Tisdel Talk: New year, same focus on Greater Rochester!

By State Representative Mark Tisdel

It’s 2023, and my second two-year term as state representative has begun. The first session of the new Legislature will take place this Wednesday in our beautiful state Capitol building. Although speculation abounds about what the newly Democratic-controlled House and Senate will attempt, I can assure you that I’ll stay focused on serving the people of Greater Rochester — working to make life better in our state.

I will continue advocating tax relief to save money for hard-working people in our community. For example, I ran for office on repealing the pension tax that burdens Michigan’s retirees. In 2022, my colleagues in the Republican-led Legislature and I passed two different bipartisan plans to allow Michigan seniors to keep more of their hard-earned retirement income. Both efforts, part of broad tax reform and reduction proposals, were vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who had previously expressed her support for pension tax relief.

Last year, I also voted yes to increase our state’s earned income tax credit (EITC) for working Michiganders as part of the broad, bipartisan tax relief that the governor vetoed. The EITC is accurately named because recipients must earn eligibility through employment. The tax credit provides real help to those who need it and serves as an incentive to encourage people to find work. At a time when many working-age Americans are not looking for employment, an increased EITC could help attract more Michigan adults to the workforce. That’s why our bipartisan plan would have increased the state tax credit from 6% to 20% of the federal EITC — more than tripling the current credit. The governor’s disappointing veto came despite her calling for this EITC increase.

Last term, I served as majority vice chair of the House Tax Policy Committee, and I helped shape these tax plans that earned bipartisan support. Now, in a new year, I will continue supporting relief for the people of our state. An EITC increase, retirement tax relief, or any other tax cut for Michiganders is good news.

In 2023, I’ll also continue working to keep Michigan communities — our schools and streets, our homes and houses of worship — safe. In the bipartisan state budget the Legislature and governor approved last year, we provided resources to help local police departments and sheriff’s offices recruit officers. We also funded programs to help build relationships between law enforcement personnel and the people in their communities. Recent budgets I’ve supported also invested in school safety — focusing not only on protecting students’ physical safety, but also on supporting their mental health.

An important facet of public safety is firearm safety, and I’ve spearheaded a bipartisan plan to incentivize safe practices by Michigan gun owners. My plan would provide tax credits to pay for crucial safety training and storage equipment. It would also provide protections for owners who properly store their weapons. Secure storage can prevent violent crimes and horrible accidents by helping keep guns out of the wrong hands.

Economic relief and community safety are two major examples of the bipartisan work I’m doing in Lansing. I’ve also supported record-high funding for Michigan schools, economic development to create new jobs in our state, and common-sense transparency and ethics standards for public officials. I’m ready to keep working with Republicans and Democrats on these and other issues, for the benefit of the people of Michigan.

That’s my outlook for 2023. Thank you, again, for re-electing me to serve you in the Michigan House of Representatives. I’ll keep you posted, right here each month, as I work on your behalf to help Greater Rochester and our great state of Michigan. Happy new year!

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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 55th 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.

January 9, 2023, from the office of 55th District Michigan House Representative Mark A. Tisdel and Rochester.Life