Fighting for you.

Monthly office hours with Lee

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Friday, November 1

Upper Peninsula

Sault Area Chamber

of Commerce

2581 I-75 Business Spur

Sault Ste. Marie, MI
10 - 11 am

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Friday, December 13

Lower Peninsula

Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce

401 E. Mitchell St.

Petoskey, MI
10 - 11 am

Chatfield: Fixing car insurance is a big win for the people of Michigan

"We accomplished car insurance reform for the hard-working people of Michigan who have been waiting decades for state government leaders to step up and do something. The wait is over."

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✔️ Guaranteed rate reduction, and a lower annual MCCA assessment up to 80%

✔️ Give drivers choice of the level of coverage and savings that is best for them

✔️ Stop price gouging on medical services for car accident victims

✔️ Combat fraudulent claims and lawsuit abuse

✔️ Ensure rates aren't impacted by gender, marital status and other factors

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"For too long, Michigan drivers from Macomb to Menominee and from Kalamazoo to the Keweenaw have been fed up with paying the highest costs in the nation for car insurance. We listened, made it our number one priority, and took action to fix it."

Chatfield unanimously elected Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives

The Michigan House of Representatives unanimously elected Lee Chatfield, of Levering, as the Speaker of the House on the opening day of the historic 100th Legislature.  Chatfield is now the youngest Speaker in Michigan in more than 100 years and will lead the state House for the next two years.  

“As an eighth-generation Northern Michigan resident, it is an absolute honor having the opportunity to wake up every morning and work for the people of Michigan. Across this state are the streets we rode our bikes on. These are the towns we played sports in. These are the lakes we swam in and the rivers we fished in. Michigan is our home, and anything that will improve the lives of those that we serve, we will fight for every single day. Because ultimately, whether Republican or Democrat, we’re all on Team Michigan in this House. 

“Partisanship should only have its place on Election Day, but we should leave it at the door when we enter this chamber. It’s time to govern.”

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House passes Chatfield's reform to make government more open and honest

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The House of Representatives approved Chatfield's bill as part of a package to reform Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), creating the Legislative Open Records Act and subjecting the Governor and Legislature to greater transparency.

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Current lawmakers did not create the exception for the Governor and Legislature, but Chatfield said he beleves he has an obligation to end it. This is a big step towards restoring people’s faith in their government, and enacting this common sense reform will put Michigan in line with most other states.

"We claim to have government of the people, by the people and for the people, and it’s about time that we make government more transparent and accountable to the people," said Chatfield.

Chatfield statement on Line 5: Protect our Great Lakes 

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"Last week, Attorney General Bill Schuette announced that a tug boat had dragged its anchor through the Straits of Mackinac and damaged key energy infrastructure that connects our two beautiful peninsulas. Though the twin Line 5 pipelines held intact with little damage, it was yet another wake up call for northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

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The fact is that the Great Lakes and our inland waterways aren’t just a contributing part of our economy here in northern Michigan, they are a vital part of our way of life. We drink this water. We swim, fish and boat in these waters. Tourists from around the country come here because of our lakes and beautiful attractions. Friends, family and neighbors have invested their life savings in cottages and homes on the waterfront. Protecting our Great Lakes isn’t an option. It’s our duty.

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While the transportation of oil and natural gas liquids is essential to our daily lives, it’s important that we continue to seek the safest methods of transportation. When pipelines are properly maintained and inspected, they remain the safest approach. But, let’s make sure that we are holding accountable the corporations that are transporting oil through our state – whether it Enbridge or anyone else. 

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This most recent incident raises some serious questions that leaders in our state and country must answer. There are several key infrastructure lines that connect our two peninsulas through the Straits – phone, cable, natural gas, oil and other electrical lines. These connections are critical to homes, jobs and communities on both sides of the bridge. Let’s ensure our waters are kept safe, but let’s not dismiss the benefits that we do receive from these connections. Rather, let’s be committed to finding the safest way to deliver the much-needed resources that these lines carry or transmit.

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Let me be very clear: while I believe pipelines remain the safest way of transporting our necessary oil, we should be open to other alternatives through the Straits that may increase safety even more. Whether it’s a tunnel that the pipeline runs through or another presented idea, it should be considered and scrutinized. Our natural resources deserve our full attention.

Though Enbridge is submitting a report to the state of Michigan in June regarding safety procedures they believe can improve the longevity and integrity of Line 5, we need answers now about what recently happened, and how. The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting an investigation, and I am eagerly awaiting their report.

I authored and am working to pass the “Straits of Mackinac Safety, Protection and Accountability” action plan that focuses on five key goals:

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• Improved reporting from pipeline operators to the state of Michigan. We need to know in real time the maintenance, inspection and emergency response plans of these important lines.

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• Increased safety and security of infrastructure that connects our peninsulas, economy and communities. 

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• Additional maritime safety with mandatory inspections for the large ships and carriers that pass through the Straits. Any vessel passing through the Straits should be held to a high safety standard. 

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• Increased penalties for vessels that break our maritime laws and disregard the safety of our lakes with careless acts such as the recent ship demonstrated. 

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• Accountability and increased penalties for those responsible for negligence or criminal damage to public utilities.

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We’ve recently demanded more from companies that own and operate pipelines through the Straits, and for good reason. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is all about protecting the health and wellbeing of our families, wildlife and natural resources. Let’s work together to increase safety and accountability and protect our Great Lakes heritage."