Senate District 7 Updates

Friends,

I wish you all a safe, healthy Halloween this Sunday. While having fun trick-or-treating, please make sure to take precautions to protect your family, friends, and neighbors from the spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant.

Featured in this newsletter are:

• Legislative updates from this week;
• Tips on how to have a safe and healthy Halloween;
• An update on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines for Michigan youth;
• A reminder to get your flu vaccine this season; and,
• Voting information for the upcoming November elections.

As always, it’s an honor to serve you. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance.  

Dayna Polehanki
State Senator
7th District

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

School Safety Matters — Join Me!
Threats of violence against our school board members and school employees working under extremely difficult circumstances to protect our children and keep schools open are unacceptable.

That’s why my Senate Democratic colleagues and I have introduced legislation, Senate Bill 689, to make it a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to a year, or a fine up to $1,000, or both, for people who assault, batter, wound, or endanger a school employee, school contractor, or member of a school board.  

Enough is enough. We can have disagreements and discussions about various school policies, but as adults and role models for our children, they must remain civil. If you, a relative, or friend have been harassed or threatened while performing your duties as a school official and are willing to share your story to demonstrate the need for this legislation, please visit SchoolSafetyNow.com to tell us about it.

We see you. We hear you. We are working to protect you.

Tampon Tax Repeal Legislation Earns Senate Passage
I am thrilled the Michigan Senate voted this week to stop taxing periods by passing legislation exempting feminine hygiene products from sales and use tax! These products are essential and medical necessities — not luxury items, as the law currently treats them — and therefore should not be subject to these taxes.

This has been a bipartisan and bicameral effort that I’m grateful to see in Michigan Legislature. The bills now head to the House for a vote and then will be sent on to the governor for signing.

>> Read more about the significance of this legislation.

Republican School Voucher Scheme Clears Senate

This week, Republicans sought to curry a favor to their wealthy donors by passing legislation that would provide a tax credit to wealthy individuals or corporations who effectively “sponsor” a child’s non-public school education. More simply put, these bills are about expanding scho
ol vouchers, and they are unconstitutional, as they interweave public resources for private purposes.

Worse, they would take hundreds of millions of public dollars from public schools and gift them to private schools. I have no issues with private schools and those who choose them — but that is a choice. Our constitution protects public education, and subsequently, our public taxpayer dollars that are intended to be used for them.

A well-educated population is a must-have for all businesses and communities, but the effort passed by my Republican colleagues this week is merely another DeVos-backed attempt to privatize education. These bills would provide high-quality education for the wealthy while stripping the state of the vital funds needed to provide a high-quality education for ALL our children. I voted no on this legislation.

MDHHS RECOMMENDS BEST PRACTICES TO SAFELY CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

To keep Halloween a safe and fun holiday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is offering tips and tricks to keep loved ones safe and to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Tips for trick-or-treaters and parents:

• Talk with children about Halloween safety and expectations.
• Stay outdoors for activities, particularly if participants are not vaccinated.
• Trick or treat in small groups.
• Avoid congregating in groups around houses.
• If indoors or in crowded outdoor settings, wear a face mask covering both mouth and nose (a costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask).
• Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask if wearing both causes difficulty breathing. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

Tips for homeowners to consider:

• Distribute candy on a table to eliminate direct contact.
• Consider handing out candy in an open space where distancing is possible, rather than from the front door.
• Consider a neighborhood costume parade; it is an easy way to keep safe space between children.

Tips for all persons include getting the COVID-19 vaccine if you are eligible (ages 12 and over), staying home if you are sick, wearing a mask that covers both the mouth and nose, washing hands often and/or using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, and coughing or sneezing into your elbow.

DIRECTIVE TO EXPEDITE DISTRIBUTION OF COVID-19 VACCINES TO KIDS

On Tuesday, Oct. 26, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive, requiring that state departments and agencies expedite the ordering and distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric coronavirus vaccinations to protect younger Michiganders between the ages of 5 to 11 years old, and to ensure that students could continue in-person learning in a safe environment this year.

The Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) met on Oct. 26 to discuss emergency use authorization of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine for children. After this meeting, the VRBPAC issued their recommendation to the Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is scheduled to meet Nov. 2-3 to review data and recommendations. ACIP is anticipated to issue a recommendation, which will go to the CDC for final approval of the emergency use authorization.

Based on data provided by Pfizer, the vaccine was shown to be nearly 91% effective during the trial at preventing symptomatic disease from COVID-19 in the age group. The directive also requires the State of Michigan to regularly report the proportion of children ages 5 to 11 who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. To date, nearly 69% of Michiganders 16 years or older and 66.9% of Michiganders 12 years or older have received at least their first dose of one of the three safe, effective vaccines.

MDHHS URGES RESIDENTS TO GET FLU VACCINE DURING UPCOMING SEASON

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging Michiganders to get their flu vaccine as soon as possible to protect themselves and their communities from flu especially while continuing to battle COVID-19.

Getting a flu vaccine is critical this season because flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will likely be spreading simultaneously. Importantly, residents can get their COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as their flu vaccine. According to the CDC, those who are at higher risk for contracting flu are also at a higher risk for contracting COVID-19. Vaccinations for both COVID-19 and the flu are safe, effective strategies to protect ourselves and our communities from illness.

Last flu season, approximately 3.5 million people in Michigan received a flu vaccine as reported to the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR). The state has set a goal of vaccinating a total of 4 million Michiganders for the 2021-2022 flu season.

Flu vaccines are available now at local health departments, physician offices and pharmacies around the state. Find a location near you using the Vaccine Finder. Visit Michigan.gov/flu for more information or visit IVaccinate.org to find answers to your vaccine questions.

ELECTION DAY IS NEXT WEEK – DROP YOUR BALLOTS OFF

The Michigan Secretary of State is encouraging voters to return their absentee ballots to their clerks or local drop box to avoid possible postal delays and ensure your vote is counted. Absentee ballots must be received by the voter’s city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 2, to be counted.

Voters can find the locations of their clerk offices and ballot drop boxes at Michigan.gov/Vote. They can also track their ballot on the website to ensure it is received by their clerk

Registered voters who do not yet have an absentee ballot can visit their local clerk’s office to request, complete and submit one all in one trip prior to 4 p.m. on Nov. 1. Eligible citizens who have not yet registered can also do so at their clerk’s office and then request and vote an absentee ballot in one trip through 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Clerk’s offices are required to be open for eight hours the weekend before every election. Voters should contact their local clerk for their hours of operation this weekend.