Kivela office hours in Munising
One of the U.P.’s state representatives gave residents an update on key legislative issues.
John Kivela held a public meeting in Munising today while on his way back down to Lansing for the week.
The House Committee on Education recently passed two bills to reform vocational education.
State Representative Ed McBroom of Vulcan wrote one of the bills.
“We’re pending, hopefully this week, for a vote on the House floor,” Kivela said. “Might not be ’til next week, but looking good. I think we’ve got the votes in the House. We’ll see. The Senate is next.”
Kivela has been a vocal supporter of the bills.
He’s a vocal opponent of a recent move by the Michigan Department of Corrections to privatize food service at state prisons.
“We spend $2 billion a year ensuring that inmates are held safely,” Kivela said. “Food is the biggest issue that upsets them, and it’s very important. I have three prisons in my district, and I’m hearing from all of them, so we’re gonna fight this.”
The Department of Corrections recently agreed to a food service contract with Aramark, a Pennsylvania food service company.
Kivela has called for a hearing in the House Committee on Criminal Justice about that decision.