Dear Neighbor,
It has been an honor to serve as your voice in the Michigan State Senate these last two years. Since day one, my mission has been to help make our communities and state more affordable for working families, more attractive for good-paying jobs, and more appealing to everyone looking for a safe, thriving place to live.
On January 3, 2025, I will move into a new role representing the people of the Great Lakes region, but our priorities remain the same. I am committed to ensuring that people are at the center of everything we do.
Senate staff remain available to help you with state matters, and I will share my new contact information after I officially begin federal service.
Sincerely,
Kristen McDonald Rivet
State Senator
District 35
Lower Costs
If you work hard, you should be able to support your family; that is the core of my work. When rising costs and corporate greed put that out of reach, we need to use every tool in our legislative and budget toolboxes to help.
I took on special interests to pass legislation that would lower prescription drug costs and hold Big Pharma accountable. I also worked to bring down housing costs through increased supply and innovative redevelopment policy.
In repealing the unfair and unjust pension tax we put $1,000 back in the pockets of 500,000 households. The repeal of this policy and the expansion of the Working Parents Tax Credit gave over $1 billion back to Michigan workers and retirees.
More High-Paying Jobs
My top priority is bringing more high-paying jobs to mid-Michigan. I worked to help secure $160+ million in state appropriations directly into our district for targeted and transformative infrastructure, economic development, and education projects, which will help more families, businesses, and high-paying industries see our community as the place they want to be.
I supported strategic, bipartisan economic development efforts to create and retain thousands of jobs and spur more than $2 billion in mostly private investment right here in our mid-Michigan region. These critical projects include Hemlock Semiconductor $325M; Dow $785M; Corning $900M, and Bay County (site prep) $4.1M.
MORE AFFORDABLE PATHS to SUCCESS
In my time in the legislature, we made historic investments in education. I helped to secure free school meals, saving Michigan families approximately $850 per student every year; move towards establishing universal Pre-K; and put over $20 million directly into our district schools.
To succeed, Michigan also needs a workforce skilled in the jobs of today and tomorrow. I joined in the bipartisan expansion of tuition-free paths to vocational training, apprenticeships, and higher ed degrees through programs like Michigan Reconnect and the Michigan Achievement & Skills Scholarships so more Michiganders can compete for better paying jobs.
We also boosted support for small businesses to strengthen skill sets of current and new employees.
In leading the largest tax cut for working families in state history, and repealing Michigan’s unfair retirement tax, I helped put $1 billion back in the pockets of Michigan workers and retirees each year.
My work to expand our state’s Working Parents Tax Credit returns an average combined annual tax refund of $3,150 to working parents of half our state’s children, and rolling back the retirement tax saves our seniors $1,000 annually.
I’m committed to being in our community to learn and to share the work we’re doing on behalf of Michiganders.
Around 22,000 families in our district are eligible for an average combined return of $3,150 from the federal and state EITC.
