Dear Neighbor,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family safe and healthy. Below are several updates on what my colleagues and I have been working on in Lansing, in addition to information regarding my upcoming events.
IN THIS EDITION
- Legislative Update
- In the Community
- Coffee Hours
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Senator Klinefelt was proud to vote for both HB 4001 and Senate Bill 4 during the legislative session over the past 2 weeks; read on for more information.
House Bill 4001
House Bill 4001 would amend the Income Tax Act to provide for the phasing-out of the three-tier system of taxing retirement and pension benefits, change the tax treatment of police and firefighter retirement income, increase the value of the state earned income tax credit (EITC) to 30%, increase the percentage of gross income tax collections earmarked to the School Aid Fund, and provide for the deposit of certain revenue collected under the act into various state funds.
Senate Bill 4
Senate Bill 4 would amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression. Right now, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act “prohibits discriminatory practices, policies, and customs in the exercise of those rights based upon religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marriage status”. The proposed Senate Bill 4 would only add protections for our LGBTQ+ Michiganders to this list, not take protections away from any group.
Gun Violence Prevention Bills
“I am committed to advancing the gun violence prevention bills, Senate Bills 76 – 86, which focus on universal background checks, safe storage, and red flag laws. These comprehensive solutions will not take away firearms from responsible gun owners but will help to ensure that those who should not have a gun have a harder time getting one. ”
“The reach of each shooting stretches far beyond those killed and wounded, harming the well-being of survivors, their families, and entire communities. In an average year, 1,270 people die and 2,437 are wounded by guns in Michigan. Senate Bills 76 – 86 aim to prevent some tragedies in our state while still allowing responsible gun owners their Second Amendment rights.”
IN THE COMMUNITY
If you know of events in District 11 coming up, please let us know so we can add them to our calendar! Senator Klinefelt and our team would love to attend as many community events as possible.
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Our Constituent Relations Director, Christopher Ford, recently attended several community events, including a youth recognition luncheon to discuss voting rights.
COFFEE HOURS Thank you to those who attended our first coffee hour on 2/27! We are excited to announce our next two coffee hours in the coming weeks. Coffee Hour with Sen. Klinefelt Coffee Hour with Sen. Klinefelt and Sen. Kevin Hertel This is a great opportunity to hear more updates from our office as well as ask any questions you may have and share your thoughts with Senator Klinefelt. Stay tuned as we continue to schedule out more coffee hours! You can check for upcoming events here: https://senatedems.com/klinefelt/events/ |