Senator Jim Runestad's Press Releases
It’s Tax Day: Runestad calls for state income tax cut
LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jim Runestad on Tuesday urged Senate Democrats to take up legislation passed by the House last month that would roll back Michigan’s income tax rate from 4.25% to 4.05%. “It might be Tax Day across the United States, but it’s past time for the Senate to get serious about relieving the tax burden on the hardworking people of Michigan,” said Runestad,
Runestad, Bellino urge defunding of sanctuary communities, colleges, universities
LANSING, Mich. — Sens. Jim Runestad and Joseph Bellino on Thursday called on the Michigan Senate to withhold state dollars from colleges, universities, and local communities that work to defy federal immigration laws as part of legislation closing out the fiscal year budget. “Our public universities and community colleges receive hundreds of millions of dollars from taxpayers every year — that’s the people’s money being given
Runestad blasts ‘failed corporate handouts’ as battery maker leaves state
LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Jim Runestad on Tuesday criticized Michigan’s economic development programs under the leadership of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer following reports that an electric vehicle battery manufacturer that banked $900,000 in business development grants will close two plants and lay off nearly 200 workers as it moves production out of state. “This is just the latest example of our governor’s short-sighted, failed corporate handouts hurting
Runestad on State of the State: ‘There is a better way forward for Michigan’
LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, on Wednesday released the following statement in response to the governor’s annual State of the State address: “Gov. Whitmer has a lot of ideas. But the past six years have proven that they aren’t always good ideas. “Sadly, the reality is that the state of our state under Gov. Whitmer’s leadership is crumbling — crumbling roads and
Runestad refuses to support government overreach on small businesses, workers
LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, released the following statement after voting no Thursday evening on Senate Bill 8: “This bill was a bad compromise and a bad deal for Michigan workers and small businesses. I refuse to support legislation that will ultimately harm workers and countless small businesses because of government overreach. If we want to see real positive change in Michigan’s
Runestad criticizes lukewarm FOIA expansion, reluctantly votes yes
LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jim Runestad on Wednesday supported the passage of Senate Bills 1 and 2 to expand Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provisions to include the legislative and executive branches while also urging for continued work to ensure greater government transparency in Michigan. “Michigan consistently ranks among the worst states for government transparency — and while these bills are a step in the