Kleinjans for Michigan

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

This morning’s Advocacy in Action at the West Coast Chamber of Commerce focused on data centers and their growing role in our communities.

As demand for digital services continues to grow, communities are increasingly being asked to consider data center development. These projects can bring investment and economic opportunities, but they also raise important questions about land use, energy, water resources, and infrastructure.

For those involved in economic development, planning, infrastructure, or community leadership, understanding both the benefits and challenges is essential to making balanced, informed decisions that align with long-term community priorities.

Good decisions start with good information and I appreciate the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce and Holland Board of Public Works as well as other sponsors for providing that information.

06/05/2026

I have joined a bipartisan effort to avoid large donations from the big utilities who have attempted to strong-arm politicians. I will not allow special interests to drown out the voices of every day citizens.

We have to maintain the integrity of government processes.

In the wake of DTE and Consumers Energy strong-arming our politicians, a few are standing up to the utilities and nullifying their money. 148 Michigan lawmakers and candidates have signed a pledge to not knowingly accept more than $200 in PAC money from the big utilities. The pledge is bi-partisan and has support from all over the political spectrum. Progressives such as Rep. Donavan McKinney and Sen. Stephanie Chang appear along side right wing names like Rep. Jim DeSana.

This bodes well for future legislation like Michigan Money Out Of Politics, which aims to stop political contributions from companies that have large contracts with State government. This would effectively halt the torrent of dark money pouring into our politics.

06/04/2026

Do you ever wonder whether taking action in your community makes a difference?

A few weeks ago, I (and others) posted a call to action. Today, there is an update from Becky Patrick regarding the deep well drilling requested by Consumers Energy…

“WELL DONE - Campbell Plant Injection Well Public Hearing

I [Becky] heard from my contact at EGLE today that U.S. EPA does plan to conduct a public hearing on Consumers Energy’s request for two deep injection wells at the Campbell Plant.

Why? Because 194 individuals and organizations took the time to submit comments on these applications, asking for a hearing!

The date and time have not been determined yet, but it will likely be in late July.

I am sure that anyone who submitted comments to US EPA regarding this will be notified by EPA once the arrangements have been finalized.

Thank you, everyone, for putting your concern into action! WELL DONE!

Once we know the date, time and location, I’ll create another post.”

Thanks to all of you who called or wrote letters of concern. Together, we can, and will, protect our environment!

06/04/2026

Sure, Pride Month is about self-acceptance and celebrating those in the LGBTQ+ community. It is also about remembering those who became the instruments of change so that we can learn to embrace the dignity, equality, and acceptance of all people and build a society where everyone is valued for who they are.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation wishes you a Pride Month full of joy and activism!

06/03/2026

These organizations do amazing work in supporting some of the most vulnerable among us and ensure they lead lives where they are recognized and valued. Millage dollars support this mission.

“Millage dollars serve as a local safety net, filling gaps that Medicaid cannot cover to ensure the continued safety and stability of these essential homes…” Community Mental Health of Ottawa County awarded:

Benjamin’s Hope $323,000
Heritage Homes $350,000
MOKA $233,000

Community Mental Health of Ottawa County Awards $906,000 to Strengthen Specialized Residential Homes
Holland, MI – Community Mental Health of Ottawa County (CMHOC) announced the release of $906,000 in local millage funds to stabilize and support the county’s most vulnerable residents living in specialized residential homes. These funds provide critical supplemental support to address urgent operational challenges—without replacing or supplanting Medicaid funding obligations. Millage dollars serve as a local safety net, filling gaps that Medicaid cannot cover to ensure the continued safety and stability of these essential homes.
Following a comprehensive FY2026 millage review, CMHOC prioritized funding for residential providers facing moderate to high risk of home closure, where financial deficits, workforce shortages, and escalating non Medicaid service costs could jeopardize continuity of care for individuals with complex behavioral health and developmental needs.
Under this targeted strategy, CMHOC awarded:
• Benjamin’s Hope – $323,000
• Heritage Homes – $350,000
• MOKA – $233,000
These awards reflect a commitment to ensuring that millage dollars strengthen, rather than replace, federally and state funded services. Funds were directed to the highest risk homes to address non Medicaid pressures such as staffing shortfalls, rising operational expenses, and structural funding gaps that threaten residential stability.
Requests centered on capital improvements, property enhancements, or vehicle purchases were deferred for future consideration, as they did not present immediate risks to residential continuity or consumer safety.
“As CEO, I want our community to know that these millage dollars are not a substitute for Medicaid funding. They are a vital local investment that allows us to protect residential homes from pressures that Medicaid simply does not cover. By directing these funds to providers at highest risk, we are safeguarding stability, safety, and continuity of care for some of Ottawa County’s most vulnerable residents.”
— Dr. Michael Brashears, Chief Executive Officer, Community Mental Health of Ottawa County
CMHOC will continue monitoring provider needs, collaborating on long term sustainability strategies, and reevaluating deferred requests in future cycles to ensure that millage funding remains aligned with system stability and community priorities.

06/03/2026

Michigan is short 119,000 homes. It’s time to fix some of what’s standing in the way.

Housing isn’t just about having a roof over your head. An inadequate supply, or mix of housing, sends ripples through every part of a community: financial hardship, homelessness, poorer health outcomes, lower educational achievement, and greater instability.

Michigan’s housing shortage has reached a crisis point. Our state is currently short more than 119,000 homes, and outdated ideas around how we should do housing continue to drive up construction costs and limit housing options.

The good news? There is a bipartisan solution.
A package of nine bipartisan bills has been introduced to reform zoning laws, cut unnecessary red tape, and reduce costly bureaucratic delays that make housing more expensive for renters, homeowners, seniors looking to downsize, and first-time buyers.

But these bills won’t pass without public support.
Contact your state legislators today using the link provided, and urge them to support this bipartisan Michigan Housing Readiness package. Michigan families can’t afford to wait while the housing crisis gets worse.

Your voice matters.

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/make-your-voice-heard-support-the-michigan-housing-readiness-package?source=direct_link

06/01/2026

Today, we celebrate the beginning of Pride Month - a revolution of love, equality, and progress. Let's honor the trailblazers who paved the way and keep moving forward together!

06/01/2026

Name my mascot here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/namethatdonkey

05/31/2026

"We need to restore a fundamental truth: power belongs to people, not corporations. For too long, corporations have been able to spend without limit, influence without accountability, and project a voice so powerful that it overwhelms the very people our Constitution was written to protect." ~Hawaii Republican Representative Kristen Konani Souza~

Just a couple of weeks ago, Hawaii passed a law with nearly unanimous bipartisan support, to effectively ban corporations from spending money to influence state elections. They were able to do this by redefining what powers a corporation actually has, and limiting that power to spend money in elections. It's a model that nearly a dozen states are working to follow, and I will ensure that Michigan becomes one of them.

We, the people, are going to take our power back from corporations and restore it where it belongs: in the hands of the people.