LANSING-Today State Senator Ray Basham (D-Taylor) hailed the bipartisan passage of legislation that would ban smoking in all Michigan workplaces, including bars and restaurants. Basham has championed smokefree legislation for more than a decade, and is the lead sponsor of a companion bill, SB 109, that was introduced in the Senate last year.

LANSING- State Senator Michael Switalski (D-Roseville) introduced legislation today that would allow 16-year old students to vote in local school board elections.

LANSING—Senator Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) was joined today by Sen. Dennis Olshove (D-Warren) and Sen. John Gleason (D-Flushing) to announce new legislation that will establish a two-year freeze on all mortgage and tax foreclosures in Michigan. The three-bill package would establish the longest period of foreclosure protection of any state in the country, while also providing important safeguards for the lending industry.

LANSING—Tomorrow Senate Democrats will be introducing “Safeguard Our Seniors” legislation, a ten-bill package designed to protect senior citizens from predators. The bills seek to prevent exploitation of the elderly by ratcheting up penalties and providing additional tools for prosecutors, based on recommendations made by Governor Jennifer Granholm’s Task Force on Elder Abuse. The legislative action helps kick off “Older Americans Awareness Month” in May.