Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
State Senator Ed McBroom plans to meet with local and county government officials Friday morning, resurrecting a practice that has been on hold due to COVID-19. McBroom says he likes to engage public officials as those conversations can involve topics separate from what residents are discussing. McBroom likes an informal coffeehouse-style format for the latter, another regular event he hopes to bring back soon.
McBroom says COVID will of course come up, but he expects a lot of tomorrow’s talk to be on the next state budget and what that will mean for local assistance from Lansing through 2022. McBroom also intends to discuss transportation for involuntarily committed mental health patients.
Currently, it is practice for law enforcement to be charged with transporting all patients downstate and even to facilities across the border in Indiana or Ohio. McBroom says that is very expensive for municipalities across the Upper Peninsula. It also brings up a potential legal quandary.
McBroom’s response to Wednesday’s State of the State address was one of hope. He said that Governor Gretchen Whitmer struck the right tone and says he believes that many of her priorities are can be tackled with legislation previously passed by the Republican legislature.
