A View from the Capitol

From My Desk in Lansing

Spring is officially here and that means our beloved Detroit Tigers are back on the field for another season of America’s favorite pastime. Now if the weather would just start acting agreeable … we will all be able to enjoy the outdoors.

The early part of April was a busy time in the district. Beyond the usual things, I was asked to speak to a Macomb County business group with my colleague from Fraser about our bipartisan efforts and the work to make Macomb County issues a top priority. 

There were also three senior events in St. Clair Shores and Harrison Township. Sue Ficau, the coordinator, hosts monthly birthday breakfasts on the first Wednesday of the month, usually a day and time when I cannot attend, but this time was thrilled to stop by and say hi to friends that were celebrating a milestone in their life.

Also, the Harrison Township Tucker Senior Center was having fun with an old school “Sock Hop” hosted by the Macomb County Senior Nutrition Program. The festivities featured lunch and a limbo competition. I can say that I was impressed at the mobility of many of the seniors, but equally satisfying was the fun they had dressing up for the sock hop ... I even joined in on the fun ... putting on my old high school letter jacket and rolling up the jeans for one afternoon -- which mysteriously shrunk several sizes since I wore it last over 30 years ago.

Finally, the AHEPA Senior Community was also kind enough to have me as a guest speaker. We discussed several issues from sidewalk concerns to the rising cost of college tuition for their grandchildren. I appreciate the time we spent together!

On the return to session in Lansing, the House of Representatives worked hard to approve a budget on target and in time to be finished before the end of May for the second year in a row.  

Harrison Township Easter Egg Hunt

On April 7, the Harrison Township Fire Department hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt at L’Anse Creuse High School.

This was a beautiful day for the community to come together with their families and celebrate the holiday. The Fire Department prepared several games from bean bag toss, to hula-hooping, to a moonwalk.

The hunt or “scramble” as it turned out to be was held on the high school football field. Thousands of Easter eggs filled with candy were spread across the field as hundreds of children eagerly awaited their chance to grab as many as they could hold.

The area was broken up into sections based on age in order to give the younger ones a better opportunity. Once the horn went off, it was only a matter of seconds before the entire field (which was filled with eggs) was completely cleared.   

For those who did not attend or did not know about this event; it is a fun, family-friendly morning that is always run well. 

Speaking to Macomb County Business Owners

On April 4, State Representative Marilyn Lane and I were the guest speakers to a Macomb County business group. 

We were tapped to speak about the bipartisan leadership in the Michigan House by the Macomb County Delegation. We have different political party affiliations but we, like the other representatives from Macomb, have been able to work together and do what is best for Michigan.

We discussed our thoughts regarding many issues that we have faced or will be coming up including: the Michigan Business Tax, the New International Trade Crossing, the Personal Property Tax and the recent passage of autism coverage.

The concern for us going to Lansing was that it would be Republicans on one side and the Democrats on the other with nothing getting done. At the state level, this has often been the case in the Michigan Legislature’s long history. We have been able to look past party differences to work for a better Macomb. We share concerns about the problems we face and are eager to help continue moving Michigan in the right direction. The positive momentum in our state is a result of good public policy for all.

Let’s Move Festival of Races

On April 28, the Macomb Health and Fitness Foundation hosted the 2nd Annual Let’s Move Festival of Races in downtown Mount Clemens and Harrison Township.

The Let’s Move Festival is a national campaign to combat childhood obesity. We know that this has become an increasing concern for families everywhere. Our goal must be to instill personal responsibility in our young people. This is not to say that everyone must become a vegetarian, but rather to just do a better job monitoring our calorie intake and portion sizes.

Last year’s success was reason enough to bring the festival back to Macomb County as hundreds of people participated in the river walk, 5K walk, 5K run and the half marathon.

My team and I are taking the Governor’s Health and Wellness message to heart as we participated in the festivities. One of my legislative aides, Sonny Koch, ran the 5K and finished in 7th overall place.

I have no doubt that the festival will be back for a third year. This event will continue to grow as more folks around the state and the entire nation, for that matter, begin to realize what Macomb County has to offer.

Medical Amnesty Legislation Update

On April 18, the Senate passed my legislation, HB 4393, which provides amnesty to minors who seek for themselves or others medical treatment to prevent death by alcohol poisoning. The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support as it passed 38-0.

We do not condone underage drinking, but too many times our youth make a mistake and are afraid to get needed medical attention because of legal repercussions on them or their friend. This legislation puts the health of our youth first.

The bill will be returned to the House before it can go to Governor Snyder’s desk for a signature.

Houses Votes to Lift the Cyber Cap

On April 26, the Michigan House voted to approve Senate Bill 619 that lifts the cap on cyber schools by a vote of 56-54.

SB 619 was introduced in September 2011 by Sen. Colbeck in order to help relieve the thousands of Michigan students and parents who are currently on waiting lists for the state’s two cyber schools. Supporters of the legislation suggest that it will offer options to parents that feel their children are being left behind in the traditional public school system or are victims of bullying.  

Although I voted no on SB 619, I do believe cyber education has its place in the world of educating our children. I had a very specific reason for voting no and it again deals with accountability, let me explain. 

Currently, public schools have what are called “count days." Count days are used to determine the number of students the schools have enrolled and thus drives the funding of the schools. Current legislation calls for 2 count days a year. Unfortunately, some schools have lost their focus as to what is really important - the children - and have established a practice of making count days “fun days” and incentivize kids with pizza parties and free giveaways just so that they attend school on that particular day. But what about the rest of the school year?

In addition, I have had neighboring school districts from Detroit complain that they cannot get transcripts from Detroit Public Schools and that the kids have been “lost” in the system. 

Often times, the district was getting paid while the kids were not found to have dropped out until 18 months or more had passed. As a matter of fact, I have come to find out that because we do not have a defined definition of dropout - districts have been allowed to creatively keep the students on the books longer than they should.

I had an amendment that would have replaced count days with report days. A report day would be the day the cyber would have reported to the state the daily attendance of each child. If a child failed to be active on-line below a stated threshold, the cyber school would immediately lose its funding. This would have forced administrators to focus on our kids on a daily basis ... not just on pizza days.

Unfortunately, because my accountability standard wasn’t included, I could not vote to establish a new system using old rules that I believe do not work. 

District Office Hours

Monday, May 21, 2012
8-9 am at Big Apple Bagel in Harrison Township
There will be NO Office hours at Dockside Café in St. Clair Shores this month but I will be happy to set up an appointment with someone if they cannot make the Harrison Township morning hour.