Rep. Jeff Irwin seeking feedback from Ann Arbor residents on issues facing Michigan
In his first month in the Michigan Legislature, state Rep. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, says he's already working on tackling a number of issues — ranging from absentee voting for any reason to a graduated income tax to energy efficiency financing.
Irwin, a former Washtenaw County commissioner, also has set his sights on funding for the I-94 rail corridor, second parent adoption, rules to encourage organ donation, refining the state's Freedom of Information Act, and changes to the Corridor Improvement Authority Act to better facilitate future redevelopment along Washtenaw Avenue from Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti.
Jeff Irwin
Irwin also is planning to propose a "right to farm wind" bill that would revise Michigan's Right to Farm Act to ease zoning restrictions and allow wind turbines on any agricultural land.
Irwin said bills on some of those issues already are being prepared for introduction. Being in the minority in Lansing, he said he wants to seek Republican buy-in.
Irwin has announced he will host monthly coffee hours for residents to get updates on state government and share their own ideas for Michigan’s future.
The state currently is facing a budget deficit of at least $1.8 billion for the next fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.
"As I meet with residents, I regularly pick up great ideas and valuable insights on issues that are important to our community," Irwin said in a statement. "Maintaining that dialogue is one of the most important parts of my job."
The first coffee hour is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday at Café Verde, 216 N. Fourth Ave., in the Kerrytown district in downtown Ann Arbor.
Residents can sign up for Irwin's e-newsletter for updates on future coffee hours and other legislative issues at www.jeffirwin.housedems.com.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
Gal Sal
Sat, Feb 5, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
Jeff - you need to know that wind turbines are not an agricultural use. They are really "industrial sprawl." With hundreds of 50-story turbines proposed for the west coast communities of Michigan (Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Manistee, and Benzie Counties among others), they threaten our tourism, property values, and health and safety. It's the large landowners who profit form these industrial machines - not the communities or their neighbors. This will be especially true if Gov. Snyder gets his way and does away with the personal property tax which is what wind turbine developers currently pay - when they are not asking for abatements. In a matter of a few years, Michigan's investment in these useless, subsidy-supported, inefficient machines will look foolish indeed.
Roger Rayle
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
Jeff-- More transparency in government is good. Let's get Michigan caught up on the Open, Linked Data / "Raw Data Now" movement. Glad to hear about your regular meetings with citizens. Too bad not all legislators do this. (Sadly, some prefer to limit their visits with CEO contributors.) Hang in there. Don't let the naysayer comments discourage you.
Dog Guy
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 5:04 p.m.
Graduated income tax, homosexual marriage/adoption, increased spending, fantastic transportation and energy projects: Ann Arbor has a worthy representative of its own innovative and creative population.
Mick52
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 10:10 p.m.
Wind turbines don't work well enough to earn tax dollars. Let the private sector handle that. That will ensure that it will be profitable. Detroit to A2 rail is okay as long as it accepts commuters in western Wayne county too. Generally rail lines cost too much to make them viable. What we need in A2 is improved commuter lines from all directions, Brighton/Howell, Chelsea/Dexter and Milan for commuting. Gas is going up and will eclipse the summer 2008 prices and people will be looking for alternate transpo.
Chase Ingersoll
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 1:10 p.m.
Below, I've linked to information on WALLY (Livingston County Commuter Rail). While you review the cost estimates for rail, ask what the cost of adding bus lines would be and consider the flexibility that buses have over rail. Get Downtown already has the work hour commuter buses to Canton and Chelsea, so there are "hard" existing numbers concerning the costs and ridership. Rail will appeal to peoples "champaign" or "European" taste when bus offers lower startup and operating costs along with a number of other flexibilities. I've beat this drum before and will continue to do so. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WALLY_%28commuter_rail%29" rel='nofollow'>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WALLY_%28commuter_rail%29</a>
Jeff Irwin
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 9:45 p.m.
Thanks for the feedback. Given our state's very serious budget problems, I tried to pick some initial issues that improve our state without spending any money. Apart from the 20% match for the I-94 rail corridor, these ideas are all possible without additional government spending. Enhancing transparency and accountability, eliminating barriers to clean energy development, and providing additional means of voting are non-partisan, positive steps. I intend to continue working those angles while we spend this spring debating the budget. To be sure, the budget discussions are the focus and I'm eagerly awaiting the Governor's proposal. Our state has survived for too long on one-time fixes, accounting gimmicks and Uncle Sam. We need to balance the budget and I'll be working with the Republicans to do it in a manner that improves our long-term prospects. In the meantime, I'll be listening for good ideas no matter from whom they come.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 9:29 p.m.
Cash wrote: "I've always found it laughable that Republicans resist anything that eases the voting process for citizens. Hmmm....so whose side are they anyhow?" Cash it is so easy to vote now even non citizens are voting. Last year I found out a legal resident non citizen recieved her voter registration card in the mail and was planning on voting. I spent 4 hours trying to find anyone that cared, even the lady who runs eletions department for the city of Ypsilanti didn't care, I had to call the attorny general office before she was removed. Don't believe me call Ypsilanti's election office and ask, I'm very sure she remembers me as we had many words back and forth before she realized I wasn't going away. Since my family members died for your right to vote I have no problem with it taking you a little longer to vote!
15crown00
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 8:04 p.m.
Jobs,Jobs,Jobs To high pay and benefits for Elected and Appointed government employees including but not limited to legislators and judges Total reform of welfare.Many,Many collect it,in one form or another,that shouldn't.
Top Cat
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 8 p.m.
We all know where Mr. Irwin stands and what he believes and there is nothing "centrist" about this agenda. It is the usual laundry list of issues and causes for the political Left.
David Cahill
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 7:12 p.m.
I'm glad to see that Rep. Irwin is focusing on a centrist agenda. Ann Arborites would probably support a left-liberal agenda, but to get anywhere in Lansing you have to work with the Republicans.
Roadman
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
Jeff: If you want to tackle a serious problem look at out state's broken insurance system where claims languish for years, there are insufficient penalties for insurer misconduct and delay, and policyholders literally lose their homes due to the excessive delay in getting payment from carriers. Particular areas of concern are no-fault insurance and homeowner's insurance.
xmo
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 6:28 p.m.
I see that the State is 1.8 Billion Dollars over budget and that Jeff Irwine (Democrat) Ann Arbor wants to spent more money on the I-94 rail corridor, change the State's Freedom of Information Act, BUT WHAT IS HE GOING TO CUT? State Workers Pension's?, Take Food Out of the Mouth's of the Poor, make hungry baby's starve to death? make the State Government smaller? Please Jeff, Tell us how you are going to balance the budget on the back's of the poor?
Cash
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
I've always found it laughable that Republicans resist anything that eases the voting process for citizens. Hmmm....so whose side are they anyhow? There are more Dems than Repubs in the US, this we know. So it's understandable that Repubs would discourage people from voting and try to make it difficult. But....as usual the Repubs excuse their stance with their usual "scare 'em and baffle 'em with BS". Yeah dead people vote. Geez Louise.
Chase Ingersoll
Wed, Jan 26, 2011 : 1:29 p.m.
Cash: Your information on party identity is old. The self described Republicans overtook self described Democrats this last year. The reason for this was the dramatic increase in those who self describe themselves as Conservatives. This was reflected in last Novembers elections. Keep in mind that some media polling companies are still using old sampling data standards based upon their being a larger percentage of self described democrats and this is skewing their polling in favor of democrats and liberal positions. Here is Gallup from last year: <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/141032/2010-conservatives-outnumber-moderates-liberals.aspx" rel='nofollow'>http://www.gallup.com/poll/141032/2010-conservatives-outnumber-moderates-liberals.aspx</a>
David Briegel
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 5:30 p.m.
If a person knows of a dead person voting they should report it to the authorities. It is against the law. One might be an accessory in failing to do so. A citizen should be able to cast their vote in any number of ways. Voting does not have to be such a cumbersome ordeal unless one desires to supress the vote ! We all know which party has that desire !
cinnabar7071
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 5:08 p.m.
"says he's already working on tackling a number of issues — ranging from absentee voting for any reason" Now thats always been a gold mine for democrats, you can even be absent from this world and the democrats will see that your vote counts. Hey Jeff just balance the budget and if theres any moneyleft have a ball spending it.
Chase Ingersoll
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
Jeff: Thumbs up on the "right to wind" restricting, restrictive zoning, so long as there are no subsidies or other language in the bill that would "junk it up". Let us know when you have some actual language proposed.
Chase Ingersoll
Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 3:52 p.m.
Jeff: I see that you are NOT a sponsor of: Michigan Strategic Fund HB 4020 <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billintroduced/House/htm/2011-hIB-4020.htm" rel='nofollow'>http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billintroduced/House/htm/2011-hIB-4020.htm</a> Would you agree with the position that this bill would create a state program FINANCED BY TAX PAYERS TO BAIL OUT BANKS WITH LOAN GUARANTEES.