Colbeck Supports Funding for Veterans Affairs Agency

Agency will serve to connect veterans with services and benefits.

State Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, Chair of the Senate Appropriations  Subcommittee on State Police and Military Affairs, voted to approve funding for the new MI Veterans Affairs Agency, according to a news release from Colbeck's office. The legislation appropriating $3 million for creation of the new agency passed the Senate on a 30-5 vote. The agency will help to better connect eligible veterans with their benefits and significantly improve customer service. “This new Agency will finally cut through some of the red tape and delays and help our Veterans get the benefits they earned and deserve in a more timely manner,” Colbeck said. “There are many state and federal programs and services available to our Veterans. Unfortunately, these …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Colbeck: Hurricane Obamacare is Imperfect Storm

State Senator: Health care bill will increase costs.

By Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton Hurricane Obamacare is forecast to hit the shores of the United States on Oct. 1 of this year.  That is when the “Open Enrollment” period for plans that comply with the new “minimum essential health benefits” (aka HHS Mandates) kicks in… and kick it will.  The storm surge promises to increase premium costs by well over 30 percent as the federal government steps in and tells “we the people” what type of insurance coverage we must have.  The director of the HHS has been given broad authority to define what these “minimum essential health benefits” are.  In this light, it is entirely conceivable that the premium increases may be significantly higher than 30 percent. In anticipation of the coming storm, many …

•  67 Comments
• Photos (1)

Patrick Colbeck: How to Raise Road Money Without Raising Taxes

State senator: The path to modernizing our transportation infrastructure demands true innovation.

Submitted by State Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton: I still recall my orientation session shortly after being elected. I was treated to a non-partisan symposium on the need to raise taxes as the de facto solution for all of our budgetary ailments. In fact, the options for transportation funding were not very innovative…raise gasoline taxes, raise sales taxes, create a new tire tax or raise registration fees.  As an advocate of consumption-driven tax policy, I understand the logic of tying these revenue sources with road funding. It is worth noting, though, that we already invoke “user fees” to fund our roads to the tune of $.19/gallon ($825 million) and close to $1 billion from transportation-related registration fees, licenses and the like…

•  10 Comments
• Photos (1)

Sen. Patrick Colbeck: Avoiding the Obamacare Bait and Switch

State Senator: Health care legislation 'has resulted in objectionable infringements on religious liberty.'

  On June 6, 2009, President Obama unleashed his plan for a government-run healthcare system that would “lower costs, improve quality and coverage, and also protect consumer choice.” Today as a direct result of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare,” we are seeing more taxes taken out of our middle class paychecks and the prospect of skyrocketing insurance premiums in 2014. We are seeing that “quality” is decreasing as access to the care for which you are eligible becomes a function of your age and political affiliations not your needs. We are seeing that the administration’s idea of “consumer choice” is really a case of “my way or the highway.”  At least 1,231 organizations have successfully applied for …

•  8 Comments
• Photos (1)

Sen. Patrick Colbeck Offers Office Hours Feb. 14 in Plymouth

Colbeck to meet with constituents Feb. 14 colat Plymouth District Library.

Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, has invited the public to his office hours 7-8 p.m. on Feb. 14 at Plymouth District Library in Plymouth.  Colbeck will be on hand to answer questions and respond to concerns any residents of his district may have, according to a news release from Colbeck's office. No appointment is necessary, as the office hours will be an opportunity for local residents to meet with their state senator to address issues related to state government.  For more information or to contact Colbeck, visit www.senatorpatrickcolbeck.com or call 734-335-0673.

• Photos (1)

Colbeck's District Manager to Hold Office Hours Next Week in Plymouth

District Manager Ryan Eggenberger to meet with constituents Jan. 16 at Plymouth District Library.

Ryan Eggenberger, district manager for Michigan Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton), will hold office hours from 6-7 p.m. on Jan. 16 at Plymouth District Library, 223 Main St. in Plymouth. Eggenberger will fill in for Colbeck, who is unavailable because of Gov. Rick Snyder's State of the State address that evening, Colbeck's office indicated in a news release. Eggenberger will be on hand to answer questions and respond to concerns of residents, the news release indicated. Colbeck will be present at subsequent events.

• Photos (1)

Colbeck Bill Mandating Transparency in Government Spending Sent to Gov. Snyder

Legislation requires state departments to publicly disclose all spending.

Legislation requiring state departments to publicly disclose all spending was passed by the Legislature and has been sent to Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature, according to Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton)'s office.  A pair of bills by Colbeck (SB 802) and Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (SB 21) will require greater transparency and accountability from state government and will provide residents with additional information online about how taxpayer dollars are being spent. “This transparency legislation will make it easier for all citizens to see where every penny is being spent and will reveal the true price of government,” Colbeck said in a statement. “We will soon be able to trace money to the core services that justify the existence of a …

•  15 Comments
• Photos (1)

Letters to the Editor

State Sen. Colbeck: The Truth About Proposal 4 in Michigan

In this Letter to the Editor, Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton) writes about what he says are misleading ads about Proposal 4.

- Submitted by the Office of State Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton), who represents Plymouth and Canton. We’ve all seen the ads claiming all of the wonderful benefits that passage that Proposal 4 would yield. They say that if Proposal 4 passes, the state would be able to provide training for in-home care workers, create a registry of workers who pass background checks and provide financial services to patients. Here’s what you are not being told. We can do all of these wonderful things RIGHT NOW! In 2004, the Michigan Quality Community Care Council (MQCCC) was formed to do just that. In 2005, the MQCCC recognized the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) as the bargaining union for home healthcare aides. These aides are typically …

• Photos (1)

State Sen. Colbeck to Constituents: Vote For Those Who Will Repeal 'Obamacare'

At a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Patrick Colbeck urged voters to learn more about the local impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Proudly wearing her Tea Party Patriot T-shirt, Donna Robinette attended a town hall meeting on Tuesday in Canton about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Canton resident and about 40 others in the crowd heard state Sen. Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton) discuss the local effects of the landmark legislation. "Obamacare," whose provisions have been recently upheld by the Supreme Court, troubles her. "I think people are just not paying attention," Robinette said. "It's going to be horribly expensive." She said she thinks there are alternatives to the mandate that should have been explored, and at Colbeck's town hall meeting, she was in the majority. The freshman state senator said he called the town hall to discuss the hallmarks of …

•  11 Comments
• Photos (1)