I recently had the honor of welcoming a group of Blue Star Mothers to the state Capitol for an event marking the 82^nd anniversary of the founding of Blue Star Mothers of America, which originated in Flint Michigan, on Feb. 1, 1942.

Today, the national organization continues to help and honor members of the military and promote patriotism. Blue Star Mothers of America sends care packages to deployed troops, welcomes returning veterans, honors fallen heroes, and cares for military families.

As a veteran, this group of dedicated individuals is near and dear to my heart. That’s why I have been working on legislation that would officially recognize Feb. 1 of each year as Blue Star Mothers Day in Michigan.

My legislation, House Bill 4047, was unanimously approved by the Michigan House of Representatives on April 20, 2023. A companion bill, Senate Bill 235, introduced by Sen. Rick Outman, was unanimously approved by the Senate on June 7, 2023. In order for our plan to become law, however, one of these bills will have to make it through the opposite chamber – HB 4047 would have to be approved by the Senate or SB 235 would have to be approved by the House. Once that happens, we’re confident the governor would sign it into law.

The Blue Star Mothers who have supported the men and women America sends off to war deserve recognition for their sacrifices and dedication to our country. I continue to advocate for one of our bills to take the next step, so they will get the recognition they deserve.

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This week, the Whitmer administration presented their ideas for the 2024-25 state budget – officially kicking off budget season in Lansing. The governor and her team provided an overview of their recommendations, which add up to $80.7 billion.

The governor’s budget spends big on new programs like taxpayer-financed community college, handouts for people who can afford to buy new EVs, and more.

The House and Senate Appropriations committees will soon begin meeting to delve deeper into the governor’s proposal and ultimately come up with their own recommendations. While I do not sit on the Appropriations Committee, I will be keeping a close eye on the process.

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If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by calling (517) 373-3906 or emailing RobertBezotte@house.mi.gov. I am always happy to hear from people in our community.

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