Senator Jim Runestad's Press Releases

LANSING, Mich. — State Sens. Jim Runestad, and Ruth Johnson on Tuesday introduced legislation intended to require the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) and Detroit Zoo to comply with Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act and Michigan’s Open Meetings Act. “With public funding, comes public accountability,” said Runestad, R-White Lake. “Voters in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties contribute millions to the DIA and Detroit Zoological Society annually through

LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jim Runestad on Tuesday reissued his call to fund a special investigator to look into the Whitmer administration’s COVID-19 nursing home policies after an independent report by Michigan’s auditor general confirmed that Michigan’s health department had underreported deaths of patients in nursing homes by 42%. “From this independent report by Michigan’s own auditor general, we now know that more than 8,000 Michiganders

LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jim Runestad, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, on Friday called upon the Legislature to work together to pass tax cuts in response to the vote of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) report today, which confirmed a record projected revenue forecast in Michigan. The CREC reported a total general fund and school aid fund for the fiscal year of $28.5 billion and

LANSING, Mich. — The state Senate on Tuesday approved an end-of-year budget bill that includes a $100,000 request from Sen. Jim Runestad to support mental health services for students, teachers, parents, administrators and first responders in the Oxford High School community. “The tragedy that took place at Oxford High School on Nov. 30 changed the lives of many teens, teachers and families in ways that those of us on

LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Jim Runestad on Thursday introduced a bill that he says will fix a campaign finance loophole recently exploited by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to fundraise beyond set contribution limits. “Finance reports filed in July and October showed our governor has stockpiled millions from jumbo-sized contributions — including some in the six-figure range — above the $7,150 individual limit currently set for gubernatorial campaigns,” said Runestad, R-White

LANSING, Mich. — The Senate on Thursday passed Sen. Jim Runestad’s legislation seeking to save local communities from increased road repair costs that are associated with the use of federal funding. “The state is in a good position to help local agencies focus more funds on fixing roads instead of devoting precious resources complying with burdensome federal administrative requirements,” said Runestad. R-White Lake. “A more efficient use of