District 35 News & Updates

Apr 7, 2023 | Email

Friends and Neighbors,  

Early spring is a busy time – for nature, for young families taking advantage of school breaks, and for us in the 102nd Michigan Legislature. I appreciate you taking the time to follow our work in Lansing and what your Senate District 35 team and I have been up to in our communities. 

 

Sincerely,

Kristen McDonald Rivet
State Senator, District 35
(517) 373-1725
PO Box 30036
Lansing, MI. 48909
SenKMcDonaldRivet@senate.michigan.gov

 

IN THIS EDITION 

  • Legislative Update 
  • In The Community  
  • Coffee Hours 
  • Helpful Resources and Links
  • Contact Us 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE  

Signed Legislation 

Restoring Workers’ Rights, Reinstating Prevailing Wage — On March 24, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill package to restore the rights of workers and unions in their fight for higher-paying jobs, strong benefits, and a good quality of life for working families. Michigan has not seen a rebound of economic initiative in the ten years that the so-called “Right to Work” has been in effect. On the contrary, our state fell to the bottom in income growth, and the gap between the working class and the top one percent grew substantially. I am proud to have voted yes on legislation that repeals the laws holding back our economy and our ability to grow the middle class. 

Restoring Parents’ Rights In Children’s Education — On March 24, Gov. Whitmer signed a bill that restores parents’ rights to work with teachers in determining what’s best for their child’s education. This legislation repeals a section of the law that inserted government into students’ education by preventing students from being promoted from third grade if they did not meet one specific test. I am proud to have voted yes on this bill eliminating state-mandated retention, which negatively impacted student achievement.  

 

To the Governor’s Desk 

Child Access Protection — Overwhelmingly, voters want elected officials to tackle real problems. As our nation’s leading killer of America’s youth aged 0-19, gun violence in all its forms is a public health crisis. With bipartisan support, my bill in the child access protection piece of our gun safety package, SB 80, is headed to the Governor’s desk. SB 80 received votes from five House Republicans, including House Minority Leader Matt Hall. I am thrilled that the first public act with my name on it will keep our communities safer, protect our kids, and save lives.  

You can learn more about our gun violence prevention bills here.

Passed by the Senate 

Bills Authorize Developer Subsidies for Affordable Housing Projects — With bipartisan support, the Michigan Senate passed new tools for local governments to address the affordable housing crisis. I’m a proud sponsor of SB 130, which will work with SB 129, 131, and 132 to add “affordable housing” as an eligible activity under the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act. Local requests for related housing development reimbursement would still need approval from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). Affordable housing is a top concern for local governments in our district and across the state. I’ll be working with my colleagues to get this to Governor Whitmer’s desk quickly.   

 

Committee Hearings 

Assessing Needs of Public Health, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Service Agencies

The DHHS Appropriations Subcommittee’s recent hearing featured presentations from leaders working in public health, domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and services. Denise Berry, Executive Director of Shelterhouse of Midland & Gladwin Counties (pictured with me above), testified to what agencies like hers have experienced on the ground in recent years. The data and experiences shared in hearings like this help inform our committee’s actions.  

SB 144 Immediate Relief and Fiscal Impact — Our working families hit hardest by rising costs shouldn’t have to wait for the relief we already approved when we passed the Working Families Tax Credit increase to 30 percent. Testifying before the Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services, I explained that Michigan is obligated to fund the 30% match for tax year 2022 regardless of when the omnibus tax bill goes into effect. However, without immediate effect, eligible families will be stuck waiting for the additional money until next year and the fiscal impact on our government would be double in 2024. My bill, SB 144, asks a simple, standalone question for legislators: Deliver this approved relief now or delay it until 2024?  

 >> Watch Video of Sen. McDonald Rivet’s Testimony (start at 13m45s)  

 

Bills Introduced 

Hybrid Officer Retirement Program — Earlier this month, I joined Sen. John Cherry (SD 27) and Sen. Sue Shink (SD 14) in introducing legislation that would allow conservation, corrections, and motor carrier officers to become members of the Michigan State Police (MSP) hybrid retirement system. Senate Bills 165, 166, and 167 will place new hires into the MPS retirement system and allow current officers to make a written statement showing that they have elected to move retirement systems. This will reduce hiring and staff retention problems in the Departments of Natural Resources and Corrections, and MSP.  

>>Read more here.

 

Additional Updates 

Senate Bill 25 “Water as a Human Right” — The Greater Lansing United Nations Association arranged a great program for World Water Day, giving me the opportunity to share about SB 25, the “Water as a Human Right” bill I have co-sponsored. This bill would ensure all Michiganders have access to safe, clean, affordable water. 

Additional Steps to Prevent Gun Violence and Firearm Suicide — Earlier this month, Governort Whitmer announced Operation Safe Neighborhoods has uncovered and seized more than 350 illegal firearms off the street. A bipartisan supplemental bill signed in early March appropriated $10.8 million to begin the Community Violence Intervention initiative and fund grants to community-based organizations providing community violence intervention services. That supplemental bill also included $750,000 in grants for suicide prevention services, including those for veterans.  

 

IN THE COMMUNITY 

Governor, Senator Visit Bay Arenac Independent School District Career Center — The Michigan Achievement Scholarship offers our state’s high school graduates great opportunities to pursue their educational and vocational paths right here in Michigan. Sen. McDonald Rivet joined Gov. Whitmer on a recent visit with Bay and Arenac students and educators at the BAISD Career Center to discuss how this scholarship is making post-secondary options more affordable.  

In effect for the Class of 2023, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship can save students up to $8,250 on their associate degree at a community college, up to $20,000 at a private college, or up to $27,500 at a public university.

ROCK Center for Youth Development’s Annual Dinner — The mission of the ROCK Center for Youth Development is to build hope and resilience in youth based on a foundation of acceptance, support, and respect that results in positive life choices. Sen. McDonald Rivet appreciated hearing directly from youth on how the ROCK’s people and programs positively impact their lives.

Real-life Rosie The Riveter Meets McDonald Rivet The Senator — It was a true honor celebrating “Rosie The Riveter Day at the Capitol” with Vera Gobeski, a real-life Rosie from Bay City who worked third shift at Dow Chemical during WWII. 

More on Vera, this event, and the Senator paying tribute to working class members of all generations in the Midland Daily News.

Bay City’s 68th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade — There’s nothing like celebrating in community. Pulling off a huge event like this with so many different participants and moving parts takes tons of work. Thanks to parade organizers, everyone who helped things run safely, and community members who turned out for the St. Patrick’s weekend festivities.

March is National Reading Month

Kindergartners at North Saginaw Charter Academy and Arthur Eddy Elementary got to howl along with “A Coyote Named Frank” and had lots of fun with “Bad Cat” and “Sneezy the Snowman.” Second and third graders at Bangor Lincoln Elementary celebrated Reading Month with the Senator reading “Amos McGee Misses the Bus” and “Wolves in the Walls.” Kudos to teachers, tutors and all who encourage kids to get excited about reading year-round.

Visit to Essexville-Hampton Public Schools for STEM Plans — Sen. McDonald Rivet visited Essexville-Hampton Public Schools for a meeting and robotics facility tour. They aim to serve our students and wider community by aligning student, business and state interests around STEM related career paths and a new regional STEM center. Thanks to the students, teachers, and Superintendent Justin Ralston for sharing their time and plans.

Other Community Events 

Legislative Director Stephen Prince took part in the Michigan Sugar Company Factory Operations Tour in Bay City. Sen. McDonald Rivet was among area legislators touring Delta College with President Michael Gavin and others to learn more about renovation plans for computer, business and cybersecurity courses and labs. 

Community Communications    

March 16 – Midland Daily News: “McDonald Rivet Weighs in on Senate’s Repeal of Right to Work” 

March 24 – Midland Daily News: “Michigan becomes first state in decades to repeal ‘right-to-work’ law” 

March 22 – WSGW: “Local Centenarian Celebrates Rosie the Riveter Day in Lansing” 

 

COFFEE & CONVERSATION

We’ve had great discussions at our previous coffee hours in Saginaw and Bay. Join us if you can at our next Coffee & Conversation in Midland!

WHEN: Monday, April 24, 2023, from 1 – 2 pm
WHERE: MI Element Grains and Grounds, 3124 Jefferson Ave., Midland, MI 48640 

 

HELPFUL RESOURCES AND LINKS   


CONTACT MY OFFICE  

  • Website Contact Form: This is the best, fastest way to reach us.  
  • Website News Page: This page archives our official press releases and statements.  
  • Social Media: Social media sites are neither official government websites nor are they well suited for constituent correspondence. However, since we post frequently, social media can be a very timely way to access news and information. Our “Office of Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet” Facebook page is linked here: