Dear Neighbor,
Labor Day has now come and gone, and with that, so has another beautiful Michigan summer. As we approach the beginning of autumn and the leaves begin to change, I encourage you to take advantage of everything our great state has to offer. From cider mills and pumpkin patches to scenic hiking trails and bountiful state parks, there’s no shortage of fall fun to be had here in the Mitten State!
With summer waning away, my legislative colleagues and I have continued working around the clock to not only connect with our constituents in the district and hear their valuable insight — but to also attempt negotiating a responsible state budget that supports our schools, first responders, local governments, and everything in between. I won’t stop fighting until we reach a budget deal that delivers on the priorities that matter most to our communities.
As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments. You can email me at senwbrinks@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
Winnie Brinks
Senate Majority Leader
State Senator, District 29
- This Labor Day, we celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of Michigan workers while continuing the fight for workforce protections and support.
- We continue to hold the line on passing a responsible budget — we are unwilling to cut funding to schools, seniors, public safety, and essential services.
- September is Suicide Prevention Month, which serves as a great opportunity to spread awareness and resources to help reduce suicide in our communities. Read on to learn more.
Protecting Michigan Workers This Labor Day and Always
This week, we honor the hardworking labor force that builds up our state every day, from our educators to our homecare workers, our skilled tradespeople to our first responders, and everyone else in between.
Since the onset of our Senate Democratic Majority, my colleagues and I have worked hard to strengthen workers’ rights, from repealing the state’s harmful anti-union law to reinstating prevailing wages, and:
Investing in the creation of the Community and Worker Economic Transition Office, which develops proactive strategies to help companies and Michiganders take full advantage of the high-tech, high-paying jobs coming to the state in the auto and energy sectors.
- Enabling workers to go back to school to pursue a degree or skilled trade certification through investing in the Michigan Reconnect scholarship.
- Passing legislation to strengthen Michigan’s child labor laws and protect our youth from unsafe working conditions.
- Restoring collective bargaining rights for 35,000 independent home care workers, giving them the choice to form a union, create access to training for caregivers, and more.
- Extending prevailing wage protections to statewide wind and solar projects, ensuring fair compensation and protecting the skills and safety of our workforce.
- Advocating for workforce development investments that support everyone, from graduating seniors to veterans.
We’ll continue doing everything in our power to ensure Michigan workers have access to the support and resources they need to thrive.
Senate Democrats Continue Holding the Line for a Responsible State Budget
Long after the statutory July 1 deadline, House Republicans finally passed a state budget plan last week. However, their half-baked proposal makes dangerous, catastrophic cuts to vital services and programs that Michigan residents rely on and fund with their hard-earned tax dollars. In fact, Speaker Matt Hall and House Republicans are actively working to defund critical state agencies and programs, including the Michigan State Police, Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services, Dept. of Corrections, Dept. of Natural Resources, and Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, among others.
The very real consequences of House Republicans’ recklessness are starting to be felt in districts across the state with kids already back to school. With House Republicans proposing sweeping cuts to the critical funding that schools and families need, school administrators are left scrambling to plan without knowing how much funding they’re set to receive for the academic year.
Michigan students, teachers, and all residents deserve better. The Senate passed an education budget months ago, well before the July 1 deadline, that protects critical priorities like free school meals, mental health and safety initiatives, and smaller class sizes. The irresponsible plan proposed by the House GOP puts these investments — and so many others — at risk. It’s unacceptable, immoral, and plain bad governance. For the sake of our students and the prosperity of our state, we must reach a fiscally responsible budget agreement before irreversible harm is done. As the clock continues to tick, my Senate Democratic colleagues and I remain at the negotiating table ready to deliver a budget that doesn’t shortchange Michigan students or their families.
Learn more by watching our recent press conference here.
Senate Democrats Advance Bipartisan Bills Only for Them to Stall in the House
In addition to keeping us from getting a state budget done, Speaker Matt Hall and House Republicans are stalling action on 49 bills that my Senate colleagues and I passed with unanimous and bipartisan support. Through extensive conversations with community members, stakeholders, and subject-matter experts, we crafted these bills to deliver real progress for Michigan families. Among these bills that are stacking up is legislation that would:
- Address Michigan’s opioid crisis by expanding access to support services and treatment options;
- Strengthen protections for our retired service members and their families, while also improving veterans’ access to the benefits they’ve earned; and,
- Allow survivors of sexual assault the opportunity to get the justice they deserve by fixing Michigan’s broken statute of limitations for civil claims and repealing immunity for educational institutions that conceal systemic abuse.
Here in the Senate, we’ll keep doing the work you sent us here to do — working together with anyone who’s serious about tackling the challenges facing our state. And we’ll continue to try and engage with our House counterparts to get them to do the same. In the meantime, you can learn more about these bills here.
- Thanks to the generosity of the AT&T Foundation, we delivered 50 brand new backpacks stuffed with supplies to the students at MLK Leadership Academy in Grand Rapids Public Schools. MLK is one of many schools that is served by a Kent School Services Network coordinator who knows the students well and will ensure every backpack gets put to good use!
- We celebrated an innovative solution to homelessness with Mel Trotter Ministries: a tiny home village. Their Next Step workforce training program has built beautiful and efficient homes for individuals and families to live in while they gain financial stability. Instead of cutting a ribbon, Governor Whitmer and I “planted hope” to mark the occasion alongside the director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Amy Hovey.
- I spent time with supporters and employees of Kids Food Basket who are passionate about our kids having access to nutritious and wholesome food — something that is more important than ever with federal cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid. I’m working hard to protect those kids and families from even more cuts in our state budget.
- We celebrated Catherine’s Health Center’s first school-based clinic, which opened this year at Harrison Park Elementary — offering high quality health care to the students and neighbors of that community.
- I met with advocates for public transit and heard their experiences with navigating their lives — work obligations, family needs, mobility challenges — when you don’t drive.
- And I celebrated with the Grand Rapids Fire Department who broke ground on their state-of-the-art training facility, which will put West Michigan at the forefront of world-class training for first responders — an investment the state made two years ago that will benefit this community for decades to come.
Honoring September as Suicide Prevention Month
The devastation of suicide is far-reaching, impacting families and communities across our state and beyond. But suicide is preventable — and September, National Suicide Prevention Month, serves as a great opportunity to spread awareness and resources to connect residents with the help they may need.
- If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The Lifeline provides 24-hour, toll-free, confidential support to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
- The Veterans Crisis Line provides free 24/7, confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their loved ones. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. Call 988 and press “1” to speak with a qualified responder, or text 838255.
- Find a suicide prevention coalition, support group, or crisis line near you by scrolling down this page and finding a listing in your county.
- Get help for yourself or a loved one, learn the facts and warning signs, locate advocacy resources, and much more through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
How to Save With the Home Heating Tax Credit
The Home Heating Tax Credit is a way the state of Michigan helps low-income families pay some of their heating expenses. This year, the average qualifying household received $180 in assistance, which is most often applied directly to residents’ utility bills. Some energy providers automatically provide claimants with a residential income assistance credit worth up to $20 monthly. With these savings, more Michiganders can have additional money in their pockets to put food on the table, afford medication, pay bills, and more.
Residents can apply for the Home Heating Tax Credit until the Sept. 30 deadline. To qualify, residents must be a renter with a contracted lease or a homeowner and meet income requirements. You can apply for the Home Heating Tax Credit here.