Fast-Paced First Month For Forlini

As one of 67 new freshman legislators, I found my first month in office to be fast-paced with new adventures at every turn.

At our orientation in December, we had the opportunity to be on the House floor to view an actual session.

After several misdirections, I finally got the attention of a Capitol guard. She was very respectful as she asked, “Representative, how can I help you?” Although I was embarrassed by my dilemma, I admitted that I was lost and couldn’t find the entrance to the House floor. She chuckled and said that I wasn’t the first one to pull her aside and ask the same question that day.

For those that don’t know, my office in Lansing is the same exact office with the same furniture as my predecessors in District 24. The office is on the seventh floor, and there is a particularly beautiful view of the Capitol from the office window.

At first, I found sitting behind my desk a bit uncomfortable. It wasn’t until I received a phone call from State Sen. Jack Brandenburg (who previously had this office as state representative from 2002-2008) that I remembered that he had the desk raised two inches. The good news: I wouldn’t need a booster chair. I had the House maintenance people lower the desk to the proper height.

During our first month, House Speaker Jase Bolger and the committee on committees assigned me to serve on the Appropriations Committee as Vice Chair of the Agriculture and Judiciary Subcommittees. They also assigned me to serve as a member of the Appropriations General Government and Human Services Subcommittees.

I am honored to serve on these committee assignments as we address Michigan’s $1.8 billion budget deficit. We can no longer "kick the can down the road" by plugging our enormous deficit with quick fixes or by borrowing against our future. Serving on the Appropriations Committee, I hope to help address Michigan’s structural problems so we can create an environment where Michigan families can prosper.

From my first week in office, an electricity could be felt throughout the Legislature as we rolled up our sleeves and began to address the state's dire budgetary problems. In the same manner that Michigan families have adjusted their shrinking household budgets, we need to make very difficult choices to get Michigan back on track.

As we tackle this immense task, I am grateful for the commitment that I see from my fellow legislators, for the tireless assistance of my office staff–Pam Weiss in our Lansing office and Sue Sikkelee in our district office—and for the input from constituents in our district.

It is an honor to serve the people of the 24th District. Your well-being is my daily inspiration. The enormity of the task before us struck me one recent night as I ended a very long day of meetings. Exhausted, I came down the steps of the Capitol Building, stopped and looked back at that beautiful lit dome shining against the night sky. For me that dome serves as a beacon, lighting the way for us as we forge our way to reinventing Michigan.

Gov. Snyder's 'road map' available online

As referenced in the governor's State of the State address, the progress of his plan to reshape our state will be recorded and measured online. With a mission to motivate progress, Gov. Snyder will set clear, measurable goals and actively track their progress for the duration of his term.

Called the Michigan Dashboard, the governor's site shows the status of efforts which impact economic growth, education, public health and safety, value for taxpayer dollars in government, and overall quality of life.  The Dashboard can be found at www.michigan.gov/midashboard.

Gov. Snyder is committed to government transparency and fiscal accountability. Citizens can find information on state spending at http://apps.michigan.gov/MiTransparency

To create an environment where our economy will grow and Michigan will attract quality job providers, we need to pursue an aggressive agenda predicated on reforms to three key areas: government spending, state regulations and our tax structure.

Visit Treasury Website for tax information

Missing a form? Have a question about your tax status?

The Department of Treasury website: http://www.michigan.gov/incometax has guides, information and forms to assist you in preparing your taxes. Commonly used forms and commonly requested information can generally also be found at Treasury offices, Secretary of State offices, DHS county offices and most public libraries.

E-filing of your taxes helps to prevent errors and usually result in quicker returns.  

The department also wants taxpayers and preparers to be aware that this year, instruction booklets MI-1040CR2 (Homestead Property Tax Credit Veteran and Blind) and MI-1040CR-5 (Farmland Preservation Credit) will only be mailed to those who filed their 2009 return on Michigan Department of Treasury form and did not use a paid preparer. The MI-1040CR-7 (Home Heating Credit) will be mailed to the aforementioned group as well as individuals identified by the Department of Human Services.

In light of Emancipation Day, an observed holiday in Washington, D.C., taxpayers will have until April 18, 2011 to file their income tax returns. This is the next business day following the traditional income tax return filing deadline of April 15.

Free Fishing

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment reminds you that Winter Free Fishing Weekend is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 19, and Sunday, Feb. 20. On that weekend, residents and non-residents can fish without a license, though all other fishing regulations apply. Activities have been scheduled across the state to coincide with the weekend. Many provide bait, free use of equipment, or experienced anglers who’ll introduce novices to the joy of fishing. For a list of Free Fishing Events, visit www.michigan.gov/freefishing.

Be Part of the Solution

Change is an inevitable part of the process of reinventing state government to return to prosperity. Rather than avoid change, we should embrace it by becoming part of the solution to our problems. Each month I will bring a current legislative topic to the table for your consideration. As a friend once told me, "If you're not at the table, you may end up on the menu!"  

So, pull up a seat for this month's proposal:  Item Pricing Law

Michigan is one of only two states that still mandates items be individually marked with a price sticker for retail sale in order to prevent fraud. State retailers cite costs of $2 billion annually in material and personnel costs to comply with the item pricing law. These costs are passed on to you, the consumer.

Proponents of the law cite the possibility of misleading store displays with prices for a large group of items and misread barcodes.

Warehouse stores and online retailers already have an advantage over local small businesses by being exempt from this law. Many small businesses struggle to survive in this depressed economy.

House Bill 4158, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Lyons, R-Alto, would repeal the Consumer Item Pricing Act. The bill would require instead that the price be displayed by signage, in a current advertisement, by an electronic reader, or by any other method that conveys the price.

Residents have contacted my office with concerns about the reliability and availability of electronic scanning devices in stores.

So, please share your thoughts on how we can modernize our pricing law to lower costs for Michigan retailers and for you while still protecting consumers from fraud.  I look forward to hearing your innovative solutions!

PLEASE JOIN US:

Office Hours:

8 - 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21

Big Apple Bagels, 26250 Crocker, Harrison Twp

6 - 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21

, 24317 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores

Town Hall Meeting:

6:30 - 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28

Understanding Your Property Taxes

, 22500 11 Mile

RSVP 586-738-0601