18th District Update

Dear Neighbor,

While we’re home (and hopefully staying warm), I want to make sure you’re informed about what has been going on in our state and community and update you on what I’ve been working on.

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

 

• Legislative Updates
• Registration for My Coffee Hour This Saturday at 11 AM
• Mortgage, Rental and Utility Assistance
• COVID-19 Resources
• Free, At-Home Tests
• Vaccine Information
• Testing
• Energy Bill Assistance and Shut-off Protection

I hope this information helps you, and please share this with your neighbors and friends. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call (517) 373-2406 or email me at SenJIrwin@senate.michigan.gov.

Sincerely, 

Jeff Irwin
State Senator
18th District

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Governor Whitmer’s Executive Budget Proposal
Last week, the Joint Senate and House Appropriations Committee heard Governor Whitmer’s executive budget proposal. The budget recommendation totaled $74.1 billion, including a General Fund total of $14.3 billion and a School Aid budget totaling $18.4 billion. Her budget uses a mixture of federal COVID-19 aid and state funding to make significant one-time funding while maintaining balance in future years. Something notable about this budget is that it does not utilize one-time funds for continuing purposes.

There was a lot to be excited about, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to appropriate these recommendations:

• Education:
• Creating a $250 million fund would award scholarships to individuals pursuing teacher certification in grades pre-K-12, plus $50 million in scholarships for graduate programs for school leaders and mental health professionals.
• Increasing per-pupil funding by 5%, to $9,135 up from $8,700.
• $30.8 million for vocational education and career and technical education.
• Free preschool for all eligible 4-year-olds under the Great Start Readiness Program.
• $50 million for before- and after-school programs that provide extracurricular activities and accelerate learning.
• $361 million in student mental health, including hiring hundreds more school mental health professionals.
• $30 million to help open new preschool classrooms.
• $222 million more to support economically disadvantaged students.
• $150 million more for special education.
• Infrastructure:
• $48 million for community technical assistance for lead line replacement projects.
• $40 million in home plumbing grants so households earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level can remove lead pipes to ensure safe drinking water and help make homes eligible for weatherization assistance.
• $34.3 million for high water infrastructure grants to local units of government for high water level and climate resiliency planning and infrastructure needs.
• $69.3 million for cleanup of contaminated sites and to improve the ability to identify, assess, and clean-up sites of legacy contamination.
• $10 million to begin the conversion of the state government fleet to electrical vehicles.
• Taxes:
• Repealing the retirement tax.
• Expanding the EITC so that 730,000 Michiganians receive a combined $3,000 tax refund.

Repealing the Retirement Tax
In the Senate this week, we voted on eliminating the retirement tax.

All Senate Democrats voted to eliminate the retirement tax. All Senate Republicans voted to KEEP the retirement tax.

It’s important to note that the retirement tax was created in 2011 by Governor Snyder and the Republican-led legislature to pay for corporate tax cuts. Since 2011, Republicans have taken every opportunity to score political points by saying that they want a full repeal of their retirement tax.

This week Republicans had that chance. They had the chance to help seniors, not just their corporate donors. Instead, Republicans took another opportunity to give corporations another massive tax cut and continue forcing seniors to pay for it.

UIA Overpayment Waivers
Governor Whitmer announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) granted her request on behalf of the state of Michigan to expand the eligibility for waivers for Michigan workers who received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

The USDOL’s Employment and Training Administration updated its waiver guidance to approve five new scenarios under which states who have adopted the federal provisions for consideration of a waiver may apply blanket waivers for recovery of overpayments. You can read about the five scenarios and learn more here.

 

UPCOMING COFFEE HOUR ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19th AT 11AM

Please join me at my upcoming virtual coffee hour on Saturday, February 19th at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom or Facebook Live.  

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 this 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 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 landlords can apply by clicking here, but before you start, please make sure you have all 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.

COVID-19 RESOURCES
Free At-Home, Rapid COVID Tests 
Thanks to President Biden, all Americans can get free at-home, rapid COVID tests through the federal government or through their health insurance. 

You can now order four (4) free, at-home, rapid COVID-19 tests to be mailed to you at covidtests.gov. 

At-home COVID tests are also now 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.  

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 at this FDA.gov website. 

Free At-Home Tests Through Meijer
Meijer is offering free, at-home PCR COVID tests in their stores. You will be able to pick up the tests and have Meijer send them to be analyzed.

Order tests online at ineedacovid19test.com.

General Vaccination Info 
The Washtenaw County Health Department (WCHD) has an ongoing COVID-19 vaccination site located at 555 Towner in Ypsilanti. Appointments are required. You can request the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

• Click here to schedule an appointment individuals aged 18+  
• Click here to schedule an appointment for 5- to 17-year-olds 

If you are unvaccinated and unable to schedule an appointment, please contact the WCHD so they can prioritize getting you fully vaccinated. Call them at 734-544-6700 or send an email to health@washtenaw.org. 
Please check the WCHD website for more info about additional doses for immunocompromised people.  

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 COVID-19 testing information website. 

ENERGY BILL ASSISTANCE AND SHUT-OFF PROTECTION

Home Heating Credit
If you need help with your energy bill, you can now apply for the Home Heating Credit.

Low-income, deaf, disabled or blind persons, disabled veterans and senior citizens may qualify for the Home Heating Credit. Applicants are not required to file a Michigan individual income tax return to receive the credit.

Individuals can apply for the Home Heating Credit electronically through the e-File system. Forms and instructional materials are available on the internet at Michigan.gov/IncomeTax or by calling (517) 636-4486.

Other Energy and Utility Assistance Programs
There are numerous utility shut-off 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 the list of these programs here: https://bit.ly/3HCZLUC