Rep. Sarah Robertss' Site Feed

Rep. Roberts Announces May Coffee Hours

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:28:39 -0400

State Representative Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) invites residents to join her for a cup of coffee and conversation at one of her upcoming coffee hours.

Roberts will host her coffee hours at the following:

Saturday, May 4, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Cafe Luna, 23415 Greater Mack Ave. in St Clair Shores.
Monday, May 20, from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Coffee Break, 19156 E. 10 Mile Road in Eastpointe.

Roberts will host regular coffee hours the first Saturday of every month at Cafe Luna from 9 to 10 a.m. and the third Monday of every month at the Coffee Break from 8 to 9 a.m. You can also contact the representative by phone at (517) 373-1180 or send an email to SarahRoberts@house.mi.gov with any questions or concerns. Residents also can sign up for Roberts’ e-newsletter by visiting her website at www.roberts.housedems.com.

Roberts Declares March MSA Awareness Month in Michigan

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:54:00 -0400

State Representative Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) introduced House Resolution 65 declaring March as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) Awareness month in Michigan that was adopted March 19, 2013. The representative was joined at the Capitol by her constituent, Phillip Fortier, who, in honor of his brother, started the Joseph G. Fortier Foundation for MSA to spread awareness, increase funding and provide resources for MSA patients and other rare movement disorders.

“I was honored to have Phil and his mother, Madeline, here to both honor their beloved family member who lost his life to MSA, and to also raise awareness for this rare disease,” said Roberts. “The Joseph G. Fortier Foundation for MSA is the first of its kind in Michigan and is providing vital awareness and research efforts so that one day, there may be a cure.”

MSA is a debilitating disease that affects five of every 100,000 people. Because MSA is a neurodegenerative disease, it causes symptoms similar to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) or Parkinson’s disease. Patients with MSA generally experience loss of movement, balance, motor skills and automatic functions of the body. The life expectancy for those with MSA is typically three to nine years. However, many of the patients rapidly become immobilized and bed-ridden. At present, there is no cure for MSA, no genetic tests to detect it and very few treatments to manage its debilitating effects.

Along with Rep. Roberts in presenting the resolution was state Representative Pam Faris (D-Clio), who is a strong advocate for raising awareness for MSA.

“I know the toll this awful disease takes on families, having one of my own family members suffer with MSA. I am happy to help show others dealing with MSA they are not alone and to spread the word about this rare disease,” said Faris.

Reps. Yanez, Switalski, Roberts, Introduce Plan for Middle-Class Tax Relief

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:25:00 -0400

State Representatives Henry Yanez (D-Sterling Heights), Jon M. Switalski (D-Warren) and Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) today announced the House Democrats’ plan for middle-class tax relief. The bills, based on Michigan’s Middle Class Plan, are focused on restoring tax credits and deductions to middle-class families and repealing taxes on retirees. Legislation included in the plan will relieve the tax burden on Michigan families when next year’s tax season rolls around.

“Many people look forward to this time of year because it means they will get a little extra money in their pockets, but not this year,” said Yanez. “It’s the people that need that extra money the most - our seniors and our middle-class families - that are being hurt by the Republican tax changes now in effect. My colleagues and I are fighting to undo these burdensome tax changes so this is one of the only years people deal with this.”

Last session, the Republican-led Legislature made severe changes to the Michigan tax code punishing middle-class families and seniors, including imposing a tax on retirement income, eliminating the Homestead Property Tax Credit for many families, a drastic cut to the Earned Income Tax Credit and the elimination of the $600 per-child tax deduction and tax credits for charitable donations. These changes were made to fund nearly $2 billion in tax breaks for big corporations, effectively making Michigan’s low-income and middle-class families pay for a handout to big corporations. The new taxes took effect in 2012, and many taxpayers became aware of them for the first time as they filed their state income taxes this year.

“Many people were blindsided this year with a much smaller return or no return at all,” said Switalski. “That’s money that could have been used to fix a car or make necessary home repairs, and money that would have been put right back into our communities. The Republican tax overhaul’s negative impacts are much more widespread than they realize.”

Over the past two months, Democratic state representatives heard the concerns of struggling Michiganders during their Real State of Our State Listening Tour. After the tour’s completion, legislators used this feedback to construct Michigan’s Middle Class Plan, including the following tax initiatives:

Repeal the new tax on senior retirement income
Require employers to inform employees about the Earned Income Tax Credit
Restore the Earned Income Tax Credit to 11 percent in the first year
Restore the Homestead Property Tax Credit
Restore the child deduction

Along with these initiatives, the House Democrats pledge to continue fighting against tax increases on the middle class and seniors every time a new, harmful tax is introduced to the Legislature, and to keep Michigan taxpayers aware of the changes through a series of town halls held across the state.

“Any amount of relief that we can offer Michigan families is well worth the fight we have ahead of us to get our tax initiatives passed,” said Roberts.

Roberts, House Dems Push Back on Education Budget

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:20:29 -0400

State Representative Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) voiced her opposition to the proposed budget for Michigan’s K-12 schools and colleges today. Despite House Democrats’ objections, the budget was voted out of the Appropriations Committee on a party-line vote and now heads to consideration in the full House.

“During March is Reading Month I visited schools in my district and saw first-hand how prior budget cuts are hurting our local schools and the ability for our children to achieve and be successful, said Roberts, who serves on the Appropriations Committee. “Funding education for our children at all levels should be a top priority and the Republican proposed budget proves that education is not their priority. My colleagues and I know better, and have pushed back for the sake of our children’s futures to no avail.”

The School Aid budget contains no increase in the per-pupil foundation allowance, meaning there’s no reversal for the drastic cuts that schools have faced over the last two years and Republicans once again want to take money out of the School Aid Fund to help pay for higher education costs. House Democrats proposed increasing funding by $320 per pupil. Additionally, Republicans decreased funding for Great Start programs relative to the Governor’s recommendation, meaning fewer kids will be eligible for early childhood education. However, Democrats have proposed raising early education funding by $65 million.

“The governor was right when he expressed his desire to expand early childhood education in Michigan,” continued Roberts. “Investing in preschool has proven to provide long-term benefits in the classroom but the House Republicans would rather just slash funds across the board despite all logic.”

The higher education budget increases by a mere 2.2 percent. But much of that funding is tied to various performance metrics, and some universities that legally negotiated labor contracts will see a 15 percent cut in their funding. Democrats offered amendments to increase the overall funding in the budget, and to replace money taken from the School Aid Fund with money from the General Fund, so the School Aid Fund could be freed up for use in K-12 schools, its intended purpose.

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.”

Rep Roberts Slams House Republicans for Cuts to Great Lakes

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:35:00 -0400

LANSING â�� State Representative Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores), Democratic vice-chairwoman of the Department of Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee, is calling out House Republicans for their drastic cuts to Michigan’s Great Lakes funding programs.

“Too often we hear the rhetoric of Republicans on how we must protect and preserve the Great Lakes. Today, they had the opportunity to put their money where their mouth is. Once again they demonstrated a complete lack of commitment to the very things that makes us Pure Michigan: Our water and natural environment.”

The House Republicans’ proposed budget will cut roughly $500,000 from the governor’s recommended budget from the Office of the Great Lakes, which leads policy development, implements programs to protect, restore, and sustain the Great Lakes, as well as facilitates our responsibilities with the Great Lakes Compact. The budget would also slash $200,000 from the Surface Water Quality Program, which enforces the issuance of permits, compliance of activities concerning water quality, and the testing of surface water after sewage overflows. This cut puts at risk up to $500,000 in federal matching grant dollars. Roberts offered amendments that would have restored the money House Republicans cut, but both were voted down on party lines.

“This is the budget that provides the opportunity to truly protect our Pure Michigan way of life. Cutting funding from programs to protect our Great Lakes, our water quality and our environment is extremely shortsighted and is completely counterintuitive to promoting Michigan as a place to travel and live.”

Statement from State Representative Sarah Roberts on the Governor's Budget Priorities:

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:22:00 -0500

Today, the Governor has laid out a budget that reflects the priorities of a business man, but I was hoping his budget would reflect the priorities of the people of Michigan.

I am deeply concerned that the Governor’s priority programs do not reflect the interests of the people hurting the most in this state, particularly in the wake of massive tax hikes on seniors and families. I agree with the Governor that we need to solve our road funding and overall infrastructure funding issues, but increasing registration fees on the working people and seniors of our state is not the answer.

We need to make sure that working on economic development is on the top of our agenda including more support for small businesses, funding for our schools at all levels, and protecting our Great Lakes.

Reps. Haugh, Switalski and Roberts Announce House Committee Assignments

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:52:00 -0500

State Representatives Harold Haugh (D-Roseville), Jon Switalski (D-Warren) and Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) announced today that they have received their committee assignments. Rep. Haugh will serve as the Democratic vice chairman for both the committees on Elections and Ethics and Regulatory Reform and sit on the Tax Policy Committee. Rep. Switalski will be the Democratic vice chairman of the Commerce Committee and will also sit on the Tax Policy Committee. Rep. Roberts with serve on the House Appropriations Committee, as the minority vice chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Military and Veterans Affairs and the Department of Environmental Quality and serve on the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee.

“I am looking forward to using my experience in the public and private sector to address the challenges Michigan faces,” said Haugh. “Serving as minority vice chairman of two important committees allows me to be an active participant in this goal.”

Rep. Haugh is a former member of the Roseville Planning Commission and the Roseville City Council, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, and mayor of Roseville. He also retired from GM after working there for more than 40 years and looks forward to using his experience there as an assistant director for international regulation as the vice chairman of the Committee on Regulatory Reform. He is serving his third term representing state House District 22.

Rep. Switalski is also serving his third term and represents House District 28. He is a former Macomb County Commissioner and U.S. congressional aide.

“The Commerce Committee is integral to doing what we, as Democrats, have been pushing all along: getting Michigan back to work. So I am honored to have a major role in reaching that goal,” said Rep. Switalski. “Serving on the Tax Policy Committee will also allow me the chance to do what I can to stop the disproportionate middle-class tax burden created the last two years.”

Rep. Roberts formerly served on the Macomb County Board of Commissioners for two years representing the northern portion of St. Clair Shores and previously served as a state representative from 2008 to 2010.

“As a state representative with experience at the county and state level and former community organizer with Clean Water Action, I look forward to serving as the Democratic vice chairwoman on two appropriations subcommittees and ensuring that we invest taxpayer dollars wisely on the programs and services that our residents care about,” said Rep. Roberts. “I’m particularly excited to be the minority vice chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Environmental Quality because I know our district cares deeply about our waterways and not nearly enough is being done to protect them. At the core of that is making sure we have the money to protect our greatest resource.”

Roberts Sworn in for 2nd term Representing 18th District

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:38:04 -0500

LANSING - State Representative Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) yesterday participated in the House swearing-in ceremony during the official opening of the 97^th session of the Michigan House of Representatives in Lansing. Roberts will represent the 18^th House District, which encompasses the Macomb County communities of Saint Clair Shores, Eastpointe and part of Grosse Pointe Shores.

“I am honored to be serving my second term in the House and I’m ready to pick up where I left off, advocating for our middle-class families, senior citizens, children and our Great Lakes,” Roberts said.

Roberts says she will always be available to residents by phone, at (517) 373-1180, and by email at SarahRoberts@house.mi.gov. She also encourages residents to go to her webpage, www.roberts.housedems.com, and sign up for her e-newsletter to stay informed and involved in the legislative process. Roberts will also be holding regular coffee hours.

“We have a lot of work to do for our families, our children and our communities,” Roberts said. “This is a fresh start, and it is my hope that the legislature can work together to bring about meaningful policies that will safeguard our children’s future and benefit the middle class.”

Joining Roberts at the swearing-in ceremony was her brother, Tobias Roberts.