Oakland and Macomb County residents could soon be asked to pay higher property taxes because of legislation passed Thursday afternoon by House Democrats. House Bill 4177, designed to subsidize two Detroit non-profits, was adopted after the Democratic majority rejected amendments offered by state Rep. Tom Kuhn to ensure public oversight and transparency for any non-profit […]

House GOP says funding for Selfridge was never really in danger; calls budget process theater  House Republicans today criticized Democrats who control the Michigan House of Representatives for playing games with funding for Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Gov. Whitmer originally proposed $10 million for Selfridge in next year’s budget. House Democrats then lowered that […]

When a someone who receives Medicaid is arrested, they lose the federally funded health care benefit upon incarceration in a local jail, even if they have not yet been convicted of a crime. This pushes the cost of medical treatment of inmates onto local taxpayers, and it also often disrupts necessary patient care. An amendment […]

State Rep. Tom Kuhn today voted against legislation that would require an apprenticeship degree to work on state construction projects, which he said could prevent qualified people from working. “This change could prevent a 55-year-old welder who has been on the job for 30 years with a credential and certificate from the American Welding Society […]

State Reps. Tom Kuhn and Mark Tisdel on Wednesday urged lawmakers to expand Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act. The lawmakers are sponsors of a package of bills that would expand FOIA to cover the governor’s office and the Legislature. The legislation would also streamline the process to get public records and increase penalties if the […]

The Michigan House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation to name a stretch of M-53 in honor of a Sterling Heights police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1971. If approved by the Senate and signed into law by the governor, the stretch of M-53 in Macomb County that runs north from […]

“Today, the state continued to embrace a broken budgeting process that leaves the public confused and left behind. We participate in these meetings where leaders glaze over huge issues that sound nice on paper but make little sense when you dig into the details. Our budgeting process needs a complete overhaul so we can start focusing more on the details and less on fancy buzzwords.”

“All of our state government needs to be subject to FOIA requests, plain and simple,” said Kuhn, R-Troy. “There are two states in our country that exempt their Legislature and governor from FOIA requests, and we’re one of them. This lack of transparency and accountability is completely unacceptable. Our plan allows for added public oversight of all government and increases penalties for non-compliant public bodies.”

“The most important focus for our community colleges should be student success,” Kuhn said. “Unfortunately, too many students graduate from our high schools with insufficient skills to successfully complete two years of community college. We want to assure that all students who have access to community college, also have access to be successful at the community college level. I don’t see any commitment in the Governor’s State of the State that addresses the need for student success.”

“Families entrust these state-run facilities with the care of their vulnerable loved ones, and they deserve complete transparency if there has been any negligence on the part of the state,” said Kuhn, R-Troy. “The OAG audit will unseal any bad practices and allow the Legislature to have a wholistic view of how these facilities operate. Elected officials have a duty to step in and take corrective action if the facility is giving families in our community substandard care. This audit is the first step in that process.”

“Noise pollution is growing right alongside the size of our interstates,” said Kuhn, R-Troy. “Our common-sense plan creates a process for local municipalities to seek state funding and secure peace and quiet for people living near busy roadways.”

“Probate court considers cases involving the most vulnerable people in times of greatest need,” said Kuhn, R-Troy. “Macomb County needs another judge to ensure high-quality, efficient service. While current judges and staff have made an exemplary effort managing increasing caseloads, news of this addition will certainly be a great early Christmas gift to both the courts and the families who rely on them.”