Rep. Alberta Tinsley-Talabis' Site Feed

Rep. Tinsley-Talabi Bills Would Protect Kids from Toxic Toys

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:20:02 -0400

LANSING - State Representative Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit) recently introduced legislation that would better protect children from harmful chemicals used in the manufacturing of some children’s toys.

“We expect the toys and products we buy for children to be safe, yet with so many of those products made overseas, it’s hard to know if something is safe or if it’s made with a chemical that could seriously harm a child,” said Tinsley-Talabi. “My bills say that if you want to sell your products in Michigan, then you have to follow our rules so we can make an informed decision about buying those toys and products for our kids.”

House Bill 4795 requires manufacturers and distributors to report to the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) what harmful chemicals they use in the production of children’s toys and products that are sold in Michigan. The list would include “chemicals of concern” and “chemicals of greatest concern” - those known to cause cancer, reproducÂtive or developmental harm, neurological damage or hormone disruption. The bills define a child as someone younger than 12. A child’s product is defined as intended primarily for use by or for the care of children. This would include products such as child care articles, baby products, child care seats, toys, and clothing or personal care products for children. Under House Bill 4796, manufacturers that fail to comply with the reporting requirements will be forced to pay penalties and could have their products pulled from the shelves. MDCH would regularly update the list and report to the Legislature every two years on its progress in identifying chemicals in these products and informing consumers about these chemicals.

“My bills put our kids’ safety before corporate profits,” said Tinsley-Talabi. “We love our kids and want to buy them products and toys that they can use safely and have fun with. My bills will give us the information we need to make the right purchase for the kids in our lives.”

House Dems Women's Task Force Seeks Health, Economic Improvement

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:50:25 -0400

LANSING â�� On the one-year anniversary of two women legislators being silenced on the House Floor, House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) announced the formation of a task force that seeks to improve women’s access to health care and expand economic opportunities for women in Michigan.

“We’ve heard from people around the state that the needs of women are being overlooked by the Michigan Legislature,” Greimel said. “Tax increases on middle-class families are hurting women, who are increasingly the heads of households. Burdensome new laws are making it difficult for women’s health care centers to keep their doors open. The Womenâ��s Health and Economic Security Task Force will look for ways to bring relief to women who are struggling to make ends meet for their families.”

The Michigan Legislature has frequently been criticized for being unsympathetic to women’s issues, including women’s health care and pay equity. In the past year, laws that attempt to overregulate women’s health care centers out of business have been passed by the Legislature, while measures to ensure equal pay for equal work have stalled. Many women have said they feel shut out of the legislative process â�� a characterization underlined by the decision of House Republican leaders a year ago to silence former Reps. Barb Byrum and Lisa Brown for speaking out against a bill that would have limited a woman’s access to health care.

The Womenâ��s Health and Economic Security Task Force will seek solutions for the problems women face, Greimel said. The group is headed by Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright (D-Muskegon) and Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), who will act as co-chairs. Other members include Reps. Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit), Dian Slavens (D-Canton), Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) and Rashida H. Tlaib (D-Detroit).

“I am confident that the Womenâ��s Health and Economic Security Task Force will generate proposals to solve inequities in health care and pay,” Greimel said. “The success of women must be part of the success of Michigan. We can’t leave half of our state behind if we expect to move forward.”

Detroit Democratic Caucus Announces Auto No-Fault Bills

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:38:00 -0400

Detroit Democratic Caucus Chairman Representative Thomas F. Stallworth III (D-Detroit), joined by Detroit Democratic Representatives Brian Banks (D-Harper Woods), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford Township), Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit), David Nathan (D-Detroit), Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit), Harvey Santana (D-Detroit), Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit), and Rashida H. Tlaib (D-Detroit) announced their own auto no-fault reform package that would save Michigan residents money while fighting fraud and demanding transparency from the insurance industry.

Detroit Democratic Caucus Announces Auto No-Fault Bills

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:44:00 -0400

DETROIT - Detroit Democratic Caucus Chairman Representative Thomas F. Stallworth III (D-Detroit), joined by Detroit Democratic Representatives Brian Banks (D-Harper Woods), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford Township), Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit), David Nathan (D-Detroit), Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit), Harvey Santana (D-Detroit), Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit), and Rashida H. Tlaib (D-Detroit) announced their own auto no-fault reform package that would save Michigan residents money while fighting fraud and demanding transparency from the insurance industry. The legislators announced their legislative package at a Detroit press conference where they were joined by local church leaders and Detroit residents.

“Michigan’s auto insurance policies are completely broken,” said Stallworth. The fact that 30 percent of Michigan drivers and 60 percent of Detroit drivers are uninsured when combined with the fact that Michigan’s auto insurance industry is the second most profitable in the nation is a clear indication that rates are excessive.”

Detroiters pay some of the highest auto insurance rates in the nation.

The Detroit Democratic Auto No-Fault Package would:

Restructure the board with public interests instead of insurance interests. Create a commission to track fraud, waste and abuse. Collect the MCCA assessment at the Secretary of State instead of through insurance companies. (Cavanagh)
Require insurance companies to justify rate increases before they’re imposed on drivers and stipulate that 80 percent of premiums collected must be spent on clients. (Stallworth)
Prohibit the consideration of credit history, education and occupation in determining premiums and surcharges. (Tinsley-Talabi)
Allow refunds ordered by a commissioner and allow private parties to sue when auto insurance overcharges their policy holders. (Tlaib)
Disallow steerage to collision shop owned by the insurance company. (Banks)

The Republican-sponsored no-fault bill, which was recently voted out of committee with no Democratic votes, would offer a savings of $125 per vehicle that is only guaranteed for one year. That bill would also eliminate unlimited medical benefits for the most seriously injured accident victims and, instead, cap those benefits at $1 million. The Republican bill dissolves the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) after it has paid out its final claim, and creates the new Michigan Catastrophic Claims Corp (MCCC) to collect a fee from auto owners and handle new claims when the bill becomes law. The MCCA will still collect an annual fee from drivers to cover a $2 billion deficit they claim.

“Drivers are tired of paying high premium yet want to keep the benefits they are currently receiving from our auto no-fault system. Replacing the MCCA with the MCCC and capping everything for a guaranteed one-year savings of $125 is not helping anyone but the insurance companies,” said Cavanagh. “Gutting the system is not reform. We looked into every aspect included in a no-fault policy to see where real changes resulting in real savings could be made.”

“With the proposed changes to Michigan’s Auto No-Fault system affecting every driver in the state of Michigan, we looked at the entire picture to come up with reform that would result in actual savings without hacking up the system,” said Banks.

“The unfortunate situation, in many cases, is that a car insurance premium is often higher than the value of the car,” said Tlaib.” Making auto insurance more affordable throughout Michigan, but particularly in urban regions, should be one of the state’s top priorities.

The Detroit Democratic Caucus will also host an Auto No-Fault Reform Town Hall Meeting to discuss proposed changes to the system and how that will affect every driver tonight, Monday, May 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Salem Memorial Lutheran Church, 21230 Moross Road at Chester in Detroit.

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Legislation Improving Access to Women's Health Care Backed by Detroit Reps

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:40:06 -0400

DETROIT - State Representative and Detroit Caucus Chairman Thomas F. Stallworth III (D-Detroit) and Reps. Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit), Rashida H. Tlaib (D-Detroit) and Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit) announced their support for a package of four bills and three resolutions that would improve access to women’s health care, educate women about health care options, support rape survivors and address health care inequities women face.

“??As the father of two daughters, I am passionate about addressing health issues and inequities that affect women,” said Stallworth. “I applaud the efforts of my female colleagues in leading the male dominated House on these issues and we should listen to what they have to say.”

“I understand what many of the women in my district are talking about when they explain how hard it is for them and their daughters when they need health care, or even just information,” said Tinsley-Talabi. “These bills will address and solve the inequities that exist and make it hard for women to get services, and will also start early to educate our sons and daughters with age-appropriate information.”

The package of legislation includes:

House Resolution 140, naming May 12-18 “National Women’s Health Week” in Michigan (introduced by Rep. Gretchen Driskell)
HR 138, urging the DCH to promote programs that identify and address inequities in the prevention, treatment and research of diseases threatening women (Rep. Winnie Brinks)
HR 139, recommending that the state intensify efforts to reduce the rate of teen pregnancies (Rep. Collene Lamonte)
House Bill 4067, requiring all health facilities and agencies to offer emergency contraception to rape survivors (Rep. Charles Smiley)
HB 4722, which directs the Department of Community Health (DCH) to develop and disseminate information about emergency contraception, including a description, explanation of use, safety efficacy and availability of emergency contraception (Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright)
HB 4721, requiring age-appropriate, medically accurate and objective sexuality education to be taught in public schools (Rep. Jeff Irwin)
HB 4260, requiring doctors to give information on breast density and give notice to women who have dense breast tissue that they may want to seek further testing (Rep. Winnie Brinks)

“As a young mom, I saw firsthand how difficult it is to access proper health care services and prevention services,” said Tlaib. “Women deserve fair opportunities to be healthy and current unnecessary barriers have led to health care problems among our mothers, daughters, nieces and grandmothers. They deserve better.”

“These are common-sense bills that will improve women’s lives, and especially help our daughters so that they have better access to health care throughout their lives,” said Durhal.

Detroit Caucus Hosts Auto No-Fault Town Hall to Discuss Harmful Changes Proposed in Republican Bill

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:43:08 -0400

DETROIT - Detroit Caucus Chairman Rep. Thomas F. Stallworth III and Detroit Caucus members Reps. Brian Banks (D- Grosse Pointe Woods), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford), Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit), David Nathan (D-Detroit), Harvey Santana (D-Detroit), Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit), Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) will hold a town hall on the proposed changes to Michigan’s auto no-fault law on Thursday, May 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Northwest Activity Center, 18100 Meyers at Curtis in Detroit. The proposed legislation would significantly alter Michigan’s current no-fault insurance system and would, among other changes, cap injury benefits at $1 million for accident victims. This event is free and open to the public.

WHO:Detroit Caucus Chairman Rep. Thomas F. Stallworth III and Detroit Caucus members Reps. Brian Banks (D-Grosse Pointe Woods), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford), Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit), David Nathan (D-Detroit), Harvey Santana (D-Detroit), Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit), Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit) and Rashida H. Tlaib (D-Detroit)

WHERE:Northwest Activity Center

18100 Meyers at Curtis

Detroit

WHEN:Thursday, May 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Statement from State Representative Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit) on the House omnibus school budget:

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:55:00 -0400

“While our governor speaks of the need for a strong education, House Republicans continue to present and support funding strategies that effectively hamstring today’s education leaders. The school budget omnibus bill, HB 4228, does nothing to undo the damage done by two years of drastic funding cuts to public education. This bill sends the message to our children that education in Michigan is not a top priority.

“House Bill 4228 simply won’t do. Certainly there is the need to refine our learning opportunities. We need to be sure that our classrooms are giving our children every chance to succeed. And we must be sure we provide the needed support so that teachers in classrooms throughout all of our school districts know that their efforts are appreciated.

“I will continue fighting to see that the nearly $2 billion that was slashed from schools since 2011 is restored. We need to reinvest in our schools instead of continuing to fund them at reduced levels. Our students deserve better than what this budget gives them.”

Rep. Alberta Tinsley-Talabi Speaks on the House Proposed State Budget

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:15:00 -0400

Rep. Alberta Tinsley-Talabi speaks in opposition to the proposed House education budget and criticizes the lack of education funding in HB 4228.