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Rep. Kurt Heise

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Rep. Kurt Heise Invites Residents to April Office Hours

Heise to hold office hours in Plymouth, Canton and Northville.

Rep. Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth) has invited his constituents to meet with him during district office hours on April 8 at locations in eastern Canton, Northville, and Plymouth at the following times and locations: No appointment is necessary. If you are unavailable to attend but wish to set up an appointment either in the district or in Lansing or speak with Rep. Heise, please call 1-855-REP-KURT.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

House Approves Heise's Electronic Court Filing and Records Law

Bill introduced by Kurt Heise aims to save taxpayer time and money.

The Michigan House on March 6 approved legislation introduced by Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth, to allow courts to maintain electronic records and utilize electronic court filings, according to a news release from Heise. The bill now goes to the state Senate. House Bill 4064 removes the restriction against electronic records and will allow courts to determine the best method for record-keeping and filing. According to Heise's office, the bill is considered a high priority by the Michigan Supreme Court as it seeks to cut costs and improve access to litigants and the public. "This bill would make the courts more accessible to the people of Michigan and helps bring us into the 21st century," said Heise, who is also an attorney. "Electronic …

Denise Nash

12:24 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Sounds like a good idea. Much better than usual.   more ›

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Northville, Plymouth Leaders Worried About PPT Revenue Loss

Cities expected to feel effects of personal property tax phase-out beginning in 2014.

Plymouth and Northville could feel the pinch of lost revenue from the phased-out elimination of the Personal Property Tax, leaders from both cities said Monday during a joint meeting in Northville between the municipalities' leadership and state legislators.  In Michigan, the PPT refers to a tax on commercial and industrial equipment and furniture that is captured by municipalities. Gov. Rick Snyder signed a lame-duck session bill in 2012 to repeal the PPT over 10 years, but the law will take effect for small businesses—which constitute much of Plymouth and Northville's respective business bases—in 2014. The phase-out begins in 2016 for larger manufacturers. By repealing the tax, towns such as Plymouth and Northville are left wondering how…

The Truth

9:17 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013

It is interesting to see folks fall in love with their own arguments. Joe and Denise are two excellent examples. The truth is between them.   more ›

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Northville, Plymouth City Officials to Hold Joint Meeting With Colbeck, Heise

City officials to meet 6:30 p.m. Monday at Northville City Hall.

City officials from Plymouth and Northville will get a face-to-face meeting Monday with state legislators representing the community. Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth, and Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, represent both Plymouth and Northville. The meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Northville City Hall, is the second such joint meeting between the cities and their shared representatives. Plymouth hosted Colbeck and Heise in 2012, where the parties discussed the benefits of shared services between communities. 

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Kurt Heise Targets Vacant Home Squatting in Legislation

Heise expects to introduce anti-squatting legislation in March.

State Rep. Kurt Heise currently is working on legislative reform and regional coordination efforts to combat illegal home squatting, according to a news release from Heise's office. Heise, R-Plymouth Township, is chairman of  the Criminal Justice Committee in the State House and is developing legislation with the Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Association of Counties, courts, financial institutions and law enforcement to address the issue as the housing market deals with high volumes of vacancies and foreclosures, the news release indicated.   "Squatting" is where individuals illegally gain entry to a vacant or foreclosed home and begin living in the dwelling.   "We must make squatting less attractive, and to expedite the process in …

Bill P

12:44 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013

I'm with Heise on this one. My initial thought was why should we in Northville or anywhere in this great area be concerned about this 'squatting' issue? Why not just let the local police use existing B&E, trespassing or other similar legislation already on the books to move those people out and on their way, just as the Township does with the vacant 7 Mile Hospital property. But then I read the …   more ›

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Rep. Kurt Heise Invites Residents to Coffee Hours in Plymouth

Heise will appear 7:30-9:30 a.m. Friday at Panera Bread in downtown Plymouth.

Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth, is sponsoring coffee hours to give residents a chance to meet with him locally. Heise will speak with residents from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 at Panera Bread, 400 S. Main St., in downtown Plymouth. No appointment is necessary. Rep. Heise is also available to meet with constituents by appointment either in the district or at his Lansing office. Residents are invited to call toll free 1-855-REPKURT or email kurtheise@house.mi.gov to schedule an appointment.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Kurt Heise Invites Residents to Office Hours

Heise to hold office hours in Plymouth, Canton and Northville.

Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth, has invited his constituents to meet with him during district office hours on Feb. 11 at locations in eastern Canton, Northville, and Plymouth at the following times and locations: No appointment is necessary during these office hours. If you are unavailable to attend but wish to set up an appointment either in the district or in Lansing or speak with Rep. Heise, call 1-855-REP-KURT.

Patch Possum

2:24 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013

Heise also voted for the tax on pensions, which Engler passed to keep retirees here. I'm looking forward to moving to a no pension tax state when my wife retires.   more ›

Friday, January 25, 2013

Heise Named Chairman of State House's Criminal Justice Committee

New committee formed to handle criminal law issues facing Legislature.

Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth, has been named chairman of the newly formed Criminal Justice Committee in the Michigan House of Representatives, according to a news release from Heise's office. Heise previously served as vice-chair of the House Judiciary Committee in the previous legislative term. According to that news release, the new Criminal Justice Committee was created out of that committee in response to the variety of complex criminal law issues facing the Legislature. “We’re serious about fighting crime and promoting public safety,” Heise said in a news release, citing human trafficking, medical marijuana reform, crimes against children and senior citizens, illegal drugs, and victims’ rights as his legislative priorities. According …

Friday, January 11, 2013

Rep. Dian Slavens Defends Vote Against House Speaker

Canton Democrat one of two dissenting votes against Jase Bolger.

Rep. Dian Slavens (D-Canton) on Wednesday defended her vote against retaining Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger for a two-year term. Slavens was one of two dissenting votes against keeping Bolger, who was embroiled in an election-rigging scandal in 2012, the Canton Observer reported. She was joined by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D-Taylor). "The Speaker of Michigan’s House of Representatives should be beyond reproach," Slavens said Wednesday in a statement posted on her Facebook page. "I feel that Bolger acted unethically when he and former Rep. Roy Schmidt colluded to swindle voters in the November election. Bolger is still under a grand jury investigation for his actions. If we cannot trust him to always act honestly, how can we possibly trust…

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

10,000 Protesters Descend on Capitol Tuesday to Fight Michigan Right-to-Work Legislation

The bills were signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday.

LANSING - People came from as close as down the street and as far as Chicago and Wisconsin, joining thousands of union members in a protest against right-to-work legislation Tuesday in Lansing. Despite the roar of the crowds lining the lawn of the Capitol building and surrounding streets, two pieces of legislation passed by the Senate last week made their way through the state House of Representatives and were signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday afternoon. Rep. Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth) said Tuesday on his Facebook page he supported the bills. "Workplace Fairness and Equality Act passes the House of Representatives, 58-51 I voted in the affirmative," Heise wrote. A short time later, he indicated he voted for the second of the two …

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