Dear friends,
During the last few weeks, the Michigan Legislature has been working around the clock to pass legislation that will
stimulate Michigan's economy and bring transparency to our governmental process. Here's an update on what we're working
on.
Gonzales Transportation Stimulus Bill Passes Senate
In early March, I introduced HB 4582, a bill that would authorize funding for transportation projects across Michigan
as part of President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This bill has the potential to create or maintain
as many as 25,000
jobs in the state this year and help improve Michigan's ailing roads and bridges, ultimately helping to
revitalize the state's economy.
More than $873 million in federal stimulus money could begin moving to shovel-ready projects in local communities next
week as the Senate on Thursday unanimously passed legislation appropriating the funds. The House overwhelmingly approved
the plan earlier. The legislation allocates $635 million to state roads and $211 million for local projects, including
$26.4 million to repair and reconstruct I-475 in Genesee County. The funding is in addition to road spending money the
state had allocated for this year.
State officials said there is a chance that communities could see more federal stimulus road money if other states are
unable meet deadlines to apply for projects by the federal timeline. With our quick action, the state not only meets the
federal deadlines, but can make full use of the construction season.
Additional Stimulus Package Information
Stimulus assistance is also available for schools to purchase and upgrade their kitchen equipment in order to cook
fresh, local foods for kids. For more information, please visit this Web site.
Higher Education Budget Passes out of Subcommittee
On Thursday, the House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee approved a higher education budget that uses
federal stimulus funds to prevent significant cuts. The budget provides for a 3.4 percent increase in funding for the
next fiscal year, largely due to increases in the Michigan Promise program, which provides up to $4,000 in grant money
to students in the first two years of their post-secondary education. I'm very pleased that even though we are going
through tough economic times, we were able to strengthen our efforts to increase access to higher education for kids
across Michigan.
Drug Immunity Bills Pass House
On Thursday, I was proud to join my colleagues in supporting a plan that repealed the absolute immunity pharmaceutical companies have when their products harm or kill Michigan residents. The bills give residents three years to take their claim to court if they have been harmed by a drug over the past 13 years. The package also makes drug companies subject to Michigan's Consumer Protection Act, which would allow civil lawsuits to be filed if a business misrepresented its product.
This long-overdue step is a victory for Michigan residents. It's time that we put profits over people, and give a voice to those who have suffered in silence for far too long.
Oversight for Michigan Catastrophic Claim Association Passes Committee
The House Insurance Committee on Thursday approved a handful of bills that will cast some much-needed light on how insurance rates are set, over repeated and strong objections from insurance company lobbyists.
HB 4426 and HB 4429 would require an annual performance audit of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), an independent insurance fund that pays for the care of severely injured motorists, and would increase the membership of the MCCA Board to include members of the public and a member representing the smallest insurance companies. HB 4471 and HB 4427 would require the MCCA to comply with both the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act, and would require an annual audit.
Hire Michigan First
The House also passed the "Hire Michigan First" package, which rewards companies that employ 100 percent Michigan
workers with state economic development incentives. This aggressive job-creation plan also cracks down on
companies that hire undocumented workers by creating penalties that include requiring them to pay back their state
incentives and barring them from future state contracts. It's a matter of fairness – jobs that are created by
Michigan taxpayer dollars should go to Michigan residents. It's that simple.
If you have any suggestions for items in the e-newsletter, please e-mail me at leegonzales@house.mi.gov. Please click on the links above to get
more news about my activities here in Lansing. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Lee Gonzales
State Representative
District 49