E-Newsletter, May 15, 2009
SENATOR HUNTER HONORED WITH LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Senator Hunter was recently honored by the Hearing Loss Association of Michigan with their Legislator of the Year Award. The group made the presentation at their 4th Annual Day at the Capitol. They cited the senator’s advocacy of their issues and his sponsorship of bills to give a state tax credit equal to the cost of purchasing a hearing aid (Senate Bill 403); a two bill package 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); and a resolution calling on Congress to enact the federal Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act (Senate Resolution 44).
As many as 1.4 million Michigan citizens have hearing loss. Hearing loss is the number one birth defect with approximately 3 to 5 infants out of every 1,000 born being profoundly deaf or suffering a partial hearing loss. Hearing aids are not covered under Medicare, and most state mandated benefits also do not cover hearing aids. Many people require two hearing aids, one for each ear, and so the cost can run as high as $7,000 to $8,000 for a pair of hearing aids.
To read Senator Hunter’s press release go to http://www.senate.mi.gov/hunter/pr.php?id=1328
SENATOR HUNTER CALLS FOR ACTION ON AUTISM INSURANCE BILLS
Senator Hunter said this week that the state needs to go further and require more coverage for autism services than what Blue Cross Blue Shield is planning to offer starting this July.
Blue Cross Blue Shield announced this week that they would offer to employers a plan that will allow for up to 60 treatment visits for one child for applied behavior analysis treatment. Employers can choose to offer this insurance, or they can choose not to offer it to their employees.
Senator Hunter’s bills--Senate Bills 177, 359 and 360--would create an autism research fund funded by an income tax check-off; make treatment programs more accessible to parents and their children early in their diagnosis; and cover more autism services including therapeutic evaluations and interventions, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, intensive early intervention, and applied behavioral analysis and therapy.
The autism bills have remained bottled up in the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Regulatory Reform. The bills rightly belong in the Senate Health Policy Committee where they were sent when he introduced them during the last legislative session. Senator Hunter spoke out in Senate session recently and called on Senate Republicans to quit playing politics with the lives of Michigan’s children and deal properly with this autism legislation. To read Senator Hunter’s press release on this issue go to http://www.senate.mi.gov/hunter/pr.php?id=1326. Video of Senator Hunter’s statement can be seen here: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/dem/play.php?id=704.
LEGISLATORS REACH AGREEMENT ON FORECLOSURE BILLS
A House and Senate Conference committee this week came to an agreement on foreclosure prevention bills. Senator Hunter was a member of the conference committee that worked out the compromise.
The legislation will help keep people in their homes by bringing homeowners together with lenders to try and agree on new loan repayment arrangements. Democrats strongly opposed Senate Republican changes removing the ability to force banks to negotiate with homeowners before foreclosing. The compromise also includes an important judicial enforcement provision that Democrats demanded. The conference report must now be adopted by the Senate.
To read the Senate Democrats’ press release go to http://www.senate.michigan.gov/dem/pr.php?id=1327.
SENATOR HUNTER’S SLOW-BURN CIGARETTE BILL WINS SENATE APPROVAL
Senator Hunter’s bill to require the sale of slow-burn cigarettes in Michigan won approval in the Michigan Senate this week. Senate Bill 264 would fine retailers if they sold cigarettes that did not meet fire safety slow-burn standards, and would also create a new fund for fire safety programs.
Senate Bill 264 would create a fine of not more than $100 per pack if a manufacturer, wholesaler, dealer or agent sells or offers to sell anything other than slow-burn cigarettes. 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 Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth. This money may only be used to support fire safety and prevention programs. Senate Bill 264 will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The U.S. Fire Administration, within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, says that at least 1,000 smokers and nonsmokers die every year in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. The U.S. Fire Administration encourages smokers to use slow-burn cigarettes. To read more about this agency’s fire safety campaign on smoking visit their website at:
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/smoking/.
SENATE DEMOCRATS WILL HONOR VETERANS AT MAY 18 DETROIT CEREMONY
Please join myself and other Detroit area legislators at the third annual Salute to Veterans on Monday, May 18, at the Detroit Light Guard Armory, 4400 8 Mile Road. Breakfast will be served at 9:00 a.m., and the program will start at 9:30 a.m.
Brigadier General Carol Ann Fausone will be speaking at the event. Brigadier General Fausone has an extensive military record. She most recently served as the Assistant for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.
Other service providers will also join us at the event including representatives from: The American Legion, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Wayne County Veterans Association.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING ALLOCATED
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will make available $1 billion in CDBG funds as part of the Economic Recovery Act. CDBG entitlement cities must submit their CDBG applications in the form of a substantial amendment to their program year 2008 action plan to their HUD field office by June 5, 2009. Over $9 million will also be made available to non-entitlement communities in Michigan. Visit http://www.hud.gov/ for more information.
FREE RX CARD
The Michigan Retailers Association is offering a new program that would help people save money on prescription drugs. The Free Rx Card is available and free to everyone - there is no age, income or other eligibility requirements. Cardholders will be able to receive discounts averaging 35 percent off the cost of a prescription, with savings of up to 75 percent off generic prescriptions.
More than 2,000 pharmacies in Michigan - including all major chains and many independents - are participating in the program.
Anyone can obtain a card by visiting the Michigan Retailers Association website http://www.retailers.com. Click on “free rx card” and download a card. The website also can be used to locate a nearby participating pharmacy and to determine the discounted price.
MPSC ISSUES CONSUMER ALERT ON AVAILABLE CREDITS
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has issued a consumer alert on credits that electric customers may be eligible for after experiencing lengthy or frequent electric outages.
Under certain conditions, residential customers could receive a $25 credit. Commercial and other customers also have credits available to them based on their minimum bill. In all cases, customers should contact their electric utility to request the credit.
The MPSC’s service quality and reliability standards include rules providing for outage service credits. Under these rules, there are three types of outage conditions that may qualify for a credit: catastrophic condition outages, normal condition outages, and frequent outages.
Details on the rules are available in the consumer alert, available on the MPSC’s website at http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/mpsc-ca_electricoutageservicecredits_276711_7.pdf
FORECLOSURE HELP AVAILABLE FOR DETROIT AREA RESIDENTS
The Joy-Southfield Community Development Corporation offers Free Foreclosure Prevention Assistance. Call 313-841-9641 to make an appointment with a specially trained foreclosure assistance counselor. Counseling is available at several locations in Detroit. Additional information and application packets are available at Joy-Southfield Health and Education Center located at 18917 Joy Rd., Detroit, MI 48288.
CRIME AND SAFETY SEMINAR: WOMEN POWER TIME!
Women (16 years and older) are welcome to attend a free two hour seminar on self-defense at the Brightmoor Community Center. The seminar will be held on May 20th, from 6-8:30 p.m. Learn how to defend yourself, your family, and your home! For more information call 313-766-6041.
“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.
