Rep. Tisdel supports recreation funding for accessible park in Rochester
July 6, 2022 - State Rep. Mark Tisdel last week approved a plan to help build an all-abilities playground at Rochester’s Memorial Grove All Abilities Park.
Project funding is provided from Michigan’s Natural Resources Trust Fund through Senate Bill 1028, which will support a variety of land acquisition and development efforts recommended by the trust fund board. Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, and the Michigan House of Representatives approved the bill on Thursday.
“Once it’s completed, Memorial Grove All Abilities Park will be a truly special feature in Greater Rochester,” Tisdel said. “The Grove will bring people together in our community, with something for everyone who wants to relax or play outdoors.”
The plan will provide $225,000 to Rochester to help the city develop new, accessible play equipment at Memorial Grove All Abilities Park, also known as The Grove, which is by the Paint Creek Trail.
Money in the Natural Resources Trust Fund comes from the development of minerals on state land — not general tax money — and is distributed on an annual basis in partnership with local governments. The Michigan Constitution stipulates that the fund must be used for land acquisition or recreational development projects.
The governor is expected to sign SB 1028 into law soon.
Rep. Tisdel plan to protect online shoppers advances to governor
July 1, 2022 - The Michigan Senate on Thursday unanimously approved state Rep. Mark Tisdel’s bipartisan plan to protect online shoppers from scams.
Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, is the lead sponsor of House Bill 5487 and a co-sponsor of HB 5486, which are now both headed to the governor’s desk. The plan would require high-volume third-party sellers that sell products to Michigan consumers to provide identifying information to online marketplaces.
“Online shoppers are ripe targets for cheats and criminals who can rip victims off from behind a screen,” Tisdel said. “Thieves take advantage of internet markets to pawn off stolen items. Other sellers mislead buyers, collect the cash, and then send them a defective or knock-off product. Transparency helps ensure honesty, and these reporting requirements will enable a crackdown on deceptive and illegal sales practices.”
Tisdel’s plan would require third-party sellers making at least $5,000 total in gross revenue from at least 200 different sales through an online marketplace over a 12-month period to report to the marketplace the individual seller’s name, contact information, tax identification number, and bank account number or the name of the person receiving payments.
Larger sellers earning $20,000 or more in annual gross revenue through an online marketplace would also be required to provide certain information that the marketplace would disclose to consumers: name, address, contact information, and information about whether the seller used another seller to supply the product. These details would be provided to buyers after they purchase a product, although a seller without a separate business address or phone may request that a marketplace not disclose a residential address or personal phone number.
If a seller does not comply with the reporting requirements, an online marketplace would suspend the seller’s future sales until the issue is corrected. On product listings, online marketplaces would be required to inform consumers how to report suspicious activity by a seller.
Rep. Tisdel approves budget to set Michigan up for success
July 1, 2022 - State Rep. Mark Tisdel and the Michigan Legislature today approved a bipartisan budget to support key public services, such as schools, law enforcement, and roads.
The plan will fund state government for fiscal year 2023, which begins Oct. 1 of this year.
“Our bipartisan budget will set Michigan up for success,” said Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills. “Increased school aid will help students learn and succeed. Workers and businesses in our state will gain opportunities for success through job skills programs. Reinforced staffing and stronger community relationships will enable successful public safety. A huge surplus will be saved, even paving the way to tax relief — to sustain people and get them back on the path to success.”
Tisdel, who serves as majority vice chair of the House Tax Policy Committee, noted that the plan fully funds Michigan government while preserving billions of dollars that could be used to offset possible tax relief. Legislators continue to look for common ground with the governor, who vetoed three bipartisan tax plans — a gas tax pause and two proposals for income tax relief — earlier this year. Tisdel said agreement with the governor on this budget plan bodes well for future bipartisan collaboration.
In addition to the savings for a possible tax cut, Tisdel said the budget will also promote fiscal responsibility by paying down debt. The plan puts down a total of roughly $2.6 billion to reduce the debt of public retirement systems, including for local government employees, educators and school staff, and the Michigan State Police. Tisdel emphasized that although the total sum of the new budget is larger than last year’s budget, a major portion of the additional funding is for one-time spending and not ongoing programs.
Tisdel also observed that Rochester Hills’ own Oakland University will receive a boost through the higher education budget. Oakland and other lower-funded state universities will see the largest increase in state funding. The increase will also help university students by preventing excessive tuition increases.
Other highlights of the budget include:
Educating students: The school aid budget allocates a record $19.6 billion to support education for Michigan students. After last year’s budget provided schools with equal per-pupil foundation allowance funding for the first time, the new plan increases the amount of each grant from $8,700 per student to $9,150. The Great Start Readiness Program for at-risk preschoolers will also receive $9,150 per child. Increased investments will support special education, bringing the total to $1.92 billion, and additional help for at-risk students, a total of $747.5 million. Keeping students safe remains a top priority, with $168 million for school safety grants and $25 million for school resource officers. Other funds will help support student mental health.
Protecting communities: On top of regular police funding, additional support for state and local law enforcement will help officers protect people throughout Michigan and form relationships in the communities they serve. The budget provides $30 million to help meet critical staffing needs in public safety departments with funding for police officer academies, scholarships, and cadet salaries. To help bring law enforcement and community members together, $16 million will support community policing initiatives, and $7.5 million will replicate Detroit’s successful Police Athletic League in other communities, helping foster relationships between police and local residents. Further resources will help pay for upgrades to equipment, such as communication towers.
Fixing roads: The plan continues to repair roads and bridges in Michigan, building on a $4.7 billion plan passed in March, which funded roads, bridges, dams, broadband equipment, and other infrastructure.
Boosting workers and local businesses: The plan provides resources for a variety of programs to help Michigan workers and businesses thrive, including community and economic development, job training like the Going PRO Talent Fund, the Pure Michigan campaign that promotes tourism, and other efforts.
The budget, contained in House Bill 5783 and Senate Bill 845, now advances to the governor, who is expected to approve it.
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About State Representative Mark Tisdel
State Rep. Mark Tisdel, of Rochester Hills, represents Greater Rochester in the Michigan House of Representatives. The 45th House District, which Tisdel represents, includes the cities of Rochester and Rochester Hills and part of Oakland Township.
Representative Mark Tisdel is one of 110 Members of The Michigan House of Representatives who are elected by the qualified electors of districts having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents.
Representatives are elected in even-numbered years to 2-year terms. Legislative districts are drawn on the basis of population figures through the federal decennial census.
July 13, 2022, from the office of 45th District Michigan House Representative Mark A. Tisdel