Rep. Jim Townsends' Site Feed

Rep. Jim Townsend to Host Education Town Hall

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:04:43 -0400

ROYAL OAK - State Representative Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak) will hold a town hall meeting to discuss education in the state of Michigan, how the new budget will impact schools and recent changes passed by the Michigan Legislature along with pending proposals. State Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) will be there to discuss school takeovers in Detroit by way of the governor’s experimental “Educational Achievement Authority” (EAA) and her ongoing Freedom of Information Act request to bring transparency and hold the EAA accountable to the public. State Board of Education President John Austin and Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Vickie L. Markavitch will be on hand to discuss specific initiatives and policies, as well as answer questions.

WHO: State Representative Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak); State Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods); State Board of Education President John Austin; Oakland Schools Superintendent Dr. Vickie L. Markavitch

WHERE: Royal Oak Public Library
222 E. 11 Mile Road
Royal Oak

WHEN: Wednesday, May 22, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Statement from State Rep. Jim Townsend on his opposition to HB 4228, the School Omnibus Appropriations Bill, and HB 4328, the General Government Omnibus Appropriations Bill:

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:27:00 -0400

“I rise in opposition to both the omnibus school funding bill and the omnibus general budget appropriation bill because these proposals fly in the face of Michigan’s core values of opportunity, accountability and fairness. These are the ideals that made our state great, that built the middle class and these values are being sacrificed in these budget proposals.

“Mr. Speaker, by failing to restore the massive cuts made to public education during the last two years, this budget conveys a message to our children that their hard work should not be rewarded with opportunity - the opportunity to go to a great school with the support needed to prepare them for their futures.

“By combining all of our state’s spending in just two bills, the majority is ducking accountability by making it harder for the people and their representatives in Lansing to scrutinize this budget.

“Finally, Mr. Speaker, this budget is anything but fair because this document once again asks our children, our college students, our stuggling families and crumbling communities to continue to sacrifice just to protect a $2 billion tax give-away to corporations.

“I’m voting against these bills for many reasons but chief among them is their failure to expand Medicaid and, in so doing, to deny more than 400,000 Michiganders access to affordable health care. Taking this step would actually save the state of Michigan $200 million because we would be able to draw down federal dollars to expand access to affordable care and reduce the cost that each one of us pays in higher insurance premiums due to uncompensated care. That’s unconscionable.

“Mr. Speaker, Republicans say that their tax giveaways are turning our state around but the truth is that our unemployment rate remains stuck well above 8 percent and is significantly higher than the national unemployment rate. This is our third go-around with budgets from Gov. Rick Snyder and the legislative Republicans and two things are clear: it isn’t working for the great majority of Michiganders and it’s out of step with Michigan values of opportunity, accountability and fairness. I urge my colleagues to vote no.”

Statement from State Rep. Jim Townsend on the need to replace leaking gas pipelines:

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:08:57 -0400

“The explosion caused by a leaking natural gas line on Feb. 27 that killed one man, destroyed one home and damaged 30 others in Royal Oak was a terrible tragedy that may have been prevented. While state agencies and local public safety departments are still trying to understand exactly how the explosion happened, we already know that there are over 3,100 miles of aging iron pipes carrying natural gas across Michigan, and many sections of those pipelines are at risk of corrosion, cracking and rupturing. The owners of these pipelines, responsible agencies and contractors must be held accountable when the lines are allowed to age, leak and cause catastrophes or safety standards are not met. I will be working with the Michigan Public Service Commission, the utility companies, and our local communities to determine the best way to replace the aging pipelines, draft regulations that protect the public and ensure that our communities don’t see more disasters like the one that occurred earlier this year.”

Townsend Appointed to Democratic Vice Chair of Oversight Committee

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:09:32 -0400

LANSING —?? State Representative Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak) received an appointment as the Democratic vice chairman of the House Oversight Committee last week. Townsend also serves on the House committees on Commerce, Tax Policy and Michigan Competitiveness.

“Oversight is a critically important, but not always well honored, responsibility of the state Legislature,” Townsend said. “I look forward to working with the chairman of the committee and members on both sides of the aisle to make sure that state government is held accountable for delivering on the promises it makes to the people.”

Recent legislation referred to the Oversight Committee includes proposals from Reps. Theresa Abed (D-Grand Ledge) and Tom Cochran (D-Mason) that would require the state and local governments to award contracts to Michigan-based companies when possible, and Townsend’s HB 4236, which requires a cost-benefit analysis of proposals to privatize government functions.

“I’m ready to get to work in the Oversight Committee to move forward legislation that will improve Michigan’s economy and create more high-paying jobs for our people,” Townsend said.

Rep. Townsend Helps Citizens Understand Tax Changes at Town Hall

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:06:17 -0400

MADISON HEIGHTS - State Representative Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak) helped local residents understand new changes to Michigan’s income tax, including the reduction of the Homestead Property Tax Exemption Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, at a town hall meeting held Monday evening.

“With the due date for taxes drawing near, more families are seeing exactly what the changes to Michigan’s tax code mean to them,” Townsend said. “Many credits and deductions middle-class families relied on are reduced or gone. For some, the size of their refund has been slashed. Others will write a larger check to the state than ever before.”

Over the past two years, the Republican-led state Legislature increased taxes on middle-class families to fund a $1.8 billion tax break for corporations. The Homestead Property Tax Exemption Credit was slashed, and 400,000 taxpayers who used to qualify for it no longer do. The Earned Income Tax Credit has been reduced from 20 percent of the federal credit to 6 percent, further harming working families. The $600 per-child tax deduction and charitable giving deduction have been entirely eliminated as well.

Jim Reinert of Reinert and Co. of Royal Oak and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants and Michigan State University economics professor Charles Ballard helped answer people’s questions at the town hall.

“Michigan’s families are clearly saying that these tax changes are making it harder for them to pay bills, buy groceries and save for retirement or college,” Townsend said. “I voted against this harmful tax shift and continue to restore equity to our tax code so that everyone, including wealthy CEOs, pays their fair share of the public goods on which all of us rely.”

Townsend Joins Bipartisan, Tri-County Effort to Protect DIA, Zoo Millages

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:25:00 -0400

LANSING — Democrats and Republicans from Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties joined together to introduce a package of legislation aimed at protecting the voter-approved millages for the Detroit Zoo and the Detroit Institute of Arts. The legislation would prevent cities from redirecting revenue raised to support the zoo and the DIA for unrelated local purposes. A total of $756,000 has been diverted thus far.

“When the issue came to light, we wanted to demonstrate our commitment to voters?? that their vote should not be ignored or circumvented,” said State Rep. Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak). “By creating a coalition from both parties and all counties that passed these millages, we have demonstrated true good governance. I’m honored to be able to work for two of our region’s cultural touchstones.”

The laws in question are part of the Tax Increment Finance Authority Act, passed in 1980 as a way to foster economic revitalization in urban areas and increase neighborhood reinvestment. They have been largely successful under their more popular form: the Downtown Development Authority, or DDA.

“The bills we have introduced clarify and ensure that the voters’ intention to provide for these cultural icons is protected,” said Townsend. “While I do understand the plight of our local municipalities and their incredible budget constraints —?? particularly as the state continues to decrease revenue sharing and property values have reached historical lows — taking from a dedicated millage is not the way to solve the problem.”

Other Representatives who are a part of the coalition include: Reps. Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford), Harold Haugh (D-Roseville), Gail Haines (R-Waterford), Jeff Farrington (R-Utica), Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake) and Speaker Pro Tempore John Walsh (R-Livonia).

Rep. Jim Townsend to Host Town Hall on Tax Equity

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:52:59 -0400

MADISON HEIGHTS — State Representative Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak) will hold a town hall meeting to discuss tax equity in the state of Michigan, and recent changes to the tax code. Tax professional Jim Reinert of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants will be on-hand to answer questions, and economics professor Charles Ballard from Michigan State University will be there to discuss income disparity and progressivity in Michigan’s tax system.

WHO: State Representative Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak); Professor Charles Ballard, Department of Economics at Michigan State University; Jim Reinert, Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.

WHERE: Madison Heights Senior Center
29448 John R. Road
Madison Heights

WHEN: Monday, March 18, from 7 to 8:30 pm