LANSING-The Senate Republican Majority’s avoidance of Michigan’s drug industry immunity law continued today, as the Senate Democrats’ efforts to force a vote on legislation to return justice to Michigan victims of prescription drugs was postponed for four more months. On April 30, 2009, Republicans pushed off an up or down vote on the issue of drug immunity until June 2, and as the date was reached today, they further delayed their own deadline and put off any action on the legislation until October.

LANSING, Mich. - Today Senate Democrats voted to pass stimulus supplemental funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The supplemental matches the State Budget Office’s request of $218.1 million and now heads to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

LANSING, Mi. -- After years of fighting to help keep Michigan residents in their homes, Senate Democrats voted today to pass vital foreclosure prevention bills agreed upon by the House and Senate. The package will protect homeowners from foreclosure for 90 days, and also includes important provisions that Senate Democrats fought for that require lenders to work with residents to negotiate payments and prevent home foreclosures.

LANSING, Mi. -- Senate Democrats have long championed legislation to address the foreclosure crisis in our state, and today’s agreement between the House and Senate versions of foreclosure prevention bills was another step forward. It is the second time in two weeks that Senate Democrats helped force a compromise on important legislation to assist Michigan families, including the Senate’s recent approval of legislation to hire Michigan workers first.

LANSING, Mi. -- After years of Senate Democrats forcing the issue and pushing for an up or down vote, the State Senate today finally approved portions of the Hire Michigan First legislation. The plan will encourage companies to hire Michigan workers instead of workers from other states or countries by offering incentives. Democrats have been fighting for this legislation for years with several efforts to move the bills, repeated calls for action, and town hall meetings around the state.

LANSING - Senate Democrats highlighted expected action this afternoon when a Senate committee will consider the Hire Michigan First legislation. The flagship plan for Senate Democrats which gives incentives to companies to hire Michigan workers, guarantees that state contracts do not go to companies hiring illegal immigrants, and ensures a prevailing wage to support Michigan families.

LANSING, Mich. - Today Michigan Senate Democrats announced that the state's first ever legislative caucus Facebook page has attracted more than 1,000 fans since its launch in late January. Democrats created the Facebook page to keep Michigan citizens informed by featuring up-to-date information on the legislation, issues of interest, and offering an insider perspective of the Capitol while focusing on the Senate Democrats’ priorities for Michigan.

LANSING- Senate Democrats today continued to fight for Michigan victims of harmful prescription drugs as they moved to take up the House-passed legislation to end drug immunity for companies whose products kill or injure patients. Victims looked on from the gallery and were forced to wait even longer for justice as Senate Republicans continued to stonewall the effort to repeal the law.

LANSING-Senate Democrats highlighted the new posting of Senate Office Budgets online today, but called for more permanent transparency and immediate savings for taxpayers. Senate Democrats have been promoting a resolution, SR 15, for months that would reduce taxpayer expenses by cutting the office allotments of the Majority offices down to the level of the Minority office budgets, as well as permanently featuring the spending online.

LANSING - Today Michigan Senate Democrats voted to pass a plan that will invest $1.9 billion in our state to create jobs, provide job training programs to displaced workers, make improvements to schools, fund community assistance programs, and support other much-needed state and community services.