18th District Update

May 6, 2022 | Email

 

State Senator Jeff Irwin

Dear Neighbor, 

I want to make sure you’re informed about what has been going on in our state government and update you on what I’ve been working on.  

In this e-news, you can find information about: 

  • State Budget Update 
  • Legislative Update 
  • Stop DTE: Contact the Michigan Public Service Commission 
  • Registration for My Coffee Hour – Sat., May 14 at 11 a.m. 
  • Mortgage, Rental, and Utility Assistance 
  • Beware of Scammers 
  • Reporting Robocalls 
  • COVID-19 Resources 
    • Free At-Home COVID Tests 
    • COVID-19 Vaccine Information 
    • COVID-19 Testing 
  • Energy Bill Assistance and Shutoff Protection 

As always, you can reach my office at (517) 373-2406 or by replying to this email.   

 

Sincerely,  
State Senator Jeff Irwin

Jeff Irwin
State Senator
18th District

STATE BUDGET UPDATE 

Senate Appropriations Committee 

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony from sub-appropriations committees about the budgets that they put together, before the full Senate voted on them. During these hearings I took the opportunity to offer amendments to the issues that I saw: 

  • Senior Center Funding: 
    • Our state budget used to support senior centers in keeping the lights on and paying for supplies. That way they could focus on programming and pursuing grants to keep revenue coming in. This funding made a big difference for the volunteers who make sure our seniors have a place of community. After two years of this pandemic, our senior centers and seniors could really use this help again. That’s why I offered an amendment to restore this funding to senior centers across our state. 
  • Opioid Treatment: 
    • Medically assisted treatment for opioid addiction works. Unfortunately, our state reimburses this treatment at such a low rate that rural areas have very few, if any, centers where people can get help. Our state needs to lean more aggressively into funding this, so people can get better. I offered an amendment to increase the reimbursement rate for this treatment, so people can get the help they need. 
  • Homeless Shelters: 
    • The state reimburses our homeless shelters much less than shelters in neighboring states. This has been a longstanding issue in Michigan, as homeless shelters have been struggling to keep their doors open and keep staff because funding for them is so low. That’s why I introduced an amendment to increase the reimbursement rate from $19 per day to $24 per day.  

Full Senate Vote on the Budget 

This week, the full Senate voted and approved the Senate version of our state budget. Even though we approved these budgets, there is still more work to be done. The House passed their own budgets, so there will be more negotiations on what is included in a final budget, and both the House and Senate will have to vote again. 

The budgets we approved this week were in some ways a good step forward, but in others, a step backward as we’re still leaving federal aid funding off the table and we did not put funding toward critical needs in our state. I’m still working on funding critical needs — like helping senior centers, increasing direct-care worker wages, improving K-12 education, building more housing, and investing in clean energy, and opioid treatment.  

This is why I offered a number of amendments during session this week to fix these issues: 

Direct-care Workers 

In the MDHHS budget, we se
cured the $2.35 per hour raise for direct-care workers. While I’m proud that we did that, we must continue to improve wages to ensure the quality and availability of care.  

These people work full-time, doing incredibly hard, sensitive work, but many of them rely on public assistance and live in poverty. It’s unacceptable. That’s why I offered an amendment to increase their wages by an additional $1 per hour, bringing the total increase to $3.35 per hour. 

Disappointingly, Republicans voted down my amendment, which will only keep these essential workers in poverty, and continue our state’s trend of losing them to other states where wages are higher or to them finding new jobs. 

Increasing Per-pupil Funding: 

I offered an amendment to increase per-pupil funding by $1,000. Our most important priority for ensuring future prosperity is our children — the next generation of learners, innovators, and business leaders.  

We have the resources to put more into our education system, and the time to do that is now. We should be investing resources into ending the teacher shortage, reducing class sizes, and supporting kids with special needs. 

Helping Farmers and Our Supply Chain: 

I offered an amendment to the MDARD budget that would provide $10 million to help local meat processors get USDA approval for their facilities. Smaller processors are priced out, because of the costs associated with getting USDA approval, and my amendment would help them cover those costs. 

The supply chain disruptions we saw during this pandemic are because four mega-corporations dominate the meat processing industry. Diversifying this industry is not only good for processors, it’s good for farmers because they will be able to negotiate their prices, and it’s good for consumers because prices will be lower and any disruption to one processor won’t impact the entire industry. 

That said, there were some budget highlights that I’m encouraged by: 

  • A new scholarship program that will make education more affordable. This proposal will provide $3,000/year for Community College or trades certification and $6,000/year for those seeking a BS or BA from a four-year institution. 
  • An overall 11% increase for operation costs for our 15 public universities.  
  • I’m encouraged that the School Aid Budget included an increase to the per-pupil foundation allowance by $450. I’m working with my colleagues to increase this. 
  • $100,000 that ensures all foster kids will be able to play school sports, and afford any needed equipment, a small new program that I’ve proposed to fill this gap for foster youth. 
  • $10 million for jail diversion programs. 
  • $1.9 million for child welfare education planners. 
  • An extension of the $2.35 per hour wage increase for direct-care workers. 
  • Funding to ensure that our state’s armories that house Army recruits, and our National Guard will have equitable bathrooms, locker rooms and much needed lactation rooms for our female soldiers. 

Here are the budgets we voted on: 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Opioid Settlement Fund

Michigan is set to receive about $800 million from the $26 billion nationwide settlement that was reached between many state attorneys general and some of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical distributors and manufacturers. To receive this money, the Michigan Senate and House passed legislation, Senate Bills 993, 994 and 995, which will create the Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund, and establish a commission that will produce annual reports that will include how this settlement money should be appropriated, along with assessments on how the funding is being used. 


The reason that the legislature is creating a fund and commission is to ensure the settlement money we receive is used to address the opioid crisis and help
the people who have suffered from opioid use disorders, unlike the money we received from the late 90s tobacco settlement. 


Earth Day: Protecting Our Land, Water, and Air

Even though I’m mindful of how I treat our planet, I take Earth Day as a time to reflect with gratitude on this incredible planet that sustains our lives and reflect on our roles in protecting the Earth. 


We’re facing a climate crisis, and across our state we’re experiencing increased flooding, incredible damage to our agricultural sector, and the increasing financial and ecological costs of our addiction to fossil fuels. We face threats to our health from toxic chemicals in our land, air, and water and we are discovering more and more communities where their water is contaminated by dangerously high levels of lead or PFAS.

As a State Senator, I take the responsibility to protect our land, air, and water seriously. These belong to all of us, and we must do more to keep them free from pollution, and we need to transition to cleaner, greener energy.

That’s why I’ve introduced: 

 

  • Senate Bill 58, or the polluter pay bill, to require stricter cleanups to protect our land, air, and water. 
  • Senate Bill 358 to re-allow local municipalities to institute a plastic bag ban, or other programs to reduce plastic litter. 
  • Senate Bill 591 to prohibit companies from using food packaging that contains PFAS. 
  • Senate Bill 823 to prohibit the flaring of methane, which over time becomes less and less efficient, and leads to more methane in our atmosphere. 
  • Senate Bill 987 to place our Great Lakes and groundwater into the public trust, so it can only be used to benefit the people of our state. 
  • Senate Bill 988 to close the loophole in the Great Lakes Compact that allows corporations like Nestle to pump hundreds of thousands of gallons of freshwater to use for profit. 

Tax Day 
Monday, April 18 was Tax Day… the day no one enjoys. But what we can enjoy is working to make Michigan’s tax system fairer, and make our state a better place for nurses, teachers, low-income families, and essential workers. That’s why I’ve introduced: 
  • Senate Joint Resolution C will create a graduated income tax system. A system that is fairer and that forces the ultra-wealthy to pay their fair share.  
  • Senate Bill 105 increases the percentage of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that Michiganders could claim on their state tax return, from 6% to 20%.  
  • Senate Bill 790 expands EITC eligibility to childless workers between ages 18 to 24. This expanded eligibility will help the roughly 25% of Michiganders ages 18 to 24 live in poverty. 
  • Senate Bill 998 creates a tax credit for the people who serve as medical preceptors — the experienced, hands-on health care professionals who mentor medical and nursing students while they finish their training and licensure. 
  • Senate Bill 1000 allows teachers to receive an up to a $1,000 tax credit to cover the costs of classroom supplies, because they are not reimbursed for them. 

STOP DTE: CONTACT THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (MPSC) 
DTE is set on ending the residential solar industry in Michigan.  
In its current case before the MPSC, DTE wants to slash the credit people get for generating solar energy, and they want to charge solar owners an obscene monthly fee. Experts say that if DTE gets its way, it will put rooftop solar completely out of reach for future residential customers, make it unaffordable for those with residential solar panels, and potentially end the solar industry in Michigan.  

We need to stand up to DTE, which is why I wrote to the MPSC urging them to reject DTE’s proposal, because their profits are not more important than the health of our climate, reducing our energy bills, and thousands of jobs. 

Contact the Michigan Public Service Commission at mpscedockets@michigan.gov and tell them to reject DTE’s solar proposal in rate case U-20836. Make sure to put U-20836 in your subject line. 
 

UPCOMING COFFEE HOUR ON SATURDAY, MAY 14 AT 11 AM  
Please join me at my coffee hour on Saturday, May 14, via Zoom or Facebook Live, from 11 a.m. to noon.  
Virtual Coffee Hour

Please use this form to RSVP to the coffee hour and to receive information and the Zoom access code about how to join the meeting, which you can also watch on my Facebook page. Since it will take place next week, don’t forget to click “Going” on the Facebook event to get a reminder the day before and day of.   

 If you are unable to access the form or have any problems with the link, please contact my office at (517) 373-2406 or by responding to this email.   

 

MORTGAGE, RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE 

MIHAF Application 

Homeowners can apply for the MIHAF program here, but before you start please make sure you have all the necessary documents and information. You can find what documents and information you’ll need here. 

Who is eligible? 

  • Homeowners with household incomes less than 150% of Area Median Income (AMI) 
  • Homeowners who own and occupy the property as their primary residence 
  • Homeowners must have and explain a financial hardship directly related to COVID-19 on or after January 21, 2020.  

Up to $25,000 grant per household to pay: 

Eligible households can receive a grant worth up to $25,000 to help them pay: 

  • Delinquent mortgage/housing expenses, including property tax and insurance escrow shortages 
  • Delinquent land contract payments, mobile home consumer loan payments or mobile home park lot payments 
  • Delinquent property taxes 
  • Delinquent condominium/homeowners’ association fees 
  • Delinquent homeowner’s insurance, 
  • Delinquent utilities, gas, electric, water, sewer 
  • Delinquent internet broadband services 

CERA Application 

Tenants and property owners can apply by clicking here, but before you start please make sure you have all the necessary documents and information. You can find what documents and information you’ll need here. 

Who is eligible? 

CERA serves renter households that have incomes less than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) who meet the following conditions: 

  • Individual(s) in the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or has experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to the coronavirus outbreak; and  
  • Individual(s) in the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability by being past due on rent. 

Utility Assistance 

Households eligible for CERA can also receive utility assistance for tenant supplied electricity, home heating (any type of fuel), water, sewer and trash (if billed along with another utility). 

Internet Assistance 

Through CERA, a flat $300 internet stipend that is available for households that have home internet and include a recent internet bill/statement in their application. The $300 payment will be made to either the Internet service provider or the tenant.

 

BEWARE OF SCAMMERS 

Smishing is when scammers send text messages pretending to be from trusted sources. The goal is to get targets to respond with personal information like passwords and credit card details or to click on links that install malware. 

A scam text may read like this: “Verizon Free Msg: Latest bill processed. Thanks, [YourName]! Here’s a little freebie for you: f1smk.exy/XXXXXXXX” 

Attorney General Dana Nessel has said that these kinds of attacks are on the rise. She also provided tips on how people can protect their number and information: 

  • Don’t share your phone number unless you know the person or organization well. 
  • Don’t assume a text is legitimate because it comes from a familiar phone number or area code. Spammers use caller ID Spoofing to make it appear the text is from a trusted or local source. 
  • Don’t provide personal or financial information in response to the unsolicited text or at a website linked to the message. 
  • Don’t click on links in suspicious text; they could install malware on your device or take you to a site that does the same. 
  • Don’t reply, even if the message says you can “text STOP” to avoid more messages. That tells the scammer or spammer your number is active and can be sold to other bad actors. 
  • Never follow a text’s instructions to push a designated key to opt-out of future messages. 

REPORTING ROBOCALLS 

Robocall scams are a never-ending issue in Michigan, and across our country. While they are annoying to many of us, many people are scammed and hurt by them. To fight back, Attorney General Dana Nessel has been relentlessly pursuing these scam artists, but she needs our help.  

If you are contacted by a robocall, getting as much information from them — where they are located, what business they are calling for, the reason for their call and the phone number they are calling from — can help immensely in holding these people accountable. Even if you are unable to get all that information, some of it can also help.  
 
If you pick up a robocall, or they leave a voicemail, please fill out this form here with as much information as you call. Also, you can verify your registry on, or put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry here.  
 

COVID-19 RESOURCES 

Free At-Home COVID Tests 


Medicare now covers up to eight over-the-counter COVID-19 tests each calendar month, at no cost to you!

At-home COVID tests are covered by private health insurance and health plans. They are required to cover eight (8) free over-the-counter at-home tests per individual per month. That means that a family of four can have 32 at-home tests covered per month.  

Get your free at-home COVID-19 tests here: www.covidtests.gov.

Also, make sure to only buy FDA-approved tests as they’ve been vetted for accuracy and you won’t get caught in a scam. You can see the list of approved at-home tests here: https://bit.ly/3qBXCmI

General Vaccination Info 


The Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) has an ongoing vaccination site located at 555 Towner in Ypsilanti.  

 

  • Schedule an appointment here. If you need help scheduling, call us at 734-544-6700.  
  • Walk-ins without an appointment are accepted during clinic hours: Monday-Friday from 9:00-11:30am and 1:00-3:30pm. 

Free, door-to-door, accessible, round-trip transportation to any COVID-19 vaccination site in Washtenaw County is available through the Vaccinate Washtenaw Program. 

This program is open to any person of any age in Washtenaw County. Rides are booked through the AARP Ride@50+ Program. Call 844-900-4892 and use the code “Vaccinate Washtenaw.” If the call center is busy, you can also call 734-773-0907 to schedule a ride. 

 

Please check the WCHD website for more info about additional doses for immunocompromised people: www.washtenaw.org/3269/COVID-19-Vaccination

Booster Shots 

The Washtenaw County Health Department is offering Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson booster doses at their clinic at 555 Towner in Ypsilanti. They ask that you please bring your vaccination card and identification, if possible.  

COVID TESTING

Lynx XD has drive-thru saliva PCR testing sites in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. For both sites, pre-registration is required online at: lynxdx.health/register. Once you pre-register, you will be directed to schedule a time/date for your test. 

 
For additional testing sites across Washtenaw County, and our state, visit the WCHD’s website here:  

ENERGY BILL ASSISTANCE AND SHUTOFF PROTECTION 

We have numerous utility shutoff protection programs and programs that will help you afford your utility bills during the winter. These programs range from bill payment assistance to assistance winterizing your home. Check out our list of these programs here. 

As an elected representative, I believe in being readily available and transparent because my office is your office.

Email is a great way to share updates, and hear from you on the issues you care about. If you want to alter your email preferences, click here to unsubscribe.