Dear Neighbor,
One of the wonderful things I get to do as your State Senator is celebrate March as National Reading Month. Reading to and with children has long-term benefits. Last month, I had the joy of spending time in the Head Start classroom at Cascades Elementary. We had a wonderful time reading, playing with cars, and coloring.
Want to know what to read and where to start? Libraries are free to use and offer books for children, large print books, and suggested age-appropriate reading lists. Online options are also available through e-books.
The best part is the library and library cards are free! Use the link below to access your local library and start reading.
- Ann Arbor District Library
- Chelsea District Library
- Dexter District Library
- Jackson District Library
I appreciate every day serving as your state senator. Please know that I am listening to you. I represent you and I am always available to hear your concerns and ideas. The best methods of connecting with my office can be found below. For more frequent updates on what I am working on and where I am in the district, please follow my official Facebook page.
Email: sensshink@senate.michigan.gov
Phone: (517) 373-2426
U.S. Mail: P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909
Sincerely,
Sue Shink
State Senator
District 14
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Sen. Shink, Sen. McDonald Rivet, and Sen. Cherry Introduce Hybrid Officer Retirement Program
Recently, my colleagues Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), John Cherry (D-Flint), and I introduced 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 MSP retirement system and allow current officers to elect to move retirement systems.
There is an urgent need for this change to be offered, not only to attract future officers but those who have dedicated their lives to service. Resolving this issue will reduce significant problems for the Departments of Natural Resources and Corrections, as well as MSP, in hiring and retaining staff.
Corrections Officers and Forensic Security Assistants working in our state facilities play an important role in assuring the safety and well-being of all Michigan citizens.
Conservation officers share many of the duties and receive much of the same training as the Michigan State Police. They also serve as first responders during natural disasters and other life-threatening situations. Motor carrier officers are armed members of the Michigan State Police responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. They enforce traffic safety laws on commercial vehicles, contribute to homeland security efforts, and respond to emergency situations.
Senate Bills 165, 166, and 167 have been referred to the Senate Labor Committee and are currently awaiting a hearing.
Sen. Shink Introduces Sustainability-Centered Legislation to Repeal ‘Ban on Bag Bans’
Senate Bill 228 would repeal the law preventing local ordinances from regulating plastic bags and allow communities to implement programs to reduce litter and waste.
Local governments are better positioned to respond to local needs when they can implement programs that directly benefit their communities. The repeal of this ‘ban on bans’ removes unnecessary involvement from the state so that local governments’ policies reflect the population they serve. This legislation is a win-win for both the environment and local government.
If plastic bags can’t be recycled or get stuck in the wastewater treatment plant or just litter the side of the road, it’s the local government, the people who live in the community clean up the mess.
According to National Geographic, more than 91 percent of the world’s plastics end up in landfills and incinerators or are lost in our waterways. Twenty-two million pounds of plastic is discarded in the Great Lakes every year, and plastic bags are among the top 12 items of debris found along coastlines. Not only do they pollute our Great Lakes, but they also release toxic chemicals into our soil, which end up in our bodies.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Jackson Business and Professional Women Women’s History Month Panel
What better way to spend Women’s History Month than to serve as a panelist for the Jackson Business and Professional Women’s Michigan panel discussion. I was joined by Lezlie Bowles and Angela Machnik to discuss challenges that women face in the workplace while we continue to break barriers, shatter ceilings, build ladders, connect bridges, and make history every single day.