A View from the Capitol

State Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, shares his thoughts from Lansing.

From My Desk in Lansing Lansing has been quiet over the previous month as we get to spend more time in our districts. But this just gives me a chance to spend more time in places where I am usually unable to visit while being your voice in Lansing. Summer seems to be flying by this year as we are facing some of the hottest weather in recent memory. With the hot weather comes an opportunity for us to enjoy our waterfront community and spend some time at Lake St. Clair Metropark or Veterans Memorial Park. For boat owners, the weather offers even more of a reason to be out on the water. I, for one, don’t mind the hot temperature but am amazed by the number of 90+ degree days. This is always a special time of the year as families make their …

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A View from the Capitol

A View from the Capitol

State Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, shares his thoughts from Lansing.

From My Desk in Lansing The first two weeks of June were a whirlwind of activity even when you consider the hectic schedule getting Michigan out of intensive care for the past two years. It appears that the economy has stabilized but we are a long way from recovery. No longer are we seeing month after month of job reports showing higher and higher unemployment. In fact, unemployment has come down from 14.5% to 8.5% in the last 2 years.   We now officially have improved our bond rating in Michigan to AAA according to Moody's, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, which is good news for all of us as the cost of government will go down. We have a structurally balanced budget and a lifeline of money for schools and local essential services are …

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A View from the Capitol

A View from the Capitol

State Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, shares his thoughts from Lansing.

From My Desk in Lansing As spring moves along, we in Lansing, continue to address the difficult challenges that face Michigan taxpayers in the near and distant future. One of the main concerns is reforming the Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System (MPSERS). I will explain later in this newsletter in greater detail but this is something that has been a nagging problem, not just recently, but for many years. A week few weeks ago, Governor Snyder signed two of my bills into law. The first, regarding medical amnesty and the second, was the removal of the prisoner sales tax exemption. These are common-sense bills that I’m proud the governor signed into public acts.    On the lighter side, with the help of my colleagues in the House …

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A View from the Capitol

A View from the Capitol

State Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, shares his thoughts from Lansing.

From My Desk in Lansing: The Fiscal Year 2013 Executive Budget plan has been introduced and will receive much of my attention during the coming months. Last year's budget was very tough and tough decisions had to be made in order to protect our hard-earned tax dollars. One year later I can tell you it was worth it. During the past decade our legislatures spent down our rainy-day fund to the point that nothing was left. We were borrowing money just so we could balance the budget. We had to go out to the bond markets (which is very costly) just to make repairs on buildings. Now, just one year later, this Legislature passed the first structurally balanced budget since the Milliken years. That means that we are no longer passing on more debt …

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A View from the Capitol

A View from the Capitol

State Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, shares his thoughts from Lansing.

From My Desk in Lansing: Wow, what a difference one week makes. Last year we saw one of the busiest legislative sessions in the history of Michigan. But it wasn’t until last week that I was able to see some of the bills our office authored see the light of day. In just two legislative sessions the house passed HB 4653 and HB 4656, which protect the sanctity of the ballot box and HB 4658, which takes away the exemption for prisoners. I’ll talk more about those later in this article. 2011 brought us a year of significant change for Michigan. The legislature adopted a balanced budget for the first time in many years. Furthermore, the budget was completed in the timeliest fashion in over three decades, thus avoiding unnecessary struggles near …

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A View from the Capitol

A View from the Capitol

State Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, shares his thoughts from Lansing.

It's hard to believe how nice the weather has been for us this fall. In spite of the weather it seems like the Tigers had to play in the rain every time there on the field. I hope that everyone has taken advantage of being outside for the past few weeks before the cold weather moves in.   With the nice weather, our office participated in many events over the past few weeks, including our own "Kickin' Off the Pounds" event, the legislative Columbus Day Celebration and a Tele Town Hall. On the topic of Health and Wellness, it was encouraging to see so many constituents enjoy a night of exercise and fun in Harrison Township.   On October 3, we had 25 residents join us for a fun, but competitive, game of kickball. I haven’t played kickball …

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Forlini Plans Kickball Game for Fitness

Following Gov. Rick Snyder's recent speech on creating healthier state, Rep. Anthony Forlini plans to hold a kickball game to help constituents get active.

Armchair quarterbacks will have the chance to put down the remote and return to the ball fields to play the playground game of kickball in an effort to get Michigan healthier. State Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, announced Thursday he was organizing a "Kickin' off the Pounds" kickball game for constituents to get active and "have a little fun in the process." "What we are missing in the whole of idea of getting in shape is fun. Too many people are caught up in the gym routine, not have any fun and eventually fall out of the habit," said Forlini, who recalled the "fun" childhood memories of playing kickball. "As a kid you didn't need to go out to the gym, you went to the park ... and stayed in shape," he said. "We have to get …

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Shores Day Planner: August 15

Five things to get your day, and week, started in St. Clair Shores.

Here are a few items to help you get into the work week. 1. The weather to start the work week will make you wish it was still the weekend. The National Weather Service is forecasting mostly sunny skies with a high near 78. 2. The National Weather Service is forecasting north winds 5 to 15 knots on Lake St. Clair with partly cloudy skies and waves around 1 foot. 3.The Macomb Chamber Music Society, and Shorewood Kiwanis, present a classical music concert at 7 p.m. tonight in Wahby Park. 4. St. Clair Shores City Council meets at 7 p.m. tonight in City Hall. Council will be considering a request to use proceeds from the sale of $1 HUD homes to renovate the physical fitness room at Civic Arena, and a request to purchase of bocce court shade …

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Letters to the Editor

Dear Washington: Follow Michigan's Lead

State Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, shares his thoughts on how Washington should follow Michigan's lead.

As you read this, U.S. and European stock markets are unstable.   Why? Washington and our European partners have an excess of debt and a shortage of leadership. The recent market drops are merely a reflection of their actions–or lack thereof–and they have a serious effect on all of us.   For the past seven months, we’ve worked in Lansing to approve a responsible, yet very difficult balanced budget with one goal in mind: to place Michigan at the top of places to live, work and raise a family.  Our plan included necessary reforms for our state to compete on the world stage. It also was the earliest balanced budget completed in a generation, since Gov. Milliken was in office. We made a promise to our communities to get spending under control…

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Shores Day Planner: July 28

Five things to get your day started in St. Clair Shores.

Here are a few items to help you get started today. 1. Take your umbrella with you today as the National Weather Service is forecasting a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms with mostly cloudy skies and a high near 86. 2. It may not be the best day to head out on Lake St. Clair with the possibility of thunderstorms throughout the day. The National Weather Service is forecasting west winds 5 to 10 knots that will diminish during the day. Waves will be around 1 foot. 3. Teens in grades six and up can take part in the St. Clair Shores Public Library's version of "The Amazing Race," in this case, it's "Dewey's Amazing Race." Participants will be challenged to solve problems posed by the librarians. It's free and light refreshments …

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