Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) speaking at a November 2019 event. | Michigan Senate Republicans
Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) speaking at a November 2019 event. | Michigan Senate Republicans
More than 2,500 people attended a tele-town hall meeting held in mid-April with Sen. Ruth Johnson (R-Holly) to discuss COVID-19's impact on the state.
“This is a confusing and stressful time for many Michigan families, and this tele-town hall meeting was held to help answer people’s questions about the virus and its impact on our state and their lives,” Johnson said in a press release. “We were able to answer many questions about the virus, the governor’s stay-at-home order, and expanded unemployment benefits.”
Johnson was joined by Stephanie Glidden from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and Dr. Mary Marshall of Grand Blanc.
Topics of the meeting included personal protection equipment, how COVID-19 is spread, and students and parents at MSU were concerned about partial refunds of room and board.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended the stay-at-home order for the state until Friday, May 15 but some business restrictions were relaxed, according to CNN. This included nurseries, landscapers and bike repair shops.
According to ABC WZZM13, Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency director Kimberly Berry reported that more than 820,000 people had received assistance as of the end of April and 180,000 people were still waiting.
When asked how long it would take to get paid, she told the television station that it would “probably take a good 17 days before they actually get the monetary determination to tell them when to certify.”
Those who do not qualify for regular unemployment can file for pandemic unemployment assistance.
The Michigan government website provides up-to-date information about the coronavirus, or the COVID-19 hotline is open between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 1-888-535-6136.
For those who did not see the meeting, Johnson encourages constituents to reach out. Her phone number is 517-373-1636 or via email at senrjohnson@senate.michigan.gov.
Johnson was elected in November 2018 to represent the 14th District and previously was secretary of state. She is chair of the Senate Elections Committee and vice chair of the Senate Local Government Committee.
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