Rep. Andy Schors' Site Feed

House Dems' Education Task Force to Hold First Meeting

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:28 -0400

LANSING — The Michigan House Democrats’ Education Task Force will hold its first meeting from 2-4 p.m. on Monday, May 20, in Room 426 of the Capitol Building in Lansing. Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods), who is the Democratic vice chairwoman of the House Education Committee, and Rep. Brandon Dillon (D-Grand Rapids), the Democratic vice chairman of the House School Aid subcommittee, will co-chair the task force. Other members are Reps. Theresa Abed (D-Grand Ledge), Terry Brown (D-Pigeon), Douglas A. Geiss (D-Taylor), John Kivela (D-Marquette), Collene Lamonte (D-Montague), Stacy Erwin Oakes (D-Saginaw), David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti), Andy Schor (D-Lansing), Thomas F. Stallworth III (D-Detroit) and Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor).

The task was formed in response to House Republicans’ effort to expand the unproven Education Achievement Authority across the state, even though students in the 15 schools currently run by the EAA have reported conditions detrimental to learning in those schools. Task force members are seeking real solutions that will work for our state.

WHO: Reps. Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods), Brandon Dillon (D-Grand Rapids), Theresa Abed (D-Grand Ledge), Terry Brown (D-Pigeon), Douglas A. Geiss (D-Taylor), John Kivela (D-Marquette), Collene Lamonte (D-Montague), Stacy Erwin Oakes (D-Saginaw), David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti), Andy Schor (D-Lansing), Thomas F. Stallworth III (D-Detroit) and Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor).

WHERE: Michigan State Capitol, Room 426
Lansing

WHEN: Monday, May 20, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Committee Hears Testimony on Rep. Schor's Election Bills

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:22:08 -0400

LANSING - The House Committee on Elections and Ethics heard testimony today on state Representative Andy Schor’s (D-Lansing) two bills aimed at making voting easier for Michigan residents and a third bill addressing the payment of late filing fees.

“I want to thank the committee chair for acting quickly to give my bills a committee hearing,” said Schor. “My bills will ensure all Michigan voters are able to exercise their right to vote, and will prevent unintentional acts by voters that could result in their vote being disqualified. These are common-sense bills that I think we can all agree will improve the election process in Michigan.”

Schor’s first bill, House Bill 4477, would allow a voter to take a photograph of himself or herself (but not a photo of his/her ballot) in a polling place. Currently, many voters take pictures of themselves feeding the ballot into the machine then share this on social media sites such as Facebook. Under Secretary of State rules, this practice is illegal and the ballot can be invalidated. Schor’s second bill, HB 4478, would allow a voter who is unable to sign his or her name on an election document to use a signature stamp. Now, voters who cannot sign their names must make their mark (an X) on a ballot because signature stamps are not allowed. In East Lansing, a voter tried to vote using a signature stamp and the ballot could not be accepted. Schor’s third bill, HB 4479, makes a technical change to campaign finance law which unifies the ways that candidates can pay late fees.

“It was an honor to present these bills to the Ethics and Elections Committee today, and I look forward to this legislation moving through the process in order to ensure that all voters can vote and to prevent disqualification of votes.”

Legislation Improving Access to Women's Health Care Backed by Dem Leader Greimel and Ingham Dems

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:33:00 -0400

LANSING - House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) and state Representatives Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-Muskegon), Tom Cochran (D-Mason), Andy Schor (D-Lansing) and Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) announced their support for a package of four bills and three resolutions that would improve access to women’s health care, educate women about health care options, support rape survivors and address health care inequities women face.

“We have all heard from women and their families across Michigan that they need better access to women’s health care services,” said Greimel. “This legislative package puts women’s health care issues front and center where they should be. It says that our mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and all the women in our lives deserve the best health care possible and that House Democrats will fight to see that they get it.”

“These bills aim to fix the problems that too many women experience in the health care system.” said Cochran.

The package of legislation includes:

House Resolution 140, naming May 12-18 “National Women’s Health Week” in Michigan (introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell)
HR 138, urging the DCH to promote programs that identify and address inequities in the prevention, treatment and research of diseases threatening women (Rep. Winnie Brinks)
HR 139, recommending that the state intensify efforts to reduce the rate of teen pregnancies (Rep. Collene Lamonte)
House Bill 4067, requiring all health facilities and agencies to offer emergency contraception to rape survivors (Rep. Charles Smiley)
HB 4722, which directs the Department of Community Health (DCH) to develop and disseminate information about emergency contraception, including a description, explanation of use, safety efficacy and availability of emergency contraception (Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright)
HB 4721, requiring age-appropriate, medically accurate and objective sexuality education to be taught in public schools (Rep. Jeff Irwin)
HB 4260, requiring doctors to give information on breast density and give notice to women who have dense breast tissue that they may want to seek further testing (Rep. Winnie Brinks)

“This package of legislation will significantly improve women’s access to health care, and the information that is available to girls and women of all ages,” said Singh. “Health care is a woman’s right and she shouldn’t have to break down barriers to get the care she needs. These bills address a critical need in Michigan and should be quickly approved and signed into law.”

“These proposals go a long way toward addressing women’s health concerns in Michigan,” said Schor. “I continually hear that the Legislature and state need to do more to address women’s health. These common sense proposals show that women’s health is a top priority for Michigan and we are ready to proactively address the problems that need to be faced by women in our own families and all Michigan women.”

Schor Bill to Retain Talent and Combat Brain Drain Gets Committee Hearing

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:37:58 -0400

LANSING - State Representative Andy Schor (D-Lansing) testified along with other citizens today on his bill, House Bill 4182, which offers a tax credit to Michigan graduates who choose to stay and work in the state. The bill was on the agenda today in the House Michigan Competitiveness Committee, of which Schor is a member.

“I am glad that Chairman Shirkey wanted the committee to hear about the importance of talent retention here in Michigan. Graduates of our colleges and universities are key to reversing the brain drain, and my plan can help create an incentive to keep these students working here in Michigan after they graduate,” said Schor. “If Michigan’s economy is to continue growing, then we need to offer options that will help our best students want to stay here instead of going to other states. This tax credit will make our state more competitive for employers looking for talented, hard workers.”

HB 4182 would encourage students graduating from Michigan’s higher education institutions to live and work in Michigan after graduation by offering income tax credits for a portion of their student debt. Eligible individuals could claim an income tax credit equal to 50 percent of the amount of qualified student loan payments made during a tax year - up to 20 percent of the average yearly tuition for Michigan’s public universities.

“I appreciate the committee testimony on this bill and this important subject. I look forward to continuing debate on this bill and on other legislation that will help to create great places where students want to live, work, and play here in Michigan,” said Schor. “Students win, Michigan employers win and our economy wins by continuing to grow with the help of our talented, smart college graduates.”

Schor Drops Legislation to Adjust Term Limits, Introduce Lobbying Restrictions

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:37:01 -0400

LANSING - State Representative Andy Schor (D-Lansing) today introduced a joint resolution to adjust term limits for members of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate and to put in place restrictions on lobbying after serving in public office. Both initiatives are meant to address concerns he heard throughout his campaign for the state House and have significant bipartisan support.

“One of the most prevalent issues that I heard from folks in my district last summer was a concern about the turnover and experience of legislators,” Schor said. “While they were excited to support my run for the state House, they were also disappointed to see former state Representative Joan Bauer forced from office so soon after she was elected.” Schor added that as tougher issues come before the Legislature, the value of institutional knowledge and elected experience to the legislative process has become clearer than ever. He noted, “Michigan has some of the most restrictive term limits in the nation. Too often, these short terms force public servants out of office who would otherwise continue to be capable, effective advocates for their communities and our state.” Schor also called attention to concerns voiced by residents about elected officials leaving the Legislature and immediately becoming lobbyists.

Schor’s legislation, HJR S, adjusts current term limits for Michigan House and Senate members to allow a person to be elected to the office of state representative no more than six times and to the office of state Senate no more than three times, making for a total of twenty-four years of service for those regularly elected. Now, lawmakers are restricted to three two-year terms of service in the House and to two four-year terms in the Senate. Schor’s joint resolution also bans former members of the Michigan House or Senate from becoming lobbyists or a lobbyist agent for the two years immediately following their last term in office.

“I’m confident that this measure will help our state avoid some of the negative effects of frequent turnover and loss of talent in the Legislature and help prevent the appearance of impropriety of behalf of lawmakers by preventing them from immediately becoming lobbyists upon their departure from office,” Schor added.

House Democrats' Task Force Seeks Education Reforms that Work

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:29:29 -0400

LANSING — House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) announced today that the Michigan House Democrats have formed a task force that will find real solutions for Michigan’s struggling schools. The task force is a response to House Republicans’ effort to expand the unproven Education Achievement Authority across the state, even though students in the 15 schools currently run by the EAA have reported conditions detrimental to learning in those schools.

“The Education Achievement Authority has been in place in Detroit since the start of the school year, and the results so far have been dismal: overcrowded classrooms, a lack of textbooks and high rates of teacher turnover that disrupt education,” Greimel said. “Rather than recklessly spreading the EAA across the state — as Republicans plan to do — we need real solutions for schools in crisis, solutions that have actually worked in other places.”

The task force will investigate education reform measures undertaken in other states, evaluate their success and determine whether those solutions could be implemented in Michigan. Task force members include Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods), who is the Democratic vice chairwoman of the House Education Committee, and Education Committee member Rep. Thomas F. Stallworth III (D-Detroit). Other members include Reps. Terry Brown (D-Pigeon), Brandon Dillon (D-Grand Rapids), John Kivela (D-Marquette), Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores), David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti), Andy Schor (D-Lansing) and Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor). Legislation based on their findings will be introduced in the state Legislature. Representatives Lipton and Dillon will co-chair the task force.

“All of the state representatives who are members of this task force have a great deal of applicable expertise, and I look forward to their recommendations to improve schools,” Greimel said. “We need to learn what’s already worked in other places and bring those lessons home. Our kids are too important to be turned into school reform guinea pigs.”

Ingham County Reps announce recreation grants totaling $645,000

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 09:08:41 -0400

LANSING -State Representatives Tom Cochran (D- Mason), Andy Schor (D-Lansing) and Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) have announced that Ingham County parks are in line to receive Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grants included in a recent appropriations bill signed by Gov. Rick Snyder.

“Outdoor recreation is important to our communities and to Michigan’s tourism industry,” said Cochran. “The improvements these grants aim to provide will benefit residents and help draw tourists to mid-Michigan.”

The trust fund began with an agreement in 1976 to balance conservation management and oil and gas drilling on state-managed land. The original intent of the program was to replace one non-renewable resource (minerals) with another non-renewable resource (land) and create a permanent endowment. Designed as a sustainable funding source for public outdoor recreation projects throughout Michigan, the trust fund provides grants that fund the development and acquisition of parks and green space, create viable trail networks, provide valuable outdoor experiences in urban areas and generate economic benefits to communities.

“Improving our parks is good for our families and also good for the mid-Michigan economy,” said Schor. “Recreational opportunities can help draw more people and families to our communities, and that in turn can help improve our business climate. These grants are a win for everyone.”

“I am glad to see the mid-Michigan area receiving a fair share of these grants,” said Singh. “Patriarche and Wonch Parks are important to the East Lansing and Meridian Township communities, and local governments are grateful for these grants to help maintain and improve these parks and trails.”

In Ingham County, three Natural Resources Trust Fund development grants totaling $645,000 were awarded to the city of East Lansing, the city of Lansing and Meridian Township. These projects are collaborative efforts to reach the communities urban planning goals for recreation. The grant-funded projects are to the:

City of Lansing: $300,000 for Frances Park Trail Improvement

The Lansing River Trail runs from the city of East Lansing to the East, Holt to the South and almost to Delta Township to the West. The proposed development includes increasing greenspace and improving fishing opportunity along the Grand River, adding parking and extending the regional trail from Frances Park to Delta Township.

City of East Lansing: $300,000 for Patriarche Park Playground Replacement

Patriarche Park is a popular park that is used by residents of the city of East Lansing, adjacent communities and Michigan State University students and staff. The existing wood playground structure built in 1995 contains CCA-treated lumber and no longer meets playground safety standards. The proposed development project includes a universally accessible playground for preschool-age and school-age children, rain garden, access walks and signs to interpret the rain garden. The project epitomizes partnership and collaboration with input from the community and all matching funds coming from corporate, business and private donors and volunteer labor.

Meridian Township: $45,000 for Wonch Park Pathway Development

Wonch Park is located along the Red Cedar River. The development project will include adding about 2,055 linear feet of paved universally accessible asphalt pathway from the existing parking lot to create a looped path within the park along the river.

Since 1976, more than $965 million has been awarded in Trust Fund grants for land acquisition and development of public recreation facilities in all 83 Michigan counties, including $164 million for trail-related projects. For more information about the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, visit www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants.

State Reps. Cochran, Abed, Schor Unveil Middle-Class Plan

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:37:00 -0400

LANSING - State Representative Tom Cochran (D-Mason) along with Reps. Theresa Abed (D-Grand Ledge) and Andy Schor (D-Lansing) held a press conference in Holt today to announce Michigan’s Middle Class Agenda, the House Democrats’ plan for helping families, seniors and kids. The plan is based on the response Democrats received during their recent statewide, Real State of Our State Listening Tour. Representative Abed held a Mid-Michigan Listening Tour in Delta Township on March 8.

“We heard from the residents of our communities that they are unhappy about what Republicans are doing in Lansing. Their agenda hurts our families, our kids and our communities by failing to adequately support public education, local governments and the services that families and businesses rely on,” said Rep. Cochran. “My colleagues and I are ready to turn their ideas into legislation that would allow our state to once again work for Michigan’s middle-class families.”

“We are fighting policies that harm our children starting with inadequate funding for our schools; that harm our middle-class families who rely on good paying jobs; and that harm our seniors who now struggle with the additional burden of having to pay taxes on their pensions,” said Rep. Abed. “Our plan will put Michiganders first instead of corporate CEOs.”

The House Democrats’ Middle-Class Plan includes real solutions to problems facing Michigan’s families, seniors, kids and women. The plan calls for middle-class tax relief, restoring and protecting funds to public education, eliminating barriers to health care for women, and provides solutions for fixing our roads and bridges. Michigan’s Middle-Class Plan will:

Repeal the tax on seniors’ retirement income, restore the per-child tax deductions, restore the Earned Income Tax Credit to 11 percent and restore the Homestead Property Tax Credit.
Level the playing field for overweight and out-of-state trucks, ensure existing transportation funds are used for road construction and refinance existing infrastructure bonds.
Make the School Aid Fund only available for use in funding K-12 education and increase per-pupil funding by $320.
Improve access to health care for women by removing barriers to clinics and increasing access to family planning services.

“Michigan families have been struggling under the policies of Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative Republicans for the past two years. These policies must change if Michigan is going to attract talent and grow, and for Michigan to retain our families, children and seniors by ensuring a good quality of life,” said Rep. Schor.

For more details, or to view the plan in its entirety, visit www.realstateofourstate.com

Schor Introduces Election-Related Bills

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:03:40 -0400

LANSING - State Representative Andy Schor (D-Lansing) introduced two bills today aimed at making voting easier for Michigan residents.

Schor’s first bill, House Bill 4477, would allow a voter to take a photograph of himself or herself (but not a photo of his/her ballot) in a polling place. Schor observed that many voters take pictures of themselves voting and inserting their ballots into the voting machine and then post those photos on social media sites like Facebook. According to the Secretary of State’s rules and interpretations of election law, taking those photos is actually illegal and the voter’s ballot can be invalidated. Schor noted, “With social media as prevalent as it is, people should be excited about voting and should be allowed to take pictures of themselves voting to share with their families and friends. We shouldn’t be punishing voters for their enthusiasm, especially when most don’t realize they’re breaking the law.”

Schor’s second bill, House Bill 4478, would allow a voter who is unable to sign his or her name on an election document to execute the election document where a signature is required either by making his or her mark or by using a signature stamp. Schor noted that this legislation was crafted in response to an issue that arose locally during a recent election cycle and was documented in the Lansing State Journal by Mark Mayes. Under current law, a person can make his or her mark on a ballot but cannot use a signature stamp. “I’m hopeful this bill makes voting easier for residents who cannot sign their name on an election document,” Schor noted. “These individuals ought to be able to use a signature stamp if that’s what they prefer and elect to do.”

Schor Recognizes Reading Month with Visits to Area Schools

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:17:56 -0500

LANSING - State Representative Andy Schor (D-Lansing) today begins a month-long set of visits to local elementary schools where he’ll read with area students in recognition of Reading Month. His first stops include classroom visits to the Beekman Center and to Wexford Montessori Academy, two Lansing School District elementary schools.

“I find great enjoyment in reading with my two elementary school-aged children and always appreciate the opportunity to celebrate my love of reading with young people,” Schor said. “I’m looking forward to visiting classrooms throughout our community to celebrate Reading Month and look forward to sharing my enthusiasm for reading with some of Lansing’s students.” Schor plans to distribute bookmarks to students.

Throughout the month of March, adults from all walks of life are encouraged to visit classrooms in their communities to celebrate Reading Month - an annual observance meant to promote literacy and reading among children. Countless studies show that inspiring and motivating children to read is a very important factor in student achievement both inside and outside of the classroom.