Rep. Steven Lindbergs' Site Feed

House Dems Demand Hearing on Michigan 2020 Plan

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:54:25 -0400

LANSING - State Reps. Brandon Dillon (D-Grand Rapids), Joan Bauer (D-Lansing), Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-Muskegon) and Steve Lindberg (D-Marquette), sent a formal request today to the State Rep. Jim Stamas (R-Midland), Chairman of the House Committee on Government Operations, asking that their bills to create the Michigan 2020 Plan be given a committee hearing. The plan, which would cover the cost of college tuition for all Michigan high school graduates, has been touted by education officials, business leaders and economists as the best investment Michigan can make to rebuild our economy and bring job providers to our state.

“Recent hearings in the Michigan Senate regarding these proposals have drawn attention to the fact that a college education is becoming financially unattainable for many Michigan families,” said Dillon, the sponsor of House Bill 5467 in the Michigan 2020 Plan package. “My colleagues and I who are the sponsors of this package in the House are confident that similar open and public discourse in the House is critical, given the rapidly growing cost of higher education in Michigan.”

Under the Michigan 2020 Plan - outlined in House Bills 5467, 5470, 5471, and House Joint Resolution SS - high school graduates in Michigan, whether they attended a public or private school or home schooled, would be eligible for an annual grant for their higher education costs. The maximum amount of the grant would be equal to the median tuition level (currently $9,575/year) of all of Michigan’s public universities. Students could choose to attend any of Michigan’s community colleges or public universities and use that money toward the cost of tuition, books and other eligible expenses.

“Higher Education is important for our students and the economic well-being of Michigan so we need to start this discussion on how to make college affordable for all of our students,” said Representative Bauer, sponsor of House Joint Resolution SS.

The estimated $1.8 billion per year cost of the Michigan 2020 Plan would be funded entirely by eliminating ineffective corporate tax loopholes that are carved out by special interest lobbyists, as well as cutting costs within the thousands of contracts that the state currently administers. Michigan currently grants nearly $35 billion annually in tax credits with little transparency or accountability that ensures they are effective in growing our economy or job market. Eliminating a mere 5 percent of those tax credits would more than fund the Michigan 2020 Plan.

“The Michigan 2020 Plan could help us attract new jobs and businesses because it will clearly state that we are serious about educating our students for the workforce,” said Rep. Hovey-Wright, sponsor of House Bill 5471. “We need to start the discussion on this plan now.”?Â�

“A committee hearing will let us hear just how difficult college costs are for so many families, and how the Michigan 2020 Plan is one solution that will help these families and their students,” said Rep. Lindberg, sponsor of House Bill 5470.

The bills would establish the Michigan 2020 grant program and require that all tax credits sunset every four years, direct the state fiscal agencies to grade all tax credits based on the number of jobs they create, and assign a legislative commission to review all $35 billion worth of tax credits.

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House Dems File Lawsuit Over Constitutional Violations

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:21:00 -0400

LANSING - House Democratic Leader Richard E. Hammel (Mt. Morris Township) and members of the House Democratic Caucus today announced the filing of a lawsuit in Ingham County Circuit Court over the House Republicans’ constitutional violations of giving bills immediate effect without having the necessary votes and ignoring House Democrats’ demands for record roll call votes on issues like immediate effect, even when the House Democrats have shown more than enough support under the state constitution. Leader Hammel, Democratic Floor Leader Kate Segal (Battle Creek), and Representatives Woodrow Stanley (Flint), Mark Meadows (East Lansing), Steven Lindberg (Marquette) and Jeff Irwin (Ann Arbor) were all named as plaintiffs on the House Dem’s motion for a temporary restraining order and show cause hearing.

“It’s very regrettable that it has come this far,” said Hammel. “Our caucus wanted to avoid this measure and we exhausted reasoning with Republicans to follow the constitution with regard to roll call votes and immediate effect. We don’t vote for ourselves in the Capitol, we vote on behalf of our constituents. When we’re denied the constitutionally guaranteed rights, hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents are being denied a fair voice in how their state is run. I only hope this matter can be resolved quickly.”

Under the constitution, the House must allow a record roll call vote on immediate effect if one-fifth of members (22) request it. The House Democratic Caucus currently has 47 members. House Republicans have ignored demands for record roll call votes to avoid counting votes when support is in doubt. Instead of allowing the legislative process to takes place as it should under the state constitution, Republicans have ignored the constitution by not being truthful about the numbers of votes they have for immediate effect. This practice denies the constitutional right to roll call votes and silences the voices of Michigan residents. The lawsuit is an attempt by House Democrats to get majority Republicans to stop trampling over rights granted to the people under the state constitution.

House Dem. Members Introduce Michigan 2020 Plan to Help Kids Go to College

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:31:56 -0500

LANSING - Several State House Democrats joined Senate Democrats in introducing legislation today to enact the Michigan 2020 Plan. The plan, which would cover the cost of college tuition for all Michigan high school graduates, has been touted by education officials, business leaders and economists as the best investment Michigan can make to rebuild our economy and bring job providers to our state.

“Higher Education isn’t just important for the young people in our state - it’s crucial for the well-being of Michigan,” said Representative Joan Bauer (Lansing). “We know that the only way to continue to move Michigan forward out of economic recession is with a highly trained and educated workforce, which is the first factor businesses take into consideration when choosing where to locate.” Bauer added, “I am concerned about the increasing cost of a college education and worry that it will soon be out of reach for many of our families. Making higher education accessible and affordable should be a top priority for Michigan.”

Under the Michigan 2020 Plan, high school graduates in Michigan, whether they attended a public or private school or home schooled, would be eligible for an annual grant for their higher education costs. The maximum amount of the grant would be equal to the median tuition level (currently $9,575/year) of all of Michigan’s public universities. Students could choose to attend any of Michigan’s community colleges or public universities and use that money toward the cost of tuition, books and other eligible expenses.

“Michigan is a state that does not have a high percentage of people with higher education degrees or training. In order to be competitive with other states in economic development, we have to have a highly trained workforce,” said Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (Muskegon). “This bill goes a long way to help us meet this goal and bring more jobs to Michigan.”

“The Michigan 2020 Plan is a strong message that Michigan is looking to once again be a global leader,” said Rep. Steve Lindberg (Marquette). “If we want to compete for the jobs of tomorrow, we have to build the best possible workforce of tomorrow, and the Michigan 2020 Plan does just that.”

The bills would establish the Michigan 2020 grant program require that all tax credits sunset every four years, direct the state fiscal agencies to grade all tax credits based on the number of jobs they create, and assign a legislative commission to review all $35 billion worth of tax credits and recommend those that should be eliminated.

“Our area has some of the top higher education institutions around and we just need to make sure they are affordable for all of our students,” said Rep. Brandon Dillon (Grand Rapids). “By investing wisely with the Michigan 2020 Plan we can help turn our economy around and help families decide to live and work in West Michigan.”

A fifth bill in the package is expected to be introduced soon that would provide one year of assistance to current college students that had qualified for the now defunct Michigan Promise scholarship. One difference between the two programs is that the Michigan 2020 Plan would create a dedicated source of funding for the program to ensure the Legislature could not simply eliminate it to pay for other projects. More information on the Michigan 2020 Plan can be found at www.Michigan2020.com.

“Increasing access to higher education is a big part in helping us address many of the challenges we face, including job growth, public safety, and poverty,” said Rep. Jim Ananich (Flint), a former high school teacher. “This plan is a creative, bold approach and one worth being considered by this Legislature.”

The four bills in the package of legislation introduced today in the House were sponsored by Representatives Bauer, Hovey-Wright, Lindberg and Dillon and were cosponsored by a number of others. The sponsors of the Senate versions of the bills are Senators Rebekah Warren, Hoon-Yung Hopgood, Morris Hood III and Vincent Gregory, and were co-sponsored by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus.

Representative Lindberg Endorses $10,000 Senate Democratic Scholarship Competition

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:27:00 -0500

LANSING- State Representative Steven Lindberg (Marquette) is encouraging participation in the newly announced Michigan 2020 Scholarship Competition that will award up to $10,000 to one Michigan high school senior graduating this spring. To enter, students are asked to submit a short web video at www.mi2020video.com that explains why Michigan needs to enact the Senate Democrats’ Michigan 2020 plan to offer free college tuition to all students.

“I believe the best thing Michigan can do to revitalize our economy and create jobs would be to invest in higher education and create the most highly-skilled workforce in the nation, and that’s exactly what the Michigan 2020 plan would do,” said Lindberg. “To help promote the plan, a Scholarship Competition has been created to demonstrate the impact this program would have on a student’s life by giving one high school senior a year’s worth of free tuition.”

The Michigan 2020 Scholarship Competition is open to all current Michigan high school seniors, whether they are attending public or private school or are home schooled. The winner will receive up to $10,000 for their first year’s expenses at a public Michigan university or community college.

To enter, high school seniors are asked to create a short video explaining why Michigan needs to enact the Michigan 2020 Plan to offer free college tuition to all students. Submissions opened on March 6 and are due by April 20, 2012. Online voting will begin on April 23 with the top 20 videos moving on to the finals. For more information on the Michigan 2020 Scholarship Competition, including eligibility, judging criteria and how to enter, go to: www.mi2020video.com.

The Michigan 2020 Plan would enable all Michigan high school graduates to have their tuition and associated costs paid for at one of Michigan’s community colleges or universities. The proposal would come at no extra cost to taxpayers and would instead be paid for by reducing ineffective and outdated tax loopholes. The total estimated cost of this program is $1.8 billion per year once it is fully implemented. To learn more about the Michigan 2020 Plan, you can visit http://www.michigan2020.com/.

Rep. Lindberg, House Dem Leaders Meet With Residents on School Cuts

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:43:00 -0400

MARQUETTE - State Representative Steven Lindberg (Marquette) was joined by House Democratic Leader Richard E. Hammel (Mt. Morris Township), Democratic Floor Leader Kate Segal (Battle Creek), and numerous Democratic State Representatives from across Michigan today as he hosted a question and answer session with various residents and members of the media. The purpose of the event was to hear residents’ thoughts and concerns on recent Republican cuts to school funding and answer any questions.

“I am happy that my colleagues could join me today to meet with my constituents and hear their thoughts and the serious concerns they have about the recent Republican cuts to our schools,” Lindberg said. “As the sole U.P. voice in my caucus, I advocate tirelessly on behalf of our interests and especially our schools, but it is always helpful for House Democratic leadership to hear directly from the people I represent.”

The event was held at Graveraet Middle School in Marquette. Several State Representatives attended to meet with local residents and talk about the Governor’s funding cuts that were enacted this spring.

“Residents here in the Upper Peninsula share the same concerns of residents of all of our communities,” said Hammel. “They care about the quality of their kids’ education. And we heard loud and clear today their disapproval of these unnecessary cuts to school districts across Michigan.”

The School Aid Fund was set to post an estimated surplus of $900 million for fiscal years 2011 and 2012. But due to the Governor’s tax plan which granted major corporations a $1.8 billion tax cut, that money, and more, was taken to offset the revenue lost from the tax cut. Instead of increasing school funding, districts saw a cut of $470 or more in per-pupil support from the state.

“Families all across this state are hurting right now,” said Segal. “The most important factor in Michigan’s recovery is educating our children to become the entrepreneurs of the future. Good schools are the foundation of a strong economy and are necessary to attract the businesses that will put our hard-working residents back on the job. I know my colleagues and I will be taking what we’ve heard here in Marquette today back to Lansing to prevent these unnecessary cuts from ever happening again.”

Lindberg: Legislature Supports Preservation of Grand Marais Harbor

Tue, 17 May 2011 16:40:02 -0400

LANSING - State Representative Steven Lindberg (D-Marquette) voted for a plan that will provide $1 million to help fund a restoration project to preserve Grand Marais Harbor. The plan is now set to be signed into law.

“I am happy to see that my colleagues in the House and Senate agree with me on the importance of saving this harbor of refuge at Grand Marais,” Lindberg said. “Without immediate action to replace the breakwall, this harbor will be lost forever, eliminating a necessary protection for all those traveling on the waters of Lake Superior.”

The plan passed by the House provides $1 million from the State Waterways Fund to help repair a deteriorating breakwall, which is allowing sand to be deposited into the harbor. The project, which is expected to cost more than $7 million, will also dredge sand from the harbor.

The plan will also provide $300,000 to postpone the closing of 23 state forest campgrounds, as proposed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This funding will allow the campgrounds to remain open until the DNR makes a final decision on the closures in June. The DNR tabled a decision on the proposed closings earlier this month in order to continue working on solutions that will help keep some of the campgrounds open.

“This gives us more time to either locate additional funding to allow the Department of Natural Resources to maintain these campgrounds or to enter into agreements with local communities that are willing to take over the management and maintenance of the camping sites,” Lindberg said. “In these tough economic times we need to do everything we can to protect the jobs we have and promote our region. These are two important steps in protecting the tourism industry for the Upper Peninsula.”

Lindberg to Hold Town Hall Meeting on State Budget, Education Funding on May 20

Mon, 16 May 2011 09:17:00 -0400

MARQUETTE - State Representative Steven Lindberg (D-Marquette) invites residents to a town hall meeting on state budget issues with a special focus on education funding in Marquette on Friday, May 20.

Lindberg wants to hear Upper Peninsula residents’ concerns about how the Governor’s budget plans will affect Michigan schools, our children and our economy. Constitutional issues concerning the budget’s impact on the original intent of Proposal A will also be discussed. All residents are highly encouraged to bring a written copy of their statements, questions or concerns for Lindberg to submit to the Legislature.

The event will be held at the Peter White Public Library (community room), 217 N. Front St. in Marquette on Friday, May 20, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Lindberg: Governor's 'Shared Sacrifice' Balances the Budget on the Backs of our Kids

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:22:00 -0400

MARQUETTE - With the Governor’s proposed budget slashing hundreds of millions of dollars from Michigan schools, State Representative Steven Lindberg (D-Marquette) today stood up against the deep cuts and called for the “shared sacrifice” the new administration promised.

“The Governor is proposing drastic cuts to our schools on top of cuts that they have already been dealing with year after year,” Lindberg said. “We simply can’t keep balancing the budget by taking money away from our children’s education, especially when businesses are telling us that they need a skilled workforce in order to create jobs in Michigan. We are looking at severe damage to our schools’ ability to educate our children - our future workers - if these cuts go through. This budget takes our children and our economy in the wrong direction.”

The Governor’s budget effectively cuts school funding by $715 per student, which will result in increased class sizes and outdated textbooks and technology in classrooms. The Governor’s budget raids the School Aid Fund by taking nearly $900 million from K-12 education and shifting it to pay for the Community Colleges and Higher Education budgets. This marks the first time since Proposal A passed that the School Aid Fund would be raided to fund universities.

Lindberg and his colleagues have launched a website - www.FightSchoolCuts.com - that has an interactive map that lets visitors enter their ZIP code and see how the proposed cuts will devastate our school districts across the state. Visitors are also encouraged to sign a petition in opposition of these cuts.

“I think everyone is on board with the ‘shared sacrifice’ the Governor promised, but his actions don’t match his words,” Lindberg said. “It’s not acceptable to put such a heavy burden on our children. Cutting funding means they won’t get the instruction they need and won’t get the up-to-date materials like books and computers they need. The cost of an undereducated workforce is one that our state simply cannot afford.

“If we’re serious about creating jobs and turning Michigan’s economy around, we need to give our schools the tools they need to educate our children. Parents, educators and community members all need to stand up to these cuts before it’s too late.”

Lindberg, AT&T Deliver Free Phone Cards to U.P. Military Families

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:08:00 -0400

ISHPEMING - Military families from the Upper Peninsula will stay better connected with their loved ones stationed overseas thanks to 100 free phone cards made available by AT&T to the Ishpeming Armory and announced today by State Representative Steven Lindberg. The Ishpeming Armory serves military families in Marquette as well as Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Menominee and Ontonagon counties.

“Those serving our country stand ready each day to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe,” Lindberg said. “Keeping them connected to their families and loved ones back home while they serve is just a small gesture we can make to say `thank you.’”

In total, 1,000 phone cards were presented to active duty members of the military and their families today at armories across Michigan.

“Families across the state will stay better connected with their loved ones serving our nation overseas thanks to these phone cards,” said Family Assistance Coordinator Justin Dyess from Michigan’s Joint Forces Headquarters in Lansing. “We are grateful to lawmakers and companies like AT&T for their continuing support of our armed forces.”

Calling cards were presented this week to Camp Grayling as well as Michigan armories in Grand Ledge, Jackson, Sault Ste. Marie, Taylor and Wyoming.