Featured Stories
Thomas has gained local, state and national media attention for his excellent work in the Michigan legislature. Below are just a few of the latest news stories he has been featured in.
"Thomas Albert named Michigan House Appropriations Committee chair”
"State Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, was named Friday as the House Appropriations Committee chair for the 2021-22 legislative session by Speaker-elect Jason Wentworth, according to a press release from his Albert’s office.
“I am grateful for this new opportunity to serve the people of Michigan,” Albert said in a statement. “There are challenges ahead, but I am committed to ensuring we do the best job possible for our state’s families, job providers and taxpayers.” - www.sentinel-standard.com
"To The Point: State Rep. Thomas Albert on the budget, governor”
"GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The House Appropriations Chairman, Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, says he believes the relationship between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan State Legislature has improved.
“Well, I’m not going to sugarcoat it, 2020 when it comes to governing and the relationship between the administration and the legislature was extremely bad,” Albert said. “I actually can’t imagine a scenario where it could have been worse. “But I do have good news, I do think it’s gotten better. …” - www.woodtv.com
"House tells Whitmer to ease COVID restrictions for more federal relief”
“Rep. Thomas Albert, the incoming chairman for the House Appropriations Committee, said the governor must move toward loosening restrictions on Michigan's economy "before the Legislature can have meaningful conversations about the next steps in allocating federal COVID-19 relief funds."
"As the 101st Legislature prepares to convene next week, I am counting on the governor to be a full partner with lawmakers as mandated by our Constitution," said Albert, R-Lowell. "I fully intend to employ the checks and balances required in our system of government. We will not simply hand over billions of taxpayer dollars to extend the current way of governing.” - www.detroitnews.com
"Michigan GOP proposes $250 million for police recruitment, community outreach”
““One of government’s most essential responsibilities is to keep its residents safe,” said Rep. Thomas Albert, chair of the House Appropriations Committee. “Right now, that job is more difficult because local public safety departments across Michigan are stretched too thin. Mandatory overtime and anti-police rhetoric add to the stress of a job that already is more stressful than most of us could ever imagine – causing more attrition at departments across Michigan. This plan will help attract and keep high-quality officers, including those now working in other states, and give them the tools they need to do their jobs.” - www.wwmt.com
"Michigan law ties school funding to in-person instruction”
""It's important for kids to be in school academically, socially and emotionally," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Thomas Albert, a Lowell Republican.
"Some Michigan schools have offered some form of in-person instruction for the entire academic year when they were allowed to do so. There's no reason that can't be the case everywhere in the state." - www.sentinel-standard.com
"Michigan Republicans announce $1.2 billion plan to battle COVID-19”
“As Michigan hospitals treat the highest number of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, Republicans unveiled a $1.2 billion plan aimed at easing the surge. State Rep. Thomas Albert, who is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the three-part plan announced Wednesday is designed to improve testing and speed up treatment for COVID-19 patients.
“This plan addresses the main challenges facing our state right now – increasing the capacity to provide early treatments to COVID patients, a critical shortage of health care workers, and keeping our kids healthy and in school,” Albert said. “We are providing immediate help where it’s needed most and will do the most good.” - www.abc12.com
"Some Michigan counties rescinding mask orders over lawsuit concerns”
"The main provision in dispute states that local health departments would lose funding if they have a pandemic order in place when the budget takes effect Friday, unless county commissioners vote to support the order.
"I’m glad to see some communities are moving back to local control through locally elected officials," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Thomas Albert, a Lowell Republican. "The Legislature included the mask mandate language in the budget because locally elected boards and parents are the ones who should be making these decisions — not unelected bureaucrats.” - www.fox2detroit.com
"MI House passes bills shielding employers from virus lawsuits"
"This is a balanced approach on COVID liability that will not in any way protect bad actors,” said a sponsor, Republican Rep. Thomas Albert of Lowell, who added that it would safeguard infected employees from retribution. “Job providers need to know what safety protocols are expected of them, and they deserve some reassurance that they will not be sued if they are taking necessary safety precautions.” - www.insurancejournal.com
"Local lawmaker is freshman of the year in Lansing"
""LANSING — When Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, was elected to represent the 86th District in 2016, he did so after pursuing an “opportunity to be a voice in Lansing.”
Now with one year under his belt in the Legislature, Thomas’ voice has already been heard and made an impact throughout the state, and that performance has led him to be named “Freshman of the Year” by the Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS)." - www.thedailynews.cc
"Iraq War veteran joins GOP contingent in Michigan House"
"GRAND RAPIDS, MI -Albert served on active duty from 2007 to 2010 with the Marines, training as a motor transport platoon commander. He was deployed to Iraq's Anbar Province as an advisor to the Iraqi Army from June to December of 2009...His legislative priorities are close to home: helping veterans and making an impact with pension changes." - www.mlive.com
"Guest column: A better way for teacher pensions"
"Last year, roughly one of every three dollars raised in state revenues for Michigan’s public schools went toward pension payments. That takes money out of the classroom and away from programs that benefit students. It also compresses teachers’ wages because more of their compensation must fund long-term obligations. If we do not tackle this problem now, the situation will be even worse in classrooms of the future. As a state legislator responsible for building a better Michigan and as the father of three young children, that is deeply disturbing." - www.freep.com
"OP-ED: Michigan a model for retirement system debt"
"The vast majority of public pension plans in the United States are dangerously underfunded, squeezing government budgets to the point where benefits promised to retirees and vital community services are threatened. Michigan has long been a model for how to look ahead and create long-term solutions for broken public retirement systems..." - www.crainsdetroit.com
"State Rep. Albert's bill cements the right for victim statements during sentencing”
“House Bill 5798, now Public Act 370 of 2018, was sponsored by Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, and signed into law last week. Albert’s bill was designed to reform the law regarding victim impact statements. “Basically, what the bill does is ensure victims have a voice before sentencing,” Albert told the Sentinel-Standard. “Victim impact statements are given by a greater amount of people, but just through court precedent. What this bill did was put that precedent into law.” - www.sentinel-standard.com
"Column: Act now to fix pension system”
“Michigan’s local governments have an estimated collective pension and retiree health care debt of nearly $20 billion. This takes money away from police and fire departments, road repairs and other essential public services we all depend on. It puts at risk the benefits public employees were promised for their retirement. It threatens to burden our children and grandchildren with debt they did not create.These benefits are not simply numbers in a report or spreadsheet. These benefits are earned through the hard work of police officers, firefighters and other members of our communities. Reform is needed to ensure our great public servants receive the benefits they were promised." - www.detroitnews.com
“Capitol Update: Supporting Michigan’s Veterans”
“Currently, when hiring new employees, the State of Michigan will commonly not consider service in the Armed Forces as relevant professional experience.” “I myself experienced this when I went to work for the State Bureau of Investments after I left the Marine Corps. Despite being an officer who had gained invaluable experience in communications, logistics and leadership, I was starting at the same pay grade as a 22 year old who had just graduated from college. Not allowing military service to be counted as professional experience puts veterans who want to enter a career in civil service, but also have a family to provide for, in a tough position.” -www.lowellsfirstlook.com
"Ban on teen vaping headed for Governor’s desk”
"Legislation that would ban the use of vaping devices and materials by teens, ban sales of to minors and make it a crime for a teen to possess vaping products has cleared both legislative chambers and could soon become law. “Rep. Thomas Albert says that Michigan should have taken the action long before now. In fact he says Michigan is the only state where vaping devices are still allowed for minors.” - www.wkzo.com
"Opinion: Misinformation left a $10 million hole in Michigan corrections budget”
“Unfortunately, the Department of Corrections was prohibited by the governor from communicating with my office about the budget over the summer. This ill-conceived negotiating tactic meant the Legislature was never informed about a $10 million deficit in the education line item of the corrections budget.” - www.mlive.com
"Bill legalizes breeding of large carnivores in Michigan"
"Breeding large carnivores would no longer be illegal in Michigan under legislation introduced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. House Bill 5778, introduced by Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, puts in place a licensing process for people who want to breed large carnivores in Michigan. Such breeding was outlawed in 2000. "This important legislation promotes the health and safety of animals and creates high standards for conservation breeding programs in Michigan," Albert said in a press release." - www.mlive.com
"Newly enacted laws now require warning labels on Michigan marijuana products”
"One of the bill sponsors, Republican Rep. Thomas Albert of Lowell, said the industry has changed people’s perceptions of the drug. “Many people believe it’s perfectly safe, and that’s just not true,” he said. “These labels will better inform parents of risks they may not have previously considered and serve as an added safety measure to protect vulnerable children.”Albert cited studies showing that too many women continue to use marijuana while pregnant.” - www.wxyz.com
"Proposed bills would promote safety at MI fairs and amusement parks”
“Legislation introduced int the State House would create two new programs within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Agriculture and Rural Development. The Michigan Safety and Amusement Star Program and the Fair and Festival's Partners Program would be voluntary. State Representative Thomas Albert of Lowell says the programs would recognize businesses that participate in staff training and safety and emergency preparedness.” - www.fox47news.com
