431 in 2006. Under the current system, home titles can change hands illegally and multiple times before ever being caught by the system. This has caused great financial difficulties for both homeowners and lenders.
My legislation, SB 927, would modernize and standardize this process. When a deed is brought to the Register’s Office, the deed will be instantly stamped with the date, hour, and minute to ensure they are addressed in a timely fashion. The deed will also be accessible for public view.
This will streamline the deed entry process and create a more responsive and effective environment for the sale and purchase of homes while also deterring mortgage con artists.
REPORTING BURNED-OUT STREET LIGHTS
The new director of Detroit’s Public Lighting Department wants you to call 313-267-8159when the lights are out on your block! This is an internal DPL telephone number, answered by a person who will give you a work order number that can be tracked. But PLEASE when you call, have addresses for where the light is out, or in the case of a series of lights out, have the side street names!
FREE HOME REPAIR WORKSHOPS IN 2009
Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation (GRDC) is hosting a FREE9-week Home Repair Workshop series beginning on Tuesday, January 6, 6:00-8:30 p.m. Topics will include weatherization and energy conservation, introduction to carpentry, basic plumbing repair, electrical repair, wall repair and painting, outdoor maintenance and more. All workshops will be held at GRDC’s offices at 19800 Grand River. All are invited, but there’s a limit of 20 people per session, so RSVPs are required. To sign up for a workshop, contact Patrick Williams at 313-387-4732, ext. 104, or pjwillia@umich.edu.
IT’S FLU SEASON, FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE
The Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion (DHWP) is providing flu shots next week. There is a fee of $10 for the shot for those who do not have health insurance. Flu shots will be offered on Wednesday, December 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, in the 13th Floor Auditorium. For more information on the community clinics or DHWP walk-in clinics, call the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion Immunization Program at 313-876-4334.
IT’S SOONER THAN YOU THINK: TV CONVERTER BOX DEALS
As you’ve probably heard by now, the nationwide change to digital television will take place on February 17, 2009. That’s a problem for many folks, because anyone using an old-style antenna—and who does not have a TV set fed by cable service, satellite dish, or telephone provider—won’t get a signal unless they buy a new television or a converter box that attaches to the antenna. Converter boxes will cost $50-$70, but every household can receive two coupons—good for a $40 discount. These coupons take time to process, so it’s important to get your order in by December 15, 2008. For details and coupons, call the info line sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters at (toll-free) 888-388-2009, or go to http://www.dtvanswers.com. It’s sooner than you think!
2009 PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION TICKET REQUESTS
A massive number of requests have come to our office regarding the 2009 Presidential Inauguration tickets. Many constituents have been told to contact their State Senator in order to receive these tickets; however, my office is not receiving an allotment of tickets. Instead, interested constituents can submit their request for tickets to U.S. Senator Carl Levin's website at www.levin.senate.gov.
TALK TIME WITH TUPAC: COFFEE HOUR TIMES & LOCATIONS
Detroit Coffee Hour: Every First Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
Mary's Grill, 20804 Plymouth Road—DECEMBER 5 COFFEE TIME IS CANCELED DUE TO A PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED COMMITMENT.
Dearborn Heights Coffee Hour: Every Third Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
McDonald’s, 6412 North Telegraph Road
Inkster Coffee Hour: Every Second Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
McDonald’s, 27125 Cherry Hill Road
You are invited to attend whichever coffee hours work best for your schedule. If you are interested in joining me, please call my office toll-free at 1-866-262-7305 in order to confirm your attendance. Please be sure to leave a message if you call after hours.
