Motions and Resolutions:
008 - HR 365 (Tlaib) A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to provide an extension of unemployment benefits.
Messages from the Senate:
028 - HB 5921 (Lipton) Income tax; credit; small business investment credit; create.
030 - HB 4583 (Roy Schmidt) Health; testing; requirement to obtain informed consent before testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); eliminate, and provide option to decline test in writing.
031 - HB 5887 (Terry Brown) Appropriations; school aid; school aid appropriations; provide for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Third Reading:
032 - SB 374 (Jelinek) Land use; other; remonumentation of the Indiana-Michigan state line; provide for.
038 - SB 589 (Kahn) Highways; signs; existing sign structures; allow interim permits.
Second Reading:
045 - SB 419 (Kuipers) Health; blood; blood donation; allow at age 16 with parental consent.
049 - SB 149 (Patterson) Communications; internet; obtaining personal information by false pretenses; prohibit.
050 - SB 150 (Patterson) Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for crime of obtaining personal information by false pretenses; modify.
100 - SB 980 (Gilbert) Vehicles; equipment; warning lights and alarms on commercial snow removal vehicles; require under certain circumstances.
112 - SB 750 (Pappageorge) Controlled substances; forfeiture of property; procedure for demolition of certain seized properties; establish, and allow property to be donated to certain nonprofit and governmental organizations.
117 - SB 1115 (Hardiman) Businesses; nonprofit corporations; conversion of municipal health facilities corporations into nonprofit corporations; allow.
118 - SB 1135 (Allen) Economic development; renaissance zones; eligibility for tool and die zones; modify.
126 - SB 470 (Sanborn) Liquor; retail sales; tagging of certain beer kegs; require.
141 - SB 1091 (Sanborn) Occupations; professional investigators; persons exempt from professional investigator licensure act; expand to include certified public accountants and public accounting firms.
146 - SB 796 (Cassis) Michigan business tax; credit; qualified film production credit confidentiality provision reporting provisions; eliminate and revise.
147 - SB 889 (Cassis) Taxation; administration; disclosure of certain film office credits; allow.
148 - SB 1100 (Olshove) Children; child care; applicants for child care licensing; require to comply with same standards as their employees.
149 - SB 1101 (Nofs) Human services; adult foster care; applicants for adult foster care licensing; require to comply with same standards as their employees.
150 - SB 1102 (Olshove) Human services; other; applicants for home for the aged licensing; require to comply with same standards as their employees.
169 - SB 1402 (Gleason) Education; curricula; model program for gun safety instruction for elementary school pupils; provide for, and encourage schools to adopt and implement.
177 - SB 1126 (McManus) Elections; school; scheduling of school district election coordinating committee meetings; revise.
178 - SB 276 (Jelinek) Traffic control; violations; objects suspended from rearview mirror; remove from prohibition.
182 - SB 395 (Kahn) Property tax; assessments; assessment notice; revise time to 30 days.
183 - SB 715 (Van Woerkom) Drains; financing; notice of review of apportionment of benefits; require additional information.
191 - SB 34 (Richardville) Natural resources; funding; waterways account; provide for allowable expenditures.
211 - SB 1196 (Cropsey) Higher education; governing boards; authority to set amount of civil fines for certain civil infractions; revise.
214 - SB 1320 (Van Woerkom) Property; conveyances; conveyance of certain state-owned property to Free Soil township; provide for.
216 - SB 212 (Kahn) Law enforcement; other; police agency to retain certain confiscated weapons for use by that police agency; amend firearms act to allow under certain circumstances.
217 - SB 223 (Basham) Identity theft; penalties; forfeiture provisions; establish, and increase penalties for identity theft.
219 - SB 225 (Basham) Identity theft; penalties; prosecutorial jurisdiction for certain counterfeit debit, credit card, and driver license offenses; expand.
220 - SB 226 (Basham) Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for increased penalties for certain identity theft protection act violations; enact.
222 - SB 1056 (Cropsey) Courts; district court; places where district court is required to sit; revise for districts of the second class and clarify authority of presiding judges in districts of the second class.
223 - SB 1376 (Cropsey) Probate; trusts; technical amendments to the Michigan trust code; provide for.
224 - SB 1377 (Clarke) Probate; trusts; cross-reference to the estates and protected individuals code in the cemetery regulation act; correct to reflect adoption of Michigan trust code.
225 - SB 1378 (Stamas) Probate; trusts; cross-reference to the estates and protected individuals code in the prepaid funeral and cemetery sales act; correct to reflect adoption of Michigan trust code.
226 - SB 1233 (Allen) Economic development; brownfield redevelopment authority; incentives to invest in transit-oriented facilities and transit-oriented development; provide for.
227 - SB 1464 (Nofs) Townships; other; definition of noxious weeds; amend to allow townships to determine which are a common nuisance.
228 - SB 1413 (Allen) Occupations; auctioneers; regulation of certain presale auction services; provide for.
229 - SB 1493 (Allen) Liquor; licenses; minimum seating capacity for license issued in a development district; revise.
230 - SB 138 (Garcia) State financing and management; funds; Michigan strategic fund; provide technical amendment for the defense contract coordination center.
232 - SB 1528 (Jansen) Businesses; charitable organizations; charitable solicitation; require registration and make general revisions to charitable organizations and solicitations act.
233 - SB 1529 (Jansen) State financing and management; purchasing; sheltered workshops and work activity centers; replace with community rehabilitation organizations.
234 - SB 1577 (Jansen) Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for violations to the charitable organizations and solicitations act; enact.
235 - SB 194 (Richardville) Criminal procedure; sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for crime of returning nonreturnable containers; enact.
236 - SB 1564 (Birkholz) Environmental protection; hazardous waste; treatment, storage, or disposal facility siting process; revise.
HB 6557 (Johnson) Income tax; city; maximum income tax rate for certain cities; increase, and eliminate reduction provisions.
HCR 63 (Cushingberry) A concurrent resolution approving the conveyance of property to the State Building Authority and approving a lease between the State of Michigan and the State Building Authority relative to the Michigan State Police Headquarters.
HR 367 (Oakes) A resolution to urge the United States Postal Service to keep open the Saginaw, Michigan, mail processing and distribution center.
SB 48 (Kahn) State; buildings; flags flown at state buildings; require to be made in the United States.
SB 77 (Gilbert) Property tax; principal residence exemption; elimination of May 1 filing deadline and proration of exemption; provide for.
SB 192 (Cassis) Michigan business tax; other; certain payments for construction management, architectural, and engineering services as purchases from other firms; include.
SB 283 (Jelinek) Property tax; assessments; certain nonprofit and habitat for humanity homes; assess at sale price.
SB 810 (Jelinek) State agencies (existing); natural resources; powers and duties of the department of environmental quality under general property tax act; transfer to the department of natural resources.
SB 825 (Allen) Insurance; insurers; cap on risk or hazard loss; increase.
SB 883 (Cassis) Sales tax; collections; streamlined sales and use tax revenue equalization act; provide credit for sales tax paid on core charge of heavy earthmoving equipment.
SB 944 (Allen) Michigan business tax; credit; historic rehabilitation credit; revise.
SB 955 (Brown) Gaming; horse racing; racing commissioner; abolish, and transfer duties to director of the department of agriculture.
SB 1118 (Gilbert) Children; parental rights; provision relating to termination of parental rights; modify.
SB 1119 (Jacobs) Children; parental rights; procedure for proof of termination; modify.
SB 1120 (Hunter) Children; parental rights; provision relating to parent who voluntarily surrendered a child to an emergency service provider; eliminate.
SB 1150 (McManus) Appropriations; zero budget; capital outlay; provide for fiscal year 2010-2011.
SB 1237 (Birkholz) Health facilities; certificate of need; criteria for certificate of need for relocation of certain health facility's beds; expand to include adequate access to public transportation.
SB 1253 (Birkholz) Health facilities; employees; criminal history background check; clarify process to eliminate subsequent checks when possible and consolidate mental health and adult foster care facilities under public health code.
SB 1254 (Stamas) Human services; adult foster care; criminal history background check; conduct in the same manner as required under the public health code.
SB 1255 (Thomas) Mental health; other; criminal history background check for mental health care; conduct in same manner as required under the public health code.
SB 1269 (Gleason) Highways; name; renaming a portion of I-475; designate as "Mark Ingram Memorial Highway".
SB 1284 (Cassis) Education; school districts; certain school districts to implement intervention program; provide for.
SB 1396 (Van Woerkom) Occupations; agriculture; grain dealer's fees; modify.
SB 1397 (Van Woerkom) Trade; other; claims from farm produce insurance fund; revise eligibility requirements and authorize payments to state for certain enforcement costs.
SB 1421 (Cassis) Education; special; requirement for school psychologist participation in educational development plan for pupils receiving special education services; restore.
SB 1484 (Cropsey) Corrections; other; authority for correctional industries to engage in certain private manufacturing or service enterprises; provide for.
SB 1485 (Cropsey) Corrections; other; provisions relating to purchase of correctional industries products; revise.
SB 1499 (Allen) Veterans; benefits; eligibility for certain veterans to use state run veteran's homes; clarify.
SB 1509 (Kuipers) Education; teachers; teacher performance evaluation system; modify certain requirements and create a model evaluation system.
SB 1525 (Richardville) Financial institutions; loan officers; provision relating to surety bond obligation for mortgage loan originators; modify.
SB 1527 (McManus) Property tax; limitation; definition of property tax limitation for current year; update.
SB 1558 (George) Property; conveyances; transfer of certain state-owned property in Genesee county; provide for.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Testimony on Regulatory Concerns Regarding Dioxin
State Representative Kenneth B. Horn
Testimony before the EPA Science Advisory Board Dioxin Review Panel Public Meeting October 27, 2010
Park Hyatt Washington Hotel, 1201 24th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
In listening to the previous testimony; I kind of feel as if I’m the half-time show of a Scientific Super Bowl of Debate over the effects of Dioxin.
I sincerely hope to put a very human face on the regulatory implications of the outcome of the SAB’s technical and scientific deliberation.
A significant portion of the Tittabassee River flows through Saginaw County, Michigan and the 94th House District, which I currently serve.
Before taking this office, in my role as a Saginaw County Commissioner, I witnessed the closing of our county parks; and Health Department warnings to halt recreational activities near the river.
Dioxin, unfortunately, became a household word in this region.
I truly appreciate the role of the EPA and our own Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE). We will continue to work together to make public health and a clean environment a top priority for the State of Michigan.
While we are a grateful and patient community, we are also a practical population of people; and we’ve been dealing with the promises of clean up for a very long time.
Make no mistake that health and safety are the top priority; and that the citizens of the region have been calling for sound science to help guide us through this process.
Just to give you a flavor of what we’ve experienced; layers of government and conflicting standards have caused us no end of grief.
At 90 parts per trillion, Michigan, through its MDNRE maintains one of the strictest standards for dioxin clean up in the nation. They’ll find a hot spot in one area, and not be able to find it two days later.
The EPA currently offers a site specific standard, which seems to make more sense to us.
From a personal perspective; Saginaw County residents were anxious to hear the results of the University of Michigan report on Human Exposure, led by Dr. David Garabrant.
We also waited for a Michigan State University study on Animal Wildlife Exposure.
We are confident that the science behind these studies is sound and that human and animal health is at little risk while the cleanup work progresses.
We are willing to wait for good science, but are frustrated at each turn; as some new regulatory policy or inter-departmental challenge arises to put off cleanup, once again.
We residents of the area are simply looking for a little common sense.
We celebrated as the EPA re-established authority over the Tittabawasee River cleanup; but, frankly, were shocked as hundreds of trees including many ancient oaks were destroyed in one of the areas of concern.
Certainly, the process of clean up cannot include that type of brute force the entire length of the river, and into Saginaw Bay.
We find it difficult to justify the destruction of nature in the name of protecting nature.
To get more to my point, my greatest concern is that the uncertainty caused by new remediation standards may cause cleanups that are currently underway; to halt, change dramatically and be delayed unnecessarily, once again.
To that end, while the EPA describes new standards as “preliminary” and “interim,” their practical effect has real consequences.
Given the potential adverse impact on the people of my district, it is important to proceed with great caution on this critical matter.
On behalf of the 210,000 people of Saginaw County, I ask that you ensure that the Dioxin Preliminary Remediation Goals selected by EPA are fully reviewed by the scientific community; and hold off new standards until EPA has completed the reassessment.
We live here; we want our lives and our property back. And while we’re restless for a reasonable resolution; we continue to advocate for a solution based in sound science.
We believe strongly that delaying the cleanup unnecessarily will hinder the economic advancement that we are working so hard to cultivate in Saginaw County.
Our request is clear; please do not arbitrarily or capriciously change the rules, one more time, without some strong evidence to indicate that a change is absolutely required.
Do not let perfection be the enemy of the great progress that has been made in this particular cleanup effort.
I certainly appreciate the attention you’ve given to preserve the health of the people in my district and for the protection of our precious natural resources.
On behalf of the people of Saginaw County, thank you for this opportunity to share my community’s concern with you
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Evidence that teaching takes a special person
The profession of teaching is truly a calling. I found the following submissions in my email last night and wanted to share them with you. I had fun captioning the work of these students, but... you're welcome to give them a shot yourself.
**************************************
Obviously... a Parochial School Student!
***************************************
All it takes is one visit to Tip-Up Town!
****************************************
Yeah... I'm not a big fan of Shakespeare, either
***************************************
Hey... where'd that elephant come from???
****************************************
I know Tracey... I'm not touching this one!
***************************************
OO7 out of 100, that is!
****************************************
It's a "Where's Waldo" mentality?
*************************************
Close... but no cigar!
*************************************
Well... it's true!
**************************************
I tried to learn it, but it's all Greek to me!
**************************************
This student is either bad at science or bad at English.
Don't know for sure!
**************************************
See, 2+4 equals just the right amount of animals
***************************************
A very courteous young student, it seems!
****************************************
I see a real future in Tort Law, for this kid!
***************************************
Immediately followed up by a "Second Childhood", by the way!
***********************************************
There they go, trying to teach that Latin again!
***************************************
Normally, I'd disagree. But, since she added the hearts, well...
*****************************************
The politics of science?
************************************
Obviously a college student!
***************************************
Sometimes... it's dangerous to text while walking!
****************************************
No chair??? Oh... the humanity!
**************************************
Brian Wilson was no Einstein, but he was a good song writer
*************************************
Heck... I thought it protected the Irish Whiskey from the Guinness Stout drinkers
***************************************
I hear that it's really humid there, with a lot of mosquitoes
***************************************
Sorry officer...I don't know how fast I was traveling.
I forgot to charge my T130XA Scientific Calculator
*****************************************
Be sure to hug a teacher today :)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Still Working to Restore the Promise Scholarship
September 22, 2010
Chair, House Tax Policy Committee
990 House Office Building
Lansing, MI 48909
Dear Madam Chair:
House Bill 5376, which I introduced, has been before the House Tax Policy Committee since September of 2009. The bill maintains our commitment to Michigan Promise Scholarship recipients by providing a tax credit in the amount of the scholarship that we withheld in 2009 when the program was discontinued.
Earlier today, the House Education Committee held a hearing on House Bill 6453, which also provides a tax credit to Promise Scholarship recipients. I would point out that House Bill 6453 was introduced just one day prior to notice of the hearing while my proposal has been sitting without a hearing for one full year. In addition, I would suggest that HB 6453 is highly problematic in terms of revenue when compared to my original proposal.
Under House Bill 6453, any portion of the Promise Scholarship tax credit that exceeds the student's tax liability shall be immediately refunded. If sufficient revenues existed to provide recipients with $4,000 over the course of one year, I highly doubt we would have discontinued the program in the first place.
In my original proposal, the credit is non-refundable but eligibility continues over multiple years until the full amount is claimed by the student. This reduces the impact in any given budget year and offsets the credit with additional sales and property taxes paid by the recipient.
Use of a non-refundable tax credit spread over multiple years also offers greater opportunity to keep our young professionals working here in Michigan. Conversely, House Bill 6453 requires only one year of residency after students finish their degree.
Finally, House Bill 6453 is extremely vague as it deals with Michigan Promise Zones. Any diversion of funds from students to a largely unfunded and untested authority should be troubling to parents as it alters the nature of the promise that Michigan made.
With this letter, I would like to restate my request for a hearing, and urge you to contemplate the more effective policy offered in House Bill 5376. I look forward to your consideration.
Sincerely,
Kenneth B. Horn
State Representative
Michigan’s 94th District
Bills being considered in the Michigan House: Sept. 23, 2010
Tentative House Agenda - Thursday, September 23, 2010
Second Reading:
HB 5368 (Terry Brown) Agriculture; fertilizer; phosphorus fertilizer; restrict use of on turf.
SB 185 (Garcia) Housing; landlord and tenants; early lease termination; allow for certain victims of domestic assault.
HB 5977 (Byrnes) Local government; intergovernmental affairs; intermunicipality committees studying transit-oriented facilities; provide for.
HB 5979 (Clemente) Economic development; tax increment financing; incentives to invest in transit-oriented facilities and transit-oriented development; provide for.
HB 5988 (Wayne Schmidt) Economic development; other; incentives to invest in transit-oriented facilities and transit-oriented development; provide for.
HB 5989 (Haines) Economic development; local development financing; incentives to invest in transit-oriented facilities and transit-oriented development; provide for.
HB 5998 (Nathan) Economic development; economic development corporations; incentives to invest in transit-oriented facilities and transit-oriented development; provide for.
HB 6177 (Neumann) Gaming; lottery; sale of advertising on club keno lottery games; allow, and earmark revenues.
SB 185 (Garcia) Housing; landlord and tenants; early lease termination; allow for certain victims of domestic assault.
HB 5977 (Byrnes) Local government; intergovernmental affairs; intermunicipality committees studying transit-oriented facilities; provide for.
HB 5979 (Clemente) Economic development; tax increment financing; incentives to invest in transit-oriented facilities and transit-oriented development; provide for.
HB 5988 (Wayne Schmidt) Economic development; other; incentives to invest in transit-oriented facilities and transit-oriented development; provide for.
HB 5989 (Haines) Economic development; local development financing; incentives to invest in transit-oriented facilities and transit-oriented development; provide for.
HB 5998 (Nathan) Economic development; economic development corporations; incentives to invest in transit-oriented facilities and transit-oriented development; provide for.
HB 6177 (Neumann) Gaming; lottery; sale of advertising on club keno lottery games; allow, and earmark revenues.
HB 6345 (Hammel) Economic development; local development financing; smart zones; establish 2 additional zones.
SB 1014 (Prusi) Education; curricula; native American tribal language and culture class; allow to be taught by noncertificated teacher in certain circumstances and to be applied to curricular requirements.
SB 1014 (Prusi) Education; curricula; native American tribal language and culture class; allow to be taught by noncertificated teacher in certain circumstances and to be applied to curricular requirements.
If reported by Appropriations:
SB 1035 (Garcia) Law enforcement; other; name-based criminal history check fee; increase.
SB 1267 (Olshove) Environmental protection; underground storage tanks; environmental protection regulatory fee on refined petroleum products; extend sunset.
SB 1450 (Birkholz) Natural resources; inland lakes; preapplication meetings to review permit application; extend sunset.
SB 1451 (Birkholz) Natural resources; wetlands; preapplication meetings to review permit application; extend sunset.
HB 5779 (Caul) Property; conveyances; transfer of certain property in Mt. Pleasant; provide for.
HB 6120 (Tlaib) Courts; funding; transfer of certain revenue from the juror compensation fund into the general fund; provide for.
HB 6461 (Johnson) Taxation; hotel-motel tax; distribution of certain revenue into the general fund; provide for.
SCR 46 (McManus) A concurrent resolution approving the conveyance of property to the State Building Authority and approving a lease among the State of Michigan, the State Building Authority, and West Shore Community College relative to the West Shore Community College Arts and Sciences Center/Remodeling and Additions.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
HB 6426-27 - Liquor Revenue Bills
The Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG) budget is based in part on two Liquor control bills, HB 6426-27.
These bills allow grocery stores to hand out liquor samples (tightly controlled) and charge a fee to do that.
They also increase penalties on people that drive to Indiana or Ohio to pick up cheaper liquor, often referred to as "bootlegging".
Here's the problem: Michigan has the 10th highest Liquor Excise Tax in the nation, at $10.06 per gallon. To put it in perspective, Indiana's excise tax is only $2.68 per gallon. Rather than looking to lower the tax to avoid bootlegging, the two bills ask to increase the penalty.
So... once again, government creates this strange circular argument of criminalizing legal activity by desperately grabbing at revenue, and further penalizing for the purpose of generating even more revenue.
In other words, if a Michigander drives across the border because of our high taxes, to load up the trunk to save a little money, we'll increase the penalty on them on their way back home.
This is the kind of thinking that causes governments to make criminals out of ordinary citizens. It is my intent to vote no!
These bills allow grocery stores to hand out liquor samples (tightly controlled) and charge a fee to do that.
They also increase penalties on people that drive to Indiana or Ohio to pick up cheaper liquor, often referred to as "bootlegging".
Here's the problem: Michigan has the 10th highest Liquor Excise Tax in the nation, at $10.06 per gallon. To put it in perspective, Indiana's excise tax is only $2.68 per gallon. Rather than looking to lower the tax to avoid bootlegging, the two bills ask to increase the penalty.
So... once again, government creates this strange circular argument of criminalizing legal activity by desperately grabbing at revenue, and further penalizing for the purpose of generating even more revenue.
In other words, if a Michigander drives across the border because of our high taxes, to load up the trunk to save a little money, we'll increase the penalty on them on their way back home.
This is the kind of thinking that causes governments to make criminals out of ordinary citizens. It is my intent to vote no!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Where Were You on September 11, 2001?
Patriot's Day Address
Michigan's Own Military and Space Museum
State Representative Ken Horn
September 11, 2010
It is always a pleasure to be here on the lawn of Michigan’s Own Military Museum. Stan and Lou Bozich are wonderful hosts. A special thank you to the both of them.
I spent a little time with Stan yesterday, to find some inspiration for my words today. This beautiful building, behind me, holds a priceless treasure of memories; this museum is the only one of its kind in the Nation.
It is my sincere hope that you will consider becoming a stakeholder in Michigan’s Tribute to the Soldier. Please join me in becoming a valued member of this Museum. Also… purchasing a brick is another patriotic way to commemorate your visit here today.
Of course… this Patriot’s day does not belong solely to any one person. It belongs to each American remembering the events of September 11, 2001. I would like to thank you for letting me share some time, and my thoughts with you.
I spent a little time with Stan yesterday, to find some inspiration for my words today. This beautiful building, behind me, holds a priceless treasure of memories; this museum is the only one of its kind in the Nation.
It is my sincere hope that you will consider becoming a stakeholder in Michigan’s Tribute to the Soldier. Please join me in becoming a valued member of this Museum. Also… purchasing a brick is another patriotic way to commemorate your visit here today.
Of course… this Patriot’s day does not belong solely to any one person. It belongs to each American remembering the events of September 11, 2001. I would like to thank you for letting me share some time, and my thoughts with you.
So… Where were you on September 11, 2001?
There are books and websites dedicated to this question: What was the average person doing when America was attacked? Where were they? What were they thinking?
Let me introduce you to Joe… just an average Joe.
It was Joe’s turn to bring the donuts. He arrived at the shop at about 7 a.m.
The coffee was made and co-workers kept popping in to grab a sweet roll and to shoot the breeze a little. They were getting set to punch in for another day’s work
Everyone liked Joe, they liked talking to him. He had a great sense of humor and it was well known that he would quickly give you the shirt off his back.
This average Joe never had an easy life, but…the thought never occurred to him that he should ever turn bitter or live with regrets.
Joe was divorced twice. The third marriage took hold when he decided that drinking beer was a just little too much fun. He had three children. And, he rediscovered them in plenty of time to be a gentle and generous grandfather.
He owned his own business for many years in another state, and moved back to Michigan for a steady job with health insurance and a modest pension.
He was just an average Joe, at the shop early… because it was his turn to buy the donuts.
Little did he know that at about the same time… nineteen hijackers boarded… and took control of four large commercial airliners.
8:46 a.m. - American Airlines Flight 11 was crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center
Guys were walking back into the shop saying, “There’s something going on in New York. You better turn on the TV.” Watching the coverage, Joe said, “Hell… that must have been a pretty big plane. How could something like that happen?”
9:03 a.m. - United Airlines Flight 175 hits the South Tower
It was pretty clear, by now, that this wasn’t a simple accident. Already the word, Terrorism, was being included in nationwide TV and radio broadcasts. … “How could this be happening?”
9:37 a.m. - American Airlines Flight 77 slams into the Pentagon
Unbelief had settled in at the shop. Joe called home and kept asking the same question over and over again, “How could this be happening… in my country?”
10:03 a.m. - A fourth flight, United Airlines Flight 93 crashes near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Its ultimate target was thought to be the U.S. Capitol Building or perhaps the White House. Talking to loved ones on the ground, and fully aware of the fate of the other three planes, passengers engaged in a fight with the hijackers. Among the last words heard from inside the aircraft… “Let’s Roll!”
All day long, the people around the world watched the coverage in stunned-disbelief, all asking the question, “How could this have happened?”
2,977 People were killed in that murderous attack. And, no… I never include the hijackers, in my count.
More than 6,000 people were injured. And, while thousands of people fled the burning towers… firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel made their way to ground zero at a dead run.
Many firefighters were killed; many when the towers came crashing down, at least one was crushed as one of many victims fell from the top floors.
That evening… in cities and small towns across the United States, many American families, like mine, found themselves at special church services. Many prayed at home.
Most of his adult life, and almost until the day that he died in 2002; co-workers, friends and neighbors would comment on how strong his German accent was… for an average guy named Joe.
Indeed he was German. But… Joachim was a hard name for most Americans to pronounce, so they simply called him Joe. The United States was his country, now; even if he was born some sixty years earlier in Klein Lueben, Germany.
Joachim lived through some terrible times, as a youth in a war-torn country. Not long after World War II… and the struggle over the city of Berlin, the Russian’s took his father, Bruno, to Siberia… never to be seen again.
Joe’s mother Frieda, after losing both a husband and a country, took her own life!
September 11 changed something in Joe; and the winter before he died, he tearfully revealed that he himself had been tortured by the East German Army, for not being very “cooperative” citizen… something he never spoke of before.
In my life, there are just three men who have given me pride-risen, patriotic Goosebumps
• The first was my father Joachim Horn… the day that he swore an oath to you and me to become an American citizen. It was one of the proudest days of his life… and the day he legally changed his own name… simply to, Joe.
• The second was President Ronald Reagan when he uttered the words, “Mr. Gorbechav… tear down this wall!” Those words helped to free the rest of my family in East Germany.
• And, the third was President George W. Bush as he stood on that pile of rubble at Ground Zero, and with his arm wrapped around a firefighter, said to the world, “I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!”
The rescue workers at Ground Zero chanted, “USA, USA, USA…”
Before he stepped off the rubble, the President finished very simply, “The Nation sends its love and compassion!”
So, while most Americans were wondering exactly how justice would be meted out… young men and women across the land were quietly joining the military in record numbers. While we civilians worried about new threats from abroad in our own country… young patriots were rushing directly into the danger.
The ranks of Blue Star Families swelled.
In Michigan, teary-eyed families were seeing off sons and daughters, husbands and wives into war with an enemy we’ve never experienced.
An enemy with no uniform, few geographic boundaries, and a fanatic culture of death most of us could never comprehend.
Yet… American soldiers, of their own free will, chose to fight to defend this great nation. They willingly picked up the American Sword of Justice… and stabbed it bravely into the heart of pure evil.
We are a grateful Nation!
Over time… countless months, and sometimes years, of worry… most of our young soldiers have returned home safely. Some have permanent injuries. Some have traumatic disorders that haunt them still. Still… some return to the battle.
I met a young soldier in the western part of my district. She came home with a new leg. Another friend of our family came home in a wheelchair. Today… we continue to pray for Cpl. Kendall Judson, who came home healthy but was badly injured, his first day back.
And still, we are a grateful community… To all those who serve we say… thank you for your service.
Now… comes the hardest part for me. When I learned that more than 160 Gold Star Family members would be with us today, I nearly became speechless.
It happens to many of us when we deal closely with death. What in the world can we ever say that would ever equal the sacrifice of our Gold Star Families? The words “Thank you” seem completely inadequate. And… being a State Representative gives me no special wisdom to rationalize the loss of a young soldier.
It seems that it is left to us, only to honor the memory of the fallen warrior.
Many years ago, my wife and I spent time at a Children’s Hospital with some very dear friends who were preparing to say goodbye to their newly born infant daughter. She was born without an artery between her heart and her lungs. Not many words were spoken. We just held a vigil with the grieving parents. They are dear friends… to this day!
More recently, a friend of mine lost a son in a fiery car crash. In the parking lot of the funeral home, we sat in silence on the tailgate of his pickup. He chain-smoked cigarettes. Even the prescription medicine couldn’t stop him from shaking like a leaf. No words of comfort could relieve him of his grief. Together… we just sat there.
One summer day, on my way home from Lansing, I made a visit to a funeral home in Chesaning, after a 14 year-old girl was killed in another car accident. Honestly, she was a beautiful young girl. I have a daughter who was just her age, at the time. When I turned from her casket, I approached the father, I lost all speech. I had never met this man before. I shook his hand and hugged him tight… father to father. I sobbed all the way home, thinking of my Andrea.
What words are there, then, to explain the death of young people? It seems a wholly unnatural order of life.
One day… we mere human beings will learn if Angels, with wings and halos, truly exist. But, in the meantime, I’m convinced that God sends forth each of his creatures to be “angels” for one another. A kind word of encouragement, a pat on the back, a squeeze of the hand… can mean all the difference in the world to a troubled heart.
This past Thursday, at a dedication of a senior citizen assisted living facility; the speaker quoted a Bible verse… Isaiah 46 says, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime - - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
At that facility was a different Joe… Mr. Joseph Greko. He was a platoon leader in the army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Joe is a great guy! He was debilitated by a stroke about ten years ago. When asked what he would say to Blue Star families had the chance…here’s what he said:
• War is hell!
• It changes you. It changes your mind.
• People can't expect you to come home the same. Their body might be here, but their mind is back there with their buddies with what they saw and heard.
• I had my stroke 10 years ago. I still can't walk. I still go to therapy. But it's not nearly as hard as what I dealt with in the war.
• I don't know how people do it without faith. I try to stay positive. I pray a lot and I read my Bible every day. And I know God has a purpose for me being here. That's why I'm happy. God has a purpose for me. Maybe it's to talk to you about this. Maybe it's something else. But that's why I'm happy--He has a purpose for me.
For the rest of us civilians… those of us with gray hair, and too little time for the treadmill. We can only remain a grateful nation. We offer our sincere thank you to our soldiers, offer our words of support and comfort to Blue Star families, and to our Gold Star families, when words fail us… perhaps we’ll just sit together quietly… on the end of the tailgate.
The building behind me offers some important clues to deal with soldiers and military families.
I hope you’ll search out the words of Specialist Holly McGoegh, as she lost a friend in war, and just before her parents lost her, she said, “If I die… I hope you’ll remember that it was for a good cause.”
So, on this Patriot’s Day… though the words thank you just don’t seem quite adequate… Thank you… we won’t forget!
• And, we won’t forget that the Nation is losing 2,000 WWII Veterans every day
• We won’t let the Korean War be the “Forgotten War”
• And to all of our Vietnam Veterans… we offer you a proper and sincere… Welcome Home Soldier!
Allow me one last personal story. Augusta Wulf, born Augusta Tzchepetski, was my mother’s mother. My great-grandfather was a blacksmith for the Russian Czar. Around 1917, at the beginning of the Russian Revolution, the family fled to Prussia and took on German citizenship.
Forty years later, in 1957, Augusta and Frederick Wulf, my oma and opa, fled East Germany to come to the promise of America. Joachim and Ursula Horn followed their lead in 1958, when a small Lutheran Church, in Indian Village, in Detroit, sponsored them in.
Folks… my family fled two countries, to be here. Believe me… there is no where left in the world to flee.
The United States of America isn’t just a place of Freedom for All! And, it certainly isn’t a free for all! The United States of America is - Freedom’s Last Stand!
Through some timeless, and divine providence, for billions of people in hundreds of countries around the world, our great Nation is still the, “Shining City on the Hill” that President Reagan so aptly described.
America made a heartfelt promise to my family…one that they, and millions of other lost souls, could not deny. The American soldier, our firefighters, our police officers, and our everyday community heroes keep that promise to this day.
Let our enemies hear this and be dismayed; as long as there are brave young men and women, willing to lift that Sword of Justice to defend this last bastion of liberty… then there truly is Hope in the world!
With all my heart… May God continue to bless the United States of America
Let me introduce you to Joe… just an average Joe.
September 11, 2001
It was Joe’s turn to bring the donuts. He arrived at the shop at about 7 a.m.
The coffee was made and co-workers kept popping in to grab a sweet roll and to shoot the breeze a little. They were getting set to punch in for another day’s work
Everyone liked Joe, they liked talking to him. He had a great sense of humor and it was well known that he would quickly give you the shirt off his back.
This average Joe never had an easy life, but…the thought never occurred to him that he should ever turn bitter or live with regrets.
Joe was divorced twice. The third marriage took hold when he decided that drinking beer was a just little too much fun. He had three children. And, he rediscovered them in plenty of time to be a gentle and generous grandfather.
He owned his own business for many years in another state, and moved back to Michigan for a steady job with health insurance and a modest pension.
He was just an average Joe, at the shop early… because it was his turn to buy the donuts.
Little did he know that at about the same time… nineteen hijackers boarded… and took control of four large commercial airliners.
8:46 a.m. - American Airlines Flight 11 was crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center
Guys were walking back into the shop saying, “There’s something going on in New York. You better turn on the TV.” Watching the coverage, Joe said, “Hell… that must have been a pretty big plane. How could something like that happen?”
9:03 a.m. - United Airlines Flight 175 hits the South Tower
It was pretty clear, by now, that this wasn’t a simple accident. Already the word, Terrorism, was being included in nationwide TV and radio broadcasts. … “How could this be happening?”
9:37 a.m. - American Airlines Flight 77 slams into the Pentagon
Unbelief had settled in at the shop. Joe called home and kept asking the same question over and over again, “How could this be happening… in my country?”
10:03 a.m. - A fourth flight, United Airlines Flight 93 crashes near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Its ultimate target was thought to be the U.S. Capitol Building or perhaps the White House. Talking to loved ones on the ground, and fully aware of the fate of the other three planes, passengers engaged in a fight with the hijackers. Among the last words heard from inside the aircraft… “Let’s Roll!”
All day long, the people around the world watched the coverage in stunned-disbelief, all asking the question, “How could this have happened?”
2,977 People were killed in that murderous attack. And, no… I never include the hijackers, in my count.
More than 6,000 people were injured. And, while thousands of people fled the burning towers… firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel made their way to ground zero at a dead run.
Many firefighters were killed; many when the towers came crashing down, at least one was crushed as one of many victims fell from the top floors.
That evening… in cities and small towns across the United States, many American families, like mine, found themselves at special church services. Many prayed at home.
Joe... prayed at home.
Most of his adult life, and almost until the day that he died in 2002; co-workers, friends and neighbors would comment on how strong his German accent was… for an average guy named Joe.
Indeed he was German. But… Joachim was a hard name for most Americans to pronounce, so they simply called him Joe. The United States was his country, now; even if he was born some sixty years earlier in Klein Lueben, Germany.
Joachim lived through some terrible times, as a youth in a war-torn country. Not long after World War II… and the struggle over the city of Berlin, the Russian’s took his father, Bruno, to Siberia… never to be seen again.
Joe’s mother Frieda, after losing both a husband and a country, took her own life!
September 11 changed something in Joe; and the winter before he died, he tearfully revealed that he himself had been tortured by the East German Army, for not being very “cooperative” citizen… something he never spoke of before.
In my life, there are just three men who have given me pride-risen, patriotic Goosebumps
• The first was my father Joachim Horn… the day that he swore an oath to you and me to become an American citizen. It was one of the proudest days of his life… and the day he legally changed his own name… simply to, Joe.
• The second was President Ronald Reagan when he uttered the words, “Mr. Gorbechav… tear down this wall!” Those words helped to free the rest of my family in East Germany.
• And, the third was President George W. Bush as he stood on that pile of rubble at Ground Zero, and with his arm wrapped around a firefighter, said to the world, “I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!”
The rescue workers at Ground Zero chanted, “USA, USA, USA…”
Before he stepped off the rubble, the President finished very simply, “The Nation sends its love and compassion!”
So, how does a Nation respond?
Throughout history, when men are threatened… they are likely to fight to protect themselves. However, it’s been said… if you threaten their mothers and their own children… they will fight to protect their country!So, while most Americans were wondering exactly how justice would be meted out… young men and women across the land were quietly joining the military in record numbers. While we civilians worried about new threats from abroad in our own country… young patriots were rushing directly into the danger.
The ranks of Blue Star Families swelled.
In Michigan, teary-eyed families were seeing off sons and daughters, husbands and wives into war with an enemy we’ve never experienced.
An enemy with no uniform, few geographic boundaries, and a fanatic culture of death most of us could never comprehend.
Yet… American soldiers, of their own free will, chose to fight to defend this great nation. They willingly picked up the American Sword of Justice… and stabbed it bravely into the heart of pure evil.
We are a grateful Nation!
Over time… countless months, and sometimes years, of worry… most of our young soldiers have returned home safely. Some have permanent injuries. Some have traumatic disorders that haunt them still. Still… some return to the battle.
I met a young soldier in the western part of my district. She came home with a new leg. Another friend of our family came home in a wheelchair. Today… we continue to pray for Cpl. Kendall Judson, who came home healthy but was badly injured, his first day back.
And still, we are a grateful community… To all those who serve we say… thank you for your service.
Now… comes the hardest part for me. When I learned that more than 160 Gold Star Family members would be with us today, I nearly became speechless.
It happens to many of us when we deal closely with death. What in the world can we ever say that would ever equal the sacrifice of our Gold Star Families? The words “Thank you” seem completely inadequate. And… being a State Representative gives me no special wisdom to rationalize the loss of a young soldier.
It seems that it is left to us, only to honor the memory of the fallen warrior.
Sometimes… it’s not the words that matter
Many years ago, my wife and I spent time at a Children’s Hospital with some very dear friends who were preparing to say goodbye to their newly born infant daughter. She was born without an artery between her heart and her lungs. Not many words were spoken. We just held a vigil with the grieving parents. They are dear friends… to this day!
More recently, a friend of mine lost a son in a fiery car crash. In the parking lot of the funeral home, we sat in silence on the tailgate of his pickup. He chain-smoked cigarettes. Even the prescription medicine couldn’t stop him from shaking like a leaf. No words of comfort could relieve him of his grief. Together… we just sat there.
One summer day, on my way home from Lansing, I made a visit to a funeral home in Chesaning, after a 14 year-old girl was killed in another car accident. Honestly, she was a beautiful young girl. I have a daughter who was just her age, at the time. When I turned from her casket, I approached the father, I lost all speech. I had never met this man before. I shook his hand and hugged him tight… father to father. I sobbed all the way home, thinking of my Andrea.
What words are there, then, to explain the death of young people? It seems a wholly unnatural order of life.
One day… we mere human beings will learn if Angels, with wings and halos, truly exist. But, in the meantime, I’m convinced that God sends forth each of his creatures to be “angels” for one another. A kind word of encouragement, a pat on the back, a squeeze of the hand… can mean all the difference in the world to a troubled heart.
This past Thursday, at a dedication of a senior citizen assisted living facility; the speaker quoted a Bible verse… Isaiah 46 says, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime - - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
At that facility was a different Joe… Mr. Joseph Greko. He was a platoon leader in the army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Joe is a great guy! He was debilitated by a stroke about ten years ago. When asked what he would say to Blue Star families had the chance…here’s what he said:
• War is hell!
• It changes you. It changes your mind.
• People can't expect you to come home the same. Their body might be here, but their mind is back there with their buddies with what they saw and heard.
• I had my stroke 10 years ago. I still can't walk. I still go to therapy. But it's not nearly as hard as what I dealt with in the war.
• I don't know how people do it without faith. I try to stay positive. I pray a lot and I read my Bible every day. And I know God has a purpose for me being here. That's why I'm happy. God has a purpose for me. Maybe it's to talk to you about this. Maybe it's something else. But that's why I'm happy--He has a purpose for me.
For the rest of us civilians… those of us with gray hair, and too little time for the treadmill. We can only remain a grateful nation. We offer our sincere thank you to our soldiers, offer our words of support and comfort to Blue Star families, and to our Gold Star families, when words fail us… perhaps we’ll just sit together quietly… on the end of the tailgate.
The building behind me offers some important clues to deal with soldiers and military families.
I hope you’ll search out the words of Specialist Holly McGoegh, as she lost a friend in war, and just before her parents lost her, she said, “If I die… I hope you’ll remember that it was for a good cause.”
So, on this Patriot’s Day… though the words thank you just don’t seem quite adequate… Thank you… we won’t forget!
• And, we won’t forget that the Nation is losing 2,000 WWII Veterans every day
• We won’t let the Korean War be the “Forgotten War”
• And to all of our Vietnam Veterans… we offer you a proper and sincere… Welcome Home Soldier!
And of course… some things about America should never “change”!
Allow me one last personal story. Augusta Wulf, born Augusta Tzchepetski, was my mother’s mother. My great-grandfather was a blacksmith for the Russian Czar. Around 1917, at the beginning of the Russian Revolution, the family fled to Prussia and took on German citizenship.
Forty years later, in 1957, Augusta and Frederick Wulf, my oma and opa, fled East Germany to come to the promise of America. Joachim and Ursula Horn followed their lead in 1958, when a small Lutheran Church, in Indian Village, in Detroit, sponsored them in.
Folks… my family fled two countries, to be here. Believe me… there is no where left in the world to flee.
The United States of America isn’t just a place of Freedom for All! And, it certainly isn’t a free for all! The United States of America is - Freedom’s Last Stand!
Through some timeless, and divine providence, for billions of people in hundreds of countries around the world, our great Nation is still the, “Shining City on the Hill” that President Reagan so aptly described.
America made a heartfelt promise to my family…one that they, and millions of other lost souls, could not deny. The American soldier, our firefighters, our police officers, and our everyday community heroes keep that promise to this day.
Let our enemies hear this and be dismayed; as long as there are brave young men and women, willing to lift that Sword of Justice to defend this last bastion of liberty… then there truly is Hope in the world!
With all my heart… May God continue to bless the United States of America
Remember! Always Remember!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Fourth of July Message
Our Declaration of Independence
Each year since being elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, I've sent a 4th of July message and… this year is no exception. The significance of America's independence and our freedom is something we shouldn't lose sight of while making our cook-out plans with family and friends
I, personally, make a point of taking a little time on the 4th of July to read the Declaration of Independence. I will do so again this year before I make my way to the Birch Run parade, and the area’s fireworks. It is so important to remember and cherish what our nation’s founders fought for. It is the best way to guarantee our future.
The events that lead to the birth of our constitution and independence serve as an important reminder, particularly in today's political climate. The fathers of our country believed that the power of government should be in the hands of the people and many gave everything they had to ensure that for future generations.
Today, it may seem as though the politicians in the Legislature and Congress are distant, but we must remember that this is indeed a government for and by the people. The laws of this country should provide each man and woman with the ability to control their own destiny, just as our founding fathers wished to do. I find in our Declaration of Independence a renewed sense of patriotism and duty to preserve our principles for generations to come.
I recognize that our economy continues to struggle; that families are out of work and that Michigan has some ground to make up to regain our position as a thriving place to live, work and play. In times like these, our democracy can seem a fragile thing. But, with all the troubles we face, it is comforting to know that our greatest strength still lies in the patriotic American citizen.
When we work together as friends, family and neighbors, our communities will flourish once more.
I encourage you to make the Declaration of Independence a part of your July 4th celebration. We should share the story of American history with our children, much like many of us make the nativity story part of our celebrations at Christmas time.
I can guarantee that reviewing the words of the founding fathers with your children and grandchildren will bring substance and clarity to your weekend, and you’ll come to your appreciate the multitude of freedoms we still enjoy in the United States of America.
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/Protecting our Freedom
I believe it’s important to take the time to thank every soldier, past and present, for willingly protecting for our freedom. This strikes me as especially important right now. Just in the last month, the Governor issued six separate orders for flags to be flown at half staff at the state Capitol.
So, when a soldier dies in the line of duty, they are honored by lowering all flags on a day that their family chooses - usually the day of their funeral. On these days, I walk into the Capitol in silence, because a Michigan soldier just paid for my entry... with a life.
May Blue Star families remain Blue Star families until the day their children return safely home!
These are the Michigan soldiers who gave their lives for us this year and the day our flags were lowered. I hope you’ll take a moment to read each name… It is important:
Army Sergeant Lucas T. Beachnaw of Lowell, January 22, 2010
Army Sergeant Dillon B. Foxx of Traverse City, February 19, 2010
Marine Corporal Jacob H. Turbett of Canton, March 8, 2010
Army Staff Sergeant Richard J. Jordan of Harrison Township, March 23, 2010
Army Sergeant Michael K. Ingram of Monroe, April 30, 2010
Marine Lance Corporal Anthony A. DiLisio of Macomb, June 7, 2010
U.S. Navy Fireman 3rd Class Gerald George Lehman of Hancock, June 12, 2010
Air Force 1st Lieutenant Joel C. Gentz of Grass Lake, June 24, 2010
Marine Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest of St. Clair, June 25, 2010
Army Specialist Joseph D. Johnson of Flint, June 28, 2010
Marine Cpl. Daane A. DeBoer of Ludington, July 2, 2010
The sacrifices that sought to protect our Freedoms and our Liberties in 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed, continue today through the actions of our brave servicemen and women.
Happy 4th of July!
God Bless the U.S.A.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)