Dear Friends,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family happy and healthy. I wish you a wonderful holiday season and hope you can spend it with loved ones and friends. It has been an honor to serve you as your state senator in Lansing, and I look forward to seeing more of you next year!
Featured in this newsletter:
- AG Nessel warns of puppy scams amid holiday shopping season
- Gov. Whitmer announces support for park upgrades in 11 Michigan counties, including Macomb County
- Michigan’s minimum wage is set to increase in Jan. 2023
- New partnership helps families save for college
If you have any questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or resolve any issues in state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8360 or by email at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov.
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 9
AG NESSEL WARNS OF PUPPY SCAMS AMID HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON
As people consider welcoming a new furry friend into their homes and families this holiday season, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reminding consumers to be aware of puppy scams and tactics scammers can use to exploit them.
In an informational video that is part of the 20 Days of Scams, Attorney General Nessel shares helpful tips on how consumers can avoid becoming the victim of a puppy scam.
Each year, consumers in the U.S. fall victim to the deceptive practices of scammers advertising puppies that do not exist. These kinds of scams usually go unpunished, and victims never get their money back. Scam attempts are likely to increase during the holidays and anyone looking for a pet online may likely come across a scam website. The Michigan Department of Attorney General’s consumer protection unit previously issued tips to help consumers spot and avoid falling victim to these scams.
- Research the breed
- Research the breeder
- Research the advertised puppy
- Do not purchase a puppy sight-unseen
- Use a credit card to make the purchase
- Retain all documents and communications from the breeder
- Consider contacting your local shelter
Since 2020, the Michigan Department of Attorney General has received 129 complaints of alleged puppy scams – 24 of those from 2022.
For more information and resources when purchasing a puppy, view the Attorney General’s previously issued consumer alert. Consumers who believe they may have been a victim of a puppy scam can file a complaint with the Consumer Protection team online.
GOV. WHITMER ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR PARK UPGRADES IN 11 MICHIGAN COUNTIES, INCLUDING MACOMB COUNTY
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced they recommended 13 community parks, trails, and sports facilities and a state lock and dam to receive a combined $7,477,100 in Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants.
The DNR uses LWCF dollars to help develop public outdoor recreation facilities to give people better, broader access to quality public recreation opportunities. The program supports Native American tribes, villages, cities, townships and counties and divisions within the DNR. Following federal appropriation, LWCF funds are apportioned to the states each fiscal year, and then the state’s project recommendations are sent to the National Park Service for approval.
Macomb County can expect to receive two grants: $500,000 for Lake St. Clair Metropark’s Boardwalk renovation, and another $500,000 for renovations at the Stoney Creek Reflection Trail to improve accessibility.
Selected projects were scored and selected from a field of 18 grant applications seeking $8.6 million in local funding.
Next Round of Funding
Applicants can seek funding for a variety of projects, including development of and improvements to playgrounds, trails and walkways, skate parks, boat launches, picnic areas, sports fields and campgrounds, in addition to improved access for users of all abilities beyond Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.
Application materials and information for LWCF grants will be available early in 2023 at Michigan.gov/LWCFGrants. Applications for the 2023 funding cycle are due April 1.
MICHIGAN’S MINIMUM WAGE SET TO INCREASE IN JANUARY 2023
On Jan. 1, 2023, Michigan’s minimum wage rate will increase from $9.87 to $10.10 per hour as set by Michigan’s Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act of 2018 establishing the annual schedule of increases.
Effective Jan. 1, 2023:
- The minimum hourly wage will increase to $10.10 per hour.
- The 85% rate for minors aged 16 and 17 will increase to $8.59 per hour.
- The tipped employee rate of hourly pay increases to $3.84 per hour.
- The training wage of $4.25 per hour for newly hired employees ages 16 to 19 for their first 90 days of employment remains unchanged.
It is important to note there is pending litigation that may affect this minimum wage increase. The 2018 petition that ushered in these increases may have been unconstitutionally altered by the Michigan Legislature such that —pending a final resolution and the lifting of a stay issued in July 2018 — the minimum wage rate for 2023 may increase even more to $13.03 and $11.73 for tipped employees.
For more information regarding the pending minimum wage litigation, and potential amended minimum wage rates as a result of that litigation, or a copy of the Improved Workforce Opportunity Wage Act and related resources, including the required poster, visit Michigan.gov/WageHour.
NEW PARTNERSHIP HELPS FAMILIES SAVE FOR COLLEGE
Michigan families can now leverage their everyday purchases into college savings for their children and grandchildren similar to earning cash back for gas or groceries under a new partnership announced by the Michigan Department of Treasury this week.
The partnership between the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) and Upromise, a leading consumer brand, offers a free rewards program designed to help families save for college.
Treasury is also encouraging parents, grandparents and guardians to put their money to work in an MESP account for a child or grandchild, which is managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc. on behalf of the Michigan Department of Treasury. To date, MESP has more than 299,000 accounts with total assets exceeding $6.6 billion.
MESP contributions can be placed in a variety of investment options, where they grow tax-deferred and then can be withdrawn tax-free for qualified education expenses.
The savings program can be used at any eligible college, university or trade school in the nation for a variety of qualified higher education expenses, including tuition, fees, certain room and board costs, books, supplies and equipment required for enrollment.
To learn more about the new partnership between MESP and Upromise, or to enroll, visit MIsaves.com/upromise22.