Whitmer Urges Congress to Temporarily Pause Federal Gas Tax

Whitmer Urges Congress to Temporarily Pause Federal Gas Tax

by | Jun 22, 2022 | Regional News

Governor Whitmer Header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2022

Contact: [email protected]

 

Gov. Whitmer Urges President, Congress to Temporarily Pause Federal Gas Tax 

Letter highlights actions that would offer real relief to working families facing rising prices right now

 

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to President Biden urging him to work with Congress to temporarily pause the federal gas tax. Getting this done would offer families facing high gas prices real relief right now. She also listed proposals she has put forward at the state level and encouraged other states to follow suit.

 

The full text of the letter is below:  

 

Dear President Biden:

 

Americans are feeling the pain at the pump. This month, gas reached $5 a gallon nationwide. For working families in Michigan from Macomb to Marquette who are facing rising prices on everyday expenses, this is unsustainable. While the causes are varied, from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia to ongoing supply chain challenges, the pain being felt by people is tangible. We have all seen it, heard it, or felt it ourselves. I am grateful to you for releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, but we must do more to help families.

 

I write to you today to urge you to work with Congress to temporarily pause the federal gas tax. In March, I led a group of governors to support of this proposal.

 

Getting this done would save families money right now. As Americans bear the brunt of inflation and face rising prices on everything from groceries, childcare, rent, and other critical expenses, the federal government has the ability to reduce the price of fuel and put more money in their pockets. Getting this done will offer real, immediate relief without compromising the federal government’s ability to make infrastructure investments. 

 

Here in Michigan, you have a willing partner in providing relief to families and putting more money in people’s pockets. In March, I called for a temporary suspension of the state sales tax on gas, and last month, I proposed MI Tax Rebate Right Now, a plan to send $500 to Michigan’s working families right away. We can take this step because of our effective fiscal management and hardworking people and small businesses, who helped our state bring in billions in additional revenue. MI Tax Rebate Right Now proposes sending some of that revenue back to Michiganders because they need it now more than ever.

 

I will work across the aisle with the Michigan Legislature to get this done and use every tool at my disposal to ensure working families can pay the bills and put food on the table. 

 

The American people are counting on all of us to provide real relief right now so they can pay the bills and put food on the table. Let us draw on the grit and determination our working families show every day. I urge you to work with Congress to temporarily pause the federal gas tax, and I pledge to continue finding creative ways to put money back in people’s pockets.

 

Sincerely, 

 

Gretchen Whitmer 

Governor of Michigan

Passed: the Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act

Passed: the Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act

by | Jun 21, 2022 | Regional News

Image
Hi there,

I’m sure you’ve continued to see the news about the heartbreaking mass shootings in places like Uvalde, Buffalo and Tulsa in recent weeks. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for young Americans – not car accidents, not drug overdoses, not cancer.

This epidemic is taking far too many lives, and that’s why the House passed a package of legislation this month aimed at keeping our kids safe and curbing this crisis. One of the bills we passed was my Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act, a safe gun storage bill I introduced after the shooting at Oxford High School last November.

My team and I began working on this bill just weeks after the tragedy in Oxford that took the lives of four high school students, and it is based on the events that happened in that horrible shooting. We focused on building a serious, practical piece of legislation that would make a real difference in preventing similar tragedies in the future. Through conversations and meetings with first responders, community members, hunters, sportsmen, and other folks on the ground, it became clear that ensuring the safe storage of guns was essential. 

We settled on an idea that’s pretty simple: gun owners who have children living in the home must take reasonable steps to secure their firearms, and can be held criminally responsible if they fail to do so and people get killed. 

It’s a straightforward idea that’s meant to encourage responsible gun ownership and to keep our kids safe. Most Michiganders do this already as a matter of habit.

The day after the shooting in Uvalde, I was coincidentally scheduled to speak at the Oxford Virtual Academy graduation. It was a deeply emotional moment for the students, their families, and school staff, with so many raw emotions bubbling up after the tragedy in Texas.

No community should ever have to undergo that pain and grief. Our response to similar shootings over the last decade has always been the same: an outcry for change, followed by marches and protests, but no legislative action. This time appears to be different. The Senate appears to have reached a bipartisan deal on mental health and gun safety, which I hope will hold.

As the representative of a community that’s experienced the immense pain of a school shooting, I’m committed to getting a bill signed into law that will protect our kids and help prevent this kind of violence in the future.

That’s why I’m encouraged by the bipartisan framework the Senate has developed and am eager to vote on it as quickly as possible. It’s a compromise, but would, if passed, represent bipartisan consensus for the first time in 25 years.
– Rep. Elissa Slotkin
SCOUTS TO HOST CORPORATE DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

SCOUTS TO HOST CORPORATE DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

by | Jun 21, 2022 | Uncategorized

CONTACT: Jaime Bochenek, Senior Development Director
[email protected] or (248) 721-0903

SCOUTS TO HOST CORPORATE DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

The Boy Scouts of America’s Michigan Crossroads Council will host its eighth annual “Dodge
for Detroit” corporate dodgeball tournament to support inner-city youth Scouting programs on
Thursday, Aug. 4, at Detroit PAL’s Corner Ballpark.
The tournament will take place from 5-9 p.m. and serves as a unique spin on happy hour for
businesses in southeast Michigan. The event will offer four courts of action-packed dodgeball,
beverages and various food options. The tournament will be open to the public, and organizers
have several spots remaining for additional teams and sponsorships. Teams start at $600 and
include 6-10 players. Each team must have two female participants on the roster.
All proceeds from the event will support the local ScoutReach initiative, which delivers the
Scouting program to disadvantaged communities at no charge to participants or their families.
ScoutReach Executive Charity Davenport works to provide such opportunities through both in-
school and after-school programs in Detroit, Pontiac, Flint and other cities across the region.
According to Davenport, over 1,000 youth are presently registered, and they intend to expand
further in the fall.
“We are thankful to all of the Dodge for Detroit participants and patrons,” Davenport said. “The
success of this event empowers us to provide youth with programs and materials, as well as
opportunities they would otherwise not receive.”
This year’s event is on track for success thanks to the investments of local companies, including
presenting sponsor Alliance Mobile, a national AT&T provider with over 165 locations across
the country. Additional key sponsors include Palatine Hill Wealth Management and Rightsize
Facility.
Chad Ever Hartung, three-year event chairman and marketing and communications director at
Alliance Mobile expressed gratitude for all involved and said he is looking forward to another
amazing day supporting Scouting.
“We are truly honored to continue to grow this event to where we are today.” Hartung said.
“Dodge for Detroit provides incredible experiences to the youth of Detroit that they cannot get
anywhere else. Many of these kids have never left the city, and because of this event the BSA
has been able to take them on camping experiences with full gear at no expense to the youth and
their families.”
For information or to register for the event, visit: www.dodgefordetroit.org.

ORION TOWNSHIP RECOGNIZED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

ORION TOWNSHIP RECOGNIZED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

by | Jun 21, 2022 | Local News

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR

CHRIS BARNETT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jenny Bhatti

248-391-0304 ext. 1003
[email protected]

ORION TOWNSHIP RECOGNIZED FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

Orion Township, MI (May 20, 2022) – Orion Township was recognized for environmental leadership by
the statewide Michigan Green Communities program. As part of the 2021 Michigan Green Communities
(MGC) Challenge, 44 participating local governments were awarded gold, silver, or bronze seals of
achievement reflecting community leadership in areas such as energy efficiency, climate adaptation and
resilience, recycling, environmental justice, and more. Ten communities received bronze certification,
twelve received silver certification, and twenty-two received gold certification.
Orion Township achieved gold status for exemplary action in multiple categories, including economic
development, materials management, water protection, and community engagement. A few years ago,
Orion Township, implemented a community-wide garbage and recycling program. The recycling program
included participation in Recyclebank – a rewards points system for recycling. Just for signing up and setting
out recycling each week, residents can earn points to redeem at local stores or donate to the school district
for one of their recycling programs.
The Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program is open to all local governments in Michigan, at no cost.
MGC is a sustainability networking, benchmarking, and technical assistance program. It guides and supports
communities in adapting to a changing climate, protecting infrastructure, improving the quality of life for
residents, and creating a more environmentally and economically sustainable future for the state of
Michigan.
Michigan Green Communities is supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and
Energy; the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; the Michigan Economic Development
Corporation; the Michigan Association of Counties; the Michigan Municipal League; and the Michigan
Townships Association. More details about this program can be found at www.migreencommunities.com.
Questions regarding the Michigan Green Communities program can be directed to
[email protected].

 

MHSAA NOW: The weekly newsletter

MHSAA NOW: The weekly newsletter

by | Jun 20, 2022 | High School Sports

MHSAA NOW logo

MHSAA NOW: The weekly newsletter of the Michigan High School Athletic Association

THIS WEEK

We’re into the second day of the final weekend of the 2021-22 sports school year, and today’s edition includes previews of the Girls Soccer, Softball and Baseball Finals and coverage of Thursday’s Semifinals. We also highlight an all-stater whose final high school goal clinched last weekend’s Division 1 girls lacrosse championship.

Do you know a high school sports fan who would enjoy this weekly newsletter? Share this link to register on MHSAA.com and be added to the MHSAA NOW mailing list.

AROUND THE STATE

Preview: Final 8 Filled with Ranked Contenders, Familiar Champs

This weekend’s Girls Soccer Finals field includes two of the winningest champions in MHSAA history, and two teams hoping to celebrate the ultimate prize for the first time. Hudsonville Unity Christian with 10 Finals titles and Marian with nine trail only Madison Heights Bishop Foley’s 12 on the list of most MHSAA girls soccer championships.

Preview: McLane Welcomes Major Players, Familiar & 1st-Time Title Contenders

The team with the second-longest winning streak in MHSAA baseball history, and the appearances of three likely high-round Major League Baseball draft picks are among several intriguing storylines as we head into this weekend’s Baseball Finals at Michigan State University’s McLane Stadium.

Preview: Prepare for Power-Packed Matchups, Plenty of History-Making Moments

The roster for this weekend’s MHSAA Softball Finals at Michigan State University’s Secchia Stadium makes for a power-packed lineup. The 16 teams playing for four championships have combined to claim 28 Finals titles in the past. Unionville-Sebewaing and Stevensville Lakeshore are among those sitting second in MHSAA history with seven championships won – and with opportunities to tie the record of eight Saturday.

Forest Hills Eastern, GR Christian Set Up all-Grand Rapids-area D2 Final

As much as he tried to keep it out of his mind, it became nearly impossible for Ada Forest Hills Eastern senior pitcher Jacob Pallo to do so late in his team’s Division 2 Semifinal against Goodrich. Pallo was four outs away from a no-hitter Thursday, but then a bloop single with two outs in the sixth ended that hope of him making history.

Allen Park, Dakota Hold On for Close Semifinal Wins to Set Up High-Profile Decider

Things were not going according to plan for Allen Park early in Thursday morning’s Division 1 Semifinal at Secchia Stadium. Mattawan, fresh off an upset of top-ranked South Lyon on Tuesday, came out in giant-killer mode again, jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead against the No. 2-ranked Jaguars. “Those nerves, they got us early, but we came back to play,” said third-year Allen Park coach Michael Kish.

Trenton, Lakeshore Emerge with 1-Run Semifinal Wins, Advance to Saturday

Trenton and Essexville Garber are not used to making long runs in softball. In fact, most of the players on both teams weren’t even born the last time their schools reached the Softball Semifinals. The newcomers put on a show Thursday on the state’s biggest stage, with Trenton holding off Garber, 2-1, in a classic pitcher’s duel at sunny, windswept Secchia Stadium.

Riverview Gabriel Richard, Beal City Make Right Plays When Needed Most

Up until there were two outs in the top of the seventh inning of its Division 4 Semifinal on Thursday, Riverview Gabriel Richard was winning with an unusual formula. At that point, the Pioneers had three more errors (5) than hits (2), but still found themselves up a run as they looked for some insurance. After the first two batters made outs, the Pioneers found insurance, and then some.

Performance of the Week: Brighton’s Ella Boose

Boose finished her senior season Saturday with one of the most memorable moments in Brighton girls lacrosse history. Her overtime goal gave the Bulldogs a 12-11 victory over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Eastern and the Division 1 championship after the they had finished runners-up the previous three seasons.

GAME TIME

Upcoming MHSAA Tournament Schedule

Girls Soccer · Finals: June 17-18
Baseball · Finals: June 18
Softball · Finals: June 18

MHSAA TV

For a complete list of all games and streaming options go to mhsaa.tv.

Click here for a schedule of available student broadcast video streams.