Senator Jim Runestad's Press Releases

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

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

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

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

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

LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jim Runestad on Thursday sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer demanding her administration follow President Donald J. Trump’s lead and “immediately halt all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies related to hiring, training, and spending practices.” “On Nov. 5, the people of Michigan voted to end this type of nonsense and return effectiveness and efficiency to government,” wrote Runestad, R-White