Justice Caucus Endorses Dian Slavens in House District 21

The Justice Caucus voted to endorse Dian Slavens in House District 21. Slavens was elected in 2008 shifting the 21st District from red to blue.

As State Representative, Dian is working to ensure that all Michigan residents – especially children and seniors – get the health care they deserve. As a member of the House Health Policy Committee and as Vice Chair of the House Senior Health, Security and Retirement Committee, Dian has championed legislation to hold health care professionals accountable when they engage in harmful and unethical medical practices. She also led a crackdown on elder abuse by strengthening consumer protections for seniors and increasing penalties for those who financially exploit, abuse or neglect them.

Drawing on her many years as a respiratory therapist, where she witnessed the devastating and often fatal effects of secondhand smoke, Dian was also instrumental in banning smoking in most indoor places in Michigan, including bars and restaurants.

In April 2009, Dian's first bill was signed into law, which expanded Michigan's first-in-the-nation incentives – now totaling $1 billion – for companies that make advanced batteries, like those found in hybrid and electric vehicles. Because of this ground-breaking plan, eight world-class companies plan to invest at least $4.4 billion in Michigan and create nearly 8,000 jobs for our workers.

In addition, Dian is working to make state government more efficient and accountable to our residents. She sponsored a plan to end taxpayer-funded lifetime health care for state lawmakers to ensure that our elected officials share in the sacrifice that Michigan families are facing every day. Dian also supported key government reforms to:

     • Dock legislators' pay if they don't pass a balanced budget on time.

     • Cut the salaries of legislators and other elected officials – including her own – by 10 percent.

     • Dock lawmakers' pay when they miss a day of House session.