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Rep. Robert Kosowski thanks first responders and sends his thoughts a prayers to those family members of fallen Michigan heroes.

Rep. Kate Segal passes HB 5146 allowing group life insurance plans to be issues to an association, trust, or trustees of a fund established or maintained for the benefit of the members of an association.

Rep. Andy Schor expresses his disappointment at the passage of the state's general budget for fiscal year 2014. House Bill 4328 contains several shortfalls, most notably the failure to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid.

The budget also reduces funding to the Department of Education for implementing the Common Core Standards, a set of goals for students in each grade level. It doesn't mandate a curriculum or take local control away from school districts, as some right-wing extremists believe. Rather, it helps Michigan students achieve their fullest potential and enable them to compete with their peers across the country and around the world.

Rep. David Nathan speaks against HB4118. This bill requires drug testing and screening to be eligible for family independent assistance program (FIP) benefits.

State Rep. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) asked that the Michigan Legislature act quickly to bring tax relief to Michiganders today by requesting that her bill to restore the $600 per-child tax deduction be discharged from the House Tax Policy Committee and brought to the floor of the House for a vote. Brinks' bill, House Bill 4562, is one of six in the House Democrats' package of legislation to bring real tax relief to Michigan's hard-working families and seniors.

Rep. Jeff Irwin offers an amendment to save the Michigan prisoner reentry initiative. SB 126 is a general fund supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2012-2013.

Rep. Theresa Abed (D-Grand Ledge) successfully added an amendment to House Bill 4466, a bill that reforms Michigan's Merit Curriculum -- the set of standards Michigan high school students must satisfy before earning a diploma. The bill passed the House today and was sent to the Senate. Her amendment reaffirms a student's right to have a personal curriculum tailored to his or her own educational needs.

HB 4633 requires digital printing of license plates and an 8 year expiration date. Rep. Douglas A. Geiss points out the benefits of passing this bill.

Rep. Theresa Abed invites her constituents to share their thoughts and ideas at this months coffee hours.

Rep. Rudy Hobbs offers an amendment to support funding for an education program that exposes students to engineering, computer science, and medicine. SB 126 is a general fund supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2012-2013.

Rep. Tom Cochran thanks local firefighters and first responders on this day of remembrance at the Capitol.

Rep. Sam Singh gives us his thoughts on the 2014 State of the State address.

Rep. Dianda (D-Calumet) reminds us to be aware and watch for busses this Fall while our kids are headed back to school.

House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) explains how House Republicans went back on a promise to work in a bipartisan fashion to find a solution for Michigan's failing school districts in this video clip from Thursday, June 13, 2013. As a result, Republicans rushed through a bill that will mean the demise of at least two Michigan school districts.

Representative Singh opposes bills to dissolve school districts and blasts Republicans in the House for lack of bipartisan solution. The two bills are a rushed, sloppy response to the K-12 public education crisis that is ongoing in Michigan and resulting in public schools closing amidst budget concerns. Rep. Singh laments that his Republican colleagues would rather leave early for the legislative summer recess than stay in Lansing and work to create a responsible solution.

On this segment of Capitol Update, Rep. Bill LaVoy speaks to Laura Schultz Pipis, Executive Director of the Monroe Chapter American Red Cross.

Rep. David Nathan offers an amendment to HB4668 which would set aside $1 million annually to support local parks that offer fishing opportunities in Michigan.

Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton thanks the hard work of the Democratic policy staff, and speaks to some of the details in HB 4813 and HB 4815. These bills allow the dissolution of financially distressed school districts.

Rep. Brandon Dillon speaks to a packed rally at the capitol in support of public schools.

House Democratic Leader, Rep. Tim Greimel, gives the Democratic Response to the 2014 Michigan State of the State Address.