E-Newsletter, February 20, 2009
SENATOR HUNTER INTRODUCES PROPERTY TAX REFORM BILL TO HELP SENIOR CITIZENS
Senator Hunter recently introduced legislation to help senior citizens with property taxes. Senate Bill 180 would allow local governments to exempt from paying property taxes any person age 65 or older whose income comes from Social Security. Property taxes can be overwhelmingly burdensome on a senior citizen living on a fixed income. This bill will help many senior citizens have a little more money to spend on other vital needs. Senate Bill 180 was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.
FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE WILL HELP MICHIGAN
This week President Barack Obama signed a stimulus bill into law that will help Michigan fund necessary programs and infrastructure projects that will help put more people back to work. As many as 109,000 new Michigan jobs could be added according to federal officials. Michigan’s share of the $787 billion dollar stimulus package is about $6.7 billion.
Some of the stimulus money will come earmarked for certain services. Decisions on how a portion of the money will be spent will be up to the governor and lawmakers. Governor Granholm has said that she is still waiting to hear exactly how much stimulus money the state will receive. A recent presentation by the nonpartisan Senate Fiscal Agency (SFA) outlined the money the state could expect to receive.
Most wage earners will see tax breaks in their paychecks that, over time, will total $400 for individuals and $800 for couples. A one-time $250 payment will also go to Social Security recipients, low-income people on Supplemental Social Security Income, and veterans receiving disability and pensions.
In Michigan, unemployed workers would see a $100 increase per month, and the plan will also extend unemployment benefits for an additional 162,000 laid-off workers. In addition, there will be $105.9 million for workforce investment, with $87.1 million for dislocated workers and $16.1 million for the state’s unemployment system.
Michigan would receive $634.5 million for state roads, another $211.5 million for local roads, and $165 million for transit projects.
To help with Medicaid costs, Michigan should receive $882.6 million this year, and another $931.9 million in extra Medicaid funding next year. Other stimulus money will go for prevention and wellness programs, projects to modernize health information technology systems, and to help subsidize health insurance programs for the unemployed under the COBRA program.
Education funding would get a boost with $163.5 million for “Education Incentive” grants, $419.5 million for special education funding, $24 million for school technology programs and $3.8 million for teacher quality enhancement. The stimulus plan would also create the American Opportunity Tax Credit to make college more affordable for families. This new $2,500 partially refundable tax credit could help as many as 121,000 Michigan families.
More information on the stimulus package and its impact on Michigan can be found on Governor Granholm’s website at http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-46485_52682---,00.html.
In addition to the stimulus bill, President Obama also announced a program to address the foreclosure crisis. The $75 billion plan would offer incentives to companies to modify home loans to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Among the features of President Obama’s plan is one to encourage lenders to restructure loans so that a mortgage payment is no more than 31 percent of a person’s income. The government would then reimburse the lender for up to half the difference between the old and new payments. Lenders who have received money from the federal government under the recent bank bailout plan would have to participate in the plan.
MICHIGAN STRENGTHENS LIMITS ON UTILITY SHUTOFFS
Recently, the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) issued emergency rules to keep people from losing electricity or heat in the winter. The rules come just weeks after a 93-year-old Bay City man froze to death inside his house. Unemployed workers and a larger number of lower-income customers will now be protected from utility shutoffs as long as they pay a small portion of their monthly bills.
PSC commissioners also gave customers an extra month of winter shut-off protections, extending the period from March 31 to April 30, and wrote new rules governing how customers must be notified if their power or heat is going to be shut off. The PSC also banned regulated utilities from using power-limiting devices, and utilities will now be required to send an employee to the premises and verify that the customer does not meet conditions preventing a shut-off.
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 (MFRF) 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, http://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, MI48909-7761.
SENATE APPROVES FRIEND OF THE COURT REFORM PACKAGE
Last week, the Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan package of bills changing child support and Friend of the Court procedures. This package will help streamline government to make it work more efficiently. Senate Bills 99-107 would:
- simplify payment plan requirements for past-due child support by giving judicial discretion;
- permit law enforcement authorities to place boots on vehicles of those behind on child support;
- allow the court to order a jail alternative program for nonpayment of child support;
- eliminate the automatic application of surcharges on overdue payments, and;
- streamline the process of suspending licenses and reinstating them if child support is owed.
SENATE DEMOCRATS LAUNCH FACEBOOK, TWITTER PAGES
Recently, the Michigan Senate Democrats launched the state's first ever legislative caucus Facebook and Twitter pages. These new interactive tools will feature up-to-date information on legislation and issues of interest, offer an insider perspective of the Capitol and focus on the Senate Democrats’ priorities for Michigan. Through these new forms of media the Senate Democrats will be able to interact directly with the people of Michigan and receive feedback on what issues are most important to them.
The Senate Democrats’ Facebook page can be found at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lansing-MI/Michigan-Senate-Democrats/57144052517?ref=mf.
The Twitter page can be found at: http://twitter.com/MISenDems.
You can also find my individual Facebook page by searching “Tupac A. Hunter” or clicking on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1098030766&ref=ts.
GRANHOLM CREATES GREAT LAKES WIND COUNCIL
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm recently signed Executive Order 2009-1, creating the Great Lakes Wind Council, an advisory body within the Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth that will provide citizens with a public forum to begin to identify where, in the Great Lakes, wind energy systems may be sited.
In addition to looking at ways to best engage the people of Michigan about offshore wind, the council will identify criteria that can be used to review applications for offshore wind development. The council will also identify criteria for mapping areas that should be excluded from offshore wind development and those areas that are most favorable for such development, and provide a full report to the governor by September 1, 2009. It is essential that we make sure that we have criteria in place to assist this new energy venture as well as protect the Great Lakes that are extremely important to Michigan’s economy and our tourism industry.
SENATOR HUNTER INTRODUCES BILL TO CREATE AUTISM RESEARCH FUND
Senator Hunter has introduced Senate Bill 177 which would create the Autism Research Fund in the Department of Community Health. Money in the fund would come from a state income tax check-off which would allow taxpayers to designate an amount of their state income tax refund to go into this fund.
Money from this fund would be used to promote and distribute research relating to autism including the triggers of autism and the methods of diagnosing and treating autism. The money could also be used for grants to Michigan hospitals that specialize in the research, diagnosis and treatment of autism, and to colleges or universities that conduct research related to autism as well as funding grants to other organizations approved by the department for research on autism.
Senate Bill 177 was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.
SENATOR HUNTER INTRODUCES HEARING AID/SCREENING BILLS
Senator Hunter has introduced a two-bill package of legislation to provide insurance coverage for audiological screening, diagnosis, treatment and costs of hearing aids for individuals who suffer from hearing loss.
Senate Bills 178 and 179 will ensure all health care organizations in Michigan provide coverage for those who are certified as deaf or severely hearing impaired by a licensed physician or audiologist. Hearing impairment is most common among senior citizens, where hearing loss is the third most prevalent, yet treatable disabling condition. But hearing loss also affects young people. As many as 33 babies are born every day with hearing loss, making it the number one birth defect in America.
Senate Bills 178 and 179 were referred to the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Regulatory Reform.
“TALK TIME WITH TUPAC” COFFEE HOUR TIMES & LOCATIONS
Detroit Coffee Hour: Every First Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.
Mary's Grill, 20804 Plymouth Road
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.
