FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 2, 2020

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Gov. Whitmer Lowers Flags to Honor Former State Sen. Raymond Murphy

LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex to be lowered to half-staff on Thursday, December 3, 2020, to honor the life and service of former state Senator Raymond Murphy.

“The entire state of Michigan recognizes and honors Senator Raymond Murphy’s service and legacy,” Whitmer said. “His impact will live on through the lives he touched and his work in the community, including his historic role in the state Constitutional Convention.”

Raymond Murphy served in the state House of Representatives from 1983 to 1998 and then in the state Senate from 1998 to 2002 on behalf of residents in southeast Michigan. He was one of the last living delegates to serve at the state’s 1961-62 Constitutional Convention.

Former state Senator Raymond Murphy passed away at the age of 92 years old.

The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor and selfless service of former state Senator Raymond Murphy by lowering flags to half-staff. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff.

To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.

Flags should be returned to full-staff on Friday, December 4, 2020.

AG Nessel Supports Rep. Lightner’s Bill to Update Michigan Consumer Protection Act

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is supporting proposed changes to the state’s consumer protection laws that – among other things – would require third parties to disclose that the online services they are offering are available from a public source.

The bipartisan legislation would help consumers understand that the services they are seeking are offered by government agencies, which may be at low or no cost, as opposed to the same or similar services offered by third parties, which usually come with a fee.

Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport Township, introduced House Bill 6173 recently to amend the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA). It was passed Tuesday out of the House Regulatory Reform Committee. The full House and Senate need to take action on the bill by the end of the year before it can be presented to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her signature.

The legislation would require certain disclosures by a third party when that party offers online services which are actually performed by a state agency or department. If the third party is offering such services, it would have to:

• Clearly indicate on its website that it is not a state agency, department or division, and that the services offered are not endorsed by the state;
• Provide a link on its website to the state agency, department or division website where a person could use the online service; and
• Clearly indicate – before a transaction for an online service is completed – any fee it would charge.

“As more public services are offered online, some individuals may try to capitalize on that by charging consumers a fee for something they could get for free or for less money from a public source,” Nessel said. “These commonsense updates to the Michigan Consumer Protection Act offer a simple change with good results for Michiganders. By making them aware of what’s publicly available before they make a third-party purchase, consumers will be better informed when choosing to spend their money.”

HB 6173 was introduced Sept. 3 and can be tracked online by visiting the Legislature’s website and searching for the bill by its number.

Attorney General Nessel Reminds Consumers to Donate Wisely in Festive Video

LANSING – The holiday season can spark feelings of generosity and the desire to donate to charities, but the giving season can also open the door to bad actors and scammers trying to take advantage of unsuspecting philanthropists. 

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reminding residents of some important tips to keep in mind when making a donation this holiday season, and recorded another amusing and informational video message as part of her office’s 20 Days of Scams consumer protection series.

“Every donation makes an impact, and I am proud to hold public office in a state with such a strong philanthropic foundation,” Nessel said. “But as Michigan’s Attorney General, I am committed to ensuring those donated dollars are going to the people and organizations they are intended for. If you are thinking about making a charitable donation this holiday season, there are some simple steps you can take to make sure your gift is being put to good use.”

To avoid falling victim to a potential scam, consider these important questions to ask before making a donation to a charitable organization:

Click here to view Attorney General Nessel’s video message.