Rep. Woodrow Stanleys' Site Feed

Democrats Announce Support for Legislation to Bring Pay Equity to Michigan

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:02:23 -0400

State Representatives Pam Faris (D-Clio), Charles Smiley (D-Burton), Jim Ananich (D-Flint) and Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) announced their support for legislation today to create pay equity in Michigan. Full-time working women in the state make 74 percent as much as their male counterparts, even less than the nationwide gap of 77 percent.

“I am happy to be a part of the Democratic Caucus’ efforts to ensure pay fairness in the workforce,” said Faris. “I look forward to the day when women receive equal pay for equal work. We’ve known since the days of Rosie the Riveter that women make important contributions in our workforce. This is 2013, not 1913.”

Smiley said, â��It is an injustice that women in Michigan make 26 percent less than a man who performs the same job.â��

April 9 is recognized as Pay Equity Day because it is the calendar date by which women catch up to their male counterparts in earnings from the previous year. Women’s groups around the nation use the occasion to highlight the issue of income inequality. Michigan House Democrats are marking the day by introducing a package of bills to bring pay equity to our state. The package includes legislation to:

â�¢ Prohibit an employer from failing to provide equal compensation for work of comparable value for several reasons, including sex

â�¢ Create penalties for employers who pay different wages to men and women who are “similarly situated” â�� employees with similar qualifications, experience, etc.

â�¢ Create a state commission on pay equity

â�¢ Require an employer to provide, at an employee’s request, wage information for “similarly situated employees”

“Putting more money in the pockets of people who work hard to earn it helps our economy and creates jobs,” said Ananich. “These measures are long overdue, and they will provide fairness and opportunities to working families in Genesee County and across Michigan.”

Stanley said, “Women make up half of the U.S. labor force. In order to grow our economy at the national, state and local levels, we need women participating on an even playing field. Equal pay for equal work is not only morally right, but it makes good business sense.”

Stanley Bill Protects Against Rising Auto Insurance Costs

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:30:07 -0400

LANSING â�� State Representative Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) recently proposed legislation that would make it illegal for insurance companies to use credit checks as a means of establishing insurance premiums.The insurance industry says it has solid research information that correlates credit scores with the likelihood of accidents. However, Stanley does not believe this to be true.

“This supposed research doesnâ��t seem very natural or fair,” Stanley said. “That claim is unbelievable, unfair and unreasonable. The people of Michigan deserve better.”

Another bill would require public housing to give mobility-impaired people first choice on ground floor apartments when leasing.

“It is important that we protect people who can’t always speak for themselves,” said Stanley. “We need to protect our elderly, disabled and mobility-impaired Michiganders. These bills do exactly that, and in a bi-partisan manner.”

Rep. Stanley's Support Helps Land Flint Blight Elimination Grant

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

State Representative Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) has helped secure an increase in funding for blight elimination in Flint. Following the recent national foreclosure settlement case, Stanley voiced concern over the absence of attention to blight and abandonment.

â��This problem has been especially catastrophic to neighborhoods and communities like Flint, but blight truly defies geography,” Stanley said. “Given the pervasiveness of this problem, it is difficult to put a price tag on what would be a reasonable starting point.â��

Stanley addressed these concerns in a discussion with Attorney General Bill Schuette. Following the conversation, Schuette announced that more than $11 million is being designated to blight elimination in Michigan, and more than $9 million will go to the Michigan Housing and Community Development Fund. These grants will supplement work currently administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, which partners with the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority and other local governmental agencies to address the problem of blight.

The city of Flint is slated to be awarded 3.7 million dollars from MSHDA in blight elimination dollars. “I am very proud of the Mayorâ��s office, Land Bank, County Treasure office, Flint Area Reinvestment Office and the collaboration it took to make this happen,” said Stanley. “It is important to use these funds to continue our economic recovery.”

Statement from State Representative Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) on the Governor's Budget Proposal:

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

“I was disappointed in but not surprised by Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget presentation today. The governor and his Republican allies continue to underfund public education and have done nothing to replace the millions of dollars taken away from our local communities in the form of revenue sharing. With his call for a 14-cent hike in the gas tax and raising vehicle registration fees by as much as $118 per vehicle per year, he continues to overburden working Michiganders so that corporations won’t have to pay their fair share in taxes. I will stand with my Democratic colleagues in fighting against these proposals and supporting families, kids and seniors by fully funding education, restoring revenue sharing and bringing tax fairness back to Michigan.”

Stanley Holds Home Heating Information Session for Seniors

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

FLINT — State Representative Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) held an event for seniors today to provide information regarding home heating assistance. More than 75 members of the community attended the event at the Hassellbring Senior Center in Flint. Stanley was joined by representatives from several agencies and organizations, including the Department of Human Services, the Public Service Commission, Consumers Energy and AARP.

“Protecting seniors is a priority I take very seriously,” Stanley said. “Working with various state agencies, such as PSC and DHS, we must provide the necessary services to ensure that no senior goes without home heating this winter.”

Stanley and the other officials present for the event answered questions from residents and provided information about services that are available to those who need help heating their home. In particular, Stanley drew attention to utility companies helping seniors in need.

“I want to personally applaud Consumers Energy for the work they do to prevent seniors from suffering adverse effects in this very cold winter,” Stanley said. “In addition, my office is always available to help residents who need assistance.”

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Reps. Irwin, Stanley Seek to Make Voting Easier

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

LANSING — State Representatives Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) have reintroduced legislation that makes it easier for Michigan residents to vote. Despite no action being taken on the bills in the last legislative session, the lawmakers are determined to make it easier for Michiganders to participate in the democratic process.

Irwin’s bill, HB 4058, would allow voters to file an absentee ballot without justification. Currently, Michigan voters must give a reason for submitting an absentee ballot, such as being out of town during voting hours on Election Day. Gov. Rick Snyder mentioned no-reason absentee voting in his State of the State address, and both he and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson support the measure.

“As elected officials, we should take every available step to remove barriers to voting,” Irwin said. “This proposal has bipartisan support, and I look forward to seeing action on this bill this year.”

Stanley’s bill, HB 4103, would establish early voting in Michigan. The November election saw some Michigan voters waiting in line for hours to cast their ballot. Michigan would join more than 30 other states that offer early voting.

“Voting is among our most fundamental civil rights, and the bedrock of our system of government,” Stanley said. “We can ease cities’ burden of counting absentee ballots, and more time to vote means more voter participation. That’s something we should all embrace.”

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State Rep. Stanley Responds to Governor's State of the State

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

FLINT — State Representative Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) responded to Gov. Rick Snyder’s State of the State address with skepticism about appeals for bipartisanship and worry about policies that could hurt working families.

“After gutting the Earned Income Tax Credit, creating a pension tax and passing right-to-work, this partisan governor is asking for bipartisanship,” Stanley said. “It is as if Gov. Snyder wants to put lipstick on the pig. He and Speaker (Jase) Bolger’s agenda is as partisan as it gets.”

In his State of the State address, Gov. Snyder did not mention middle-class tax cuts, relief for seniors who now pay taxes on retirement income or restoring $2 billion in education funding. He continued his support for the Education Achievement Authority, which paves the way for school vouchers and allows for-profit corporations to take over public schools. Michigan drivers would also pay more in annual car registration fees under Snyder’s infrastructure plan, and possible reform to Michigan’s No-Fault Insurance law could limit benefits for car accident victims.

“Gov. Snyder is not working for common ground or shared sacrifices if he is asking to raise driver registration fee that is nothing more than another Republican regressive tax,” Stanley said. “We need a sound plan, not something that continues to hurt the working class.”

Stallworth and MLBC Colleagues Challenge Governor on No-Bid Contracts

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:57:19 -0500

DETROIT - State Representative Thomas Stallworth (D-Detroit), and Michigan Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC) members Representatives Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) and Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit), and state Senator Virgil K. Smith (D-Detroit) today called on Gov. Rick Snyder and State Treasurer Andy Dillon to require greater accountability from vendors who contract to provide services for distressed communities under either consent agreements or emergency managers.

“The public needs to know that their tax dollars are being spent efficiently and wisely when officials in fiscally challenged communities, such as Detroit, sign contracts for services with vendors,” said Stallworth. “These vendors need to be transparent and accountable and that isn’t happening right now. We simply need more information so that we know that these contracts are appropriate and will actually help Detroit and these other communities.”

Stallworth and members of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus addressed these issues in a letter they all signed and sent to Snyder last May. They called on state officials to prioritize using state and local vendors whenever possible in distressed communities. Doing so would help strengthen local businesses, which is a critical component to righting struggling local governments. Just this week, the Detroit City Council approved about $13 million in no-bid contracts as part of the consent agreement the city has with the state. Those contracts won approval, but Detroit citizens know little to nothing about these vendors or how residents’ tax dollars will be spent in these contracts.

“No-bid contracts are not a best practice for securing services. Officials tasked with turning around distressed communities should seek the best value possible when using public dollars,” said Stanley. “Residents deserve to know that vendors are really doing what is right for their community, and they’ll know that by demanding accountability, transparency and using more local vendors to provide these services.”

“We want what is best for our communities, so I would think that anyone could agree that, especially in these distressed communities, we should work with, and not against, community members to solve these problems,” said Smith (D-Detroit)

Since the governor took office, a number of communities and school districts have been given emergency managers, while Detroit has a consent agreement. Last November, voters rejected Public Act 4, the governor’s rewrite of the original emergency financial manager law.

“Detroit and other distressed communities will truly be on the road to fiscal sustainability when Michigan companies are growing and hiring,” said Tinsley-Talabi. “The best implementation of the governor’s ‘economic gardening’ idea is to focus on working with local businesses and vendors to help turn these communities around.”

House Dems Oppose Bills Aimed at Suppressing Voter Turnout

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:12:00 -0400

LANSING - Michigan House Democrats today challenged a Republican-sponsored package of bills - Senate Bills 751, 754, 803, 823 and 824 - intended to make registering to vote and voting itself more difficult for Michigan voters. State Representatives Barb Byrum (Onondaga), David Nathan (Detroit) and Woodrow Stanley (Flint), the Democratic members of the House Redistricting and Elections Committee, offered numerous amendments to the proposed pieces of legislation. Each bill targets a particular area of election and campaign finance laws. Proposed changes include creating an inactive voter file for voters who do not vote for six consecutive years, requiring photo ID when individuals register to vote, adding new, burdensome requirements for third-party voter registration organizations, and requiring voters to affirmatively state they are U.S. citizens on an application prior to voting. Democrats especially are troubled that Republicans are pushing these bills in a major presidential election year, when maximizing voter turnout is essential to a fair election process.

“Popular, free elections are the bedrock of democracy in America, and any attempt to disenfranchise qualified voters is shameful and must be challenged,” said Byrum, democratic vice-chair of the House Redistricting and Elections Committee. “For House Republicans to waste valuable time in order to find even more ways to block voters from the polls and ballots is profoundly disturbing. This whole package of legislation shows just how out of touch my Republican colleagues are. They’re discouraging eligible voters, instead of including them in the process.”

House Democrats offered a number of amendments to this Republican-backed package of bills. The following are some of their key amendments:

Add language requiring that all provisions in this section will be conducted in compliance with federal law (Nathan)
Require that the Secretary of State has to develop the training program immediately upon the effective date of the bill and make the trainings available in Lansing and online (Nathan)
Allow online voter registration on the Secretary of State’s and clerks’ websites (Stanley)
Exempt overseas military voters from being required to check-off the citizenship question (Byrum)
Repeal the requirement that an individual’s driver’s license address be the same as his or her address for voting registration purposes (Nathan)
Pre-register 16 year and 17 year olds to vote when they go to the Secretary of State to get their driver’s license and auto-registered at 18; allow early voting; allow no-reason absentee voting; allow same-day voter registration (Stanley)
Require that “robo” communications clearly state the name and address of the person paying for the communication. (State Representative Lisa Brown, West Bloomfield)
Require tough disclosure requirements in campaign finance spending and to prevent state contractors, companies that accept federal bail-out money, and foreign-controlled corporations from spending money in Michigan elections in light of the Citizens United Supreme Court case (State Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton, Huntington Woods)

“This legislation is the most egregious example of using the election reform process to deprive the right to vote to groups such as seniors, minorities, and low-income Michiganders,” said Nathan. “For example, SB 754 requires a person to present a picture ID in order to register to vote and requires unnecessary, unreasonable and burdensome requirements on organizations that are critical in assisting citizens, such as voters in minority communities in taking the first step to complete a voter registration application.”

“These bills represent the Republicans’ hostility towards the full Michigan electorate,” said Stanley. “Making it harder for citizens to vote serves only one purpose. It makes it easier to avoid the full will of the people of Michigan. Republicans fear more voters, because they fear those voters will use their ballots to oppose the Republicans’ recent assaults on middle-class workers, seniors, students and local governments. The Democrats will continue to fight these senseless attacks on voting rights, which generations of Americans gave their lives to protect.”