State Rep. Tom Kunse
Recent News About State Rep. Tom Kunse View More
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Michigan Democrats face criticism over alleged lack of government transparency
Six years ago, Governor Gretchen Whitmer campaigned on a platform of transparency and accountability for Michigan's government. Critics argue that her administration has not fulfilled these promises, with recent actions allegedly further distancing the public from governmental operations. The state's $83 billion budget for 2025, passed in the early hours when most residents were asleep, has been cited as an example of this trend.
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Rep. Kunse offers assistance to those affected by Clare County tornado
State Rep. Tom Kunse on Tuesday urged anyone seeking help after a tornado touched down in Clare County last Friday to contact his office. The tornado traveled roughly 12 miles from Lake George to southeast of Harrison.
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Audit reveals ongoing failures within Michigan's Child Protective Services
State Rep. Tom Kunse on Tuesday criticized the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) following a report from Michigan’s nonpartisan Office of the Auditor General, which highlighted significant deficiencies within child protective services (CPS).
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Rep Kunse's plan to rename highway after fallen veteran clears House
State Rep. Tom Kunse on Thursday celebrated the passage of legislation to rename a portion of US 131 near Big Rapids after Sergeant Matthew Webber, an army veteran. Webber passed away in 2006 after an IED attack in Iraq. House Bill 5635 passed the House with unanimous support.
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Legislative softball game raises $34K for charity aiding grieving children
The second annual Legislative Softball Game for Charity successfully raised $34,000 for Ele’s Place, an organization dedicated to aiding grieving children through various services such as peer-to-peer support groups and bereavement counseling.
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Kunse criticizes Democrats' transportation budget, cites lack of local road funding
State Representative Tom Kunse expressed his firm opposition to the Democrat Department of Transportation budget on Wednesday, citing a lack of crucial funding for local roads. The budget instead allocates $15 million for aerial drones and $2.95 million for electric bike incentives. This comes at a time when Michigan ranks 47th nationally in terms of pavement road quality.
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Rep. Kunse Reminds Public of Upcoming Legislative Softball Game for Charity
State Rep. Tom Kunse is urging the community to save the date for the annual Legislative Softball Game set to take place on June 5 at Jackson Field in Lansing. Joining forces with Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, Kunse emphasized the bipartisan nature of the event, aiming to surpass last year's success and draw a larger crowd."Last year was a success, but this year we want to fill Jackson Field," expressed Kunse, highlighting the importance of putting political differences aside for a common cause. "Things can get tense in Lansing, but we’re all here because we want to...
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Reps. Harris, Kunse Criticize Democrats for Downplaying Failures of Unemployment Insurance Agency
State Reps. Mike Harris and Tom Kunse have strongly criticized committee Democrats for attempting to downplay the failures of the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) in handling billions of dollars in fraudulent payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawmakers participated in a joint committee hearing to review a damning audit report that uncovered multiple critical deficiencies.The December 2023 report by Michigan’s nonpartisan Office of the Auditor General revealed significant shortcomings within the UIA, including issuing $245.1 million to likely ineligible...
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Reps. Kunse, Harris Set to Probe Unemployment Failures During Thursday Hearing
State Reps. Tom Kunse and Mike Harris are gearing up to delve into the failures of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency during a joint House hearing on Thursday. The inquiry follows the unveiling of troubling revelations from a December 2023 audit by the Michigan Office of the Auditor General.Representative Kunse expressed skepticism towards the UIA leadership, emphasizing the need for accountability in light of the billions of dollars in fraudulent payments uncovered. Kunse remarked, “Pigs must be flying somewhere because the House Oversight Committee is about to...
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Kunse reinforces support for auditor general after baseless claims
State Rep. Tom Kunse of Clare has reiterated his support for the Auditor General in Michigan amidst what he deems as baseless attacks from Michigan Democrats. Kunse criticized the partisan nature of the attacks, highlighting the importance of maintaining the nonpartisan nature of the Auditor General's office.Kunse questioned the actions of Michigan Democrats, stating, "I’m curious to know what Michigan Democrats think the auditor general should have done differently in this situation." He emphasized the expertise of the Auditor General in conducting internal reviews of...
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Kunse spearheads initiative to rename US 131 portion after fallen veteran
State Rep. Tom Kunse has taken the lead in a campaign to rename a stretch of US 131 near Big Rapids in honor of Sergeant Matthew Webber, an army veteran who tragically passed away in 2006 after an incident in Iraq.Describing Sergeant Webber as a "true American hero who sacrificed everything for our country," Kunse, who represents Clare, expressed his gratitude for being involved in preserving Webber's memory for future generations.Sergeant Webber, originally from Stanwood, enlisted in the Army National Guard during high school and later joined the United States Army,...
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Liquor Control Commission under fire for losing 62,000 bottles of booze
State Rep. Tom Kunse is demanding reforms within the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) following revelations of mismanagement within the agency. An investigation by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) uncovered that over 62,000 state-owned bottles of liquor were missing, amounting to nearly $1 million, which is more than 20 percent of the commission's total inventory.Kunse expressed his shock, stating, “I’m sorry, but how is it even possible that the MLCC could be so mismanaged that 62,000 bottles of anything could just go missing?” He emphasized the...
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Rep. Kunse: Small businesses are left behind under Democrat leadership
State Rep. Tom Kunse criticized Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's economic development strategies, stating that "No business owner decides to relocate to a state whose focus is on business-killing green energy and lining the pockets of union bosses." Kunse expressed concerns about the impact of Democrat leadership on small businesses in Michigan.Kunse also highlighted the repeal of right-to-work protections, aggressive anti-business union tactics, and energy mandates that threaten Michigan industry under the current leadership. He emphasized the importance of supporting hardworking...
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Rep. Kunse to host local office hours
State Rep. Tom Kunse, R-Clare, will soon host local office hours in Clare and Big Rapids. The meetings are scheduled to take place on Friday, March 29 at specific locations within the two cities.According to the announcement, "No appointments are necessary to attend office hours. Those who are unable to attend but would still like to share their thoughts with the representative may call his Lansing office at (517) 373-7317 or email [email protected]."Representative Kunse represents the 100th District, which includes Mecosta, Osceola, and parts of Lake, and Clare counties.
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Rep. Kunse Urges Public Participation in Shaping Solar and Wind Siting Rules
State Rep. Tom Kunse is calling for public involvement in the upcoming meetings to discuss the implementation of new state rules governing large-scale wind and solar projects. Kunse emphasized the importance of public input in shaping the implementation of solar siting rules across Michigan, stating, “If enough people show up, the public has an opportunity to really shape how solar siting rules are implemented across the state.”Kunse, who opposed the legislation that grants the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) authority over local zoning ordinances for wind and...
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Reps. Kunse, Farhat Announce Second Annual Legislative Softball Game
State Representatives Tom Kunse and Alabas Farhat have announced the second annual Legislative Softball Game for charity. The event, which was a huge success last year, will take place on June 5 at Jackson Field in Lansing. The game aims to bring together colleagues on both sides of the aisle and raise funds for a worthy cause."Last year was such a success that we had to run it back again this year," said Rep. Kunse. "The Legislative Softball Game allows us to throw politics aside, embrace bipartisanship, and raise money for a really important organization."Rep. Farhat...
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Rep. Kunse: Focus should be govt. transparency, education
State Representative Tom Kunse, a Republican from Clare, expressed his concerns about government transparency and education in response to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's State of the State address. Rep. Kunse criticized the governor for failing to address transparency legislation that was mandated by voters through a constitutional amendment. He also raised concerns about the governor's proposal for two free years of community college tuition for all high school graduates.Rep. Kunse, who serves as the Republican vice chair of the House Ethics and Oversight Committee,...
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Rep. Kunse: Oversight Committee must consider MDHHS foster care failures
State Representative Tom Kunse, a member of the House Ethics and Oversight Committee, has called for urgent action following reports of failures within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) foster care system. The MDHHS has been under federal court oversight since 2006, when it faced a class-action lawsuit alleging mistreatment of children in its care."It’s frightening to consider how many kids may have been failed by the broken system in the 18 years since MDHHS was originally sued for negligence," said Rep. Kunse. "MDHHS is clearly incapable of...
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Rep. Kunse: Unemployment agency audit highlights failures
State Representative Tom Kunse, a Republican from Clare, has expressed his concerns regarding the recent audit conducted by the nonpartisan Office of the Auditor General, which uncovered failures by the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). The audit revealed that the UIA neglected to investigate improper payments made during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.In a statement, Rep. Kunse drew attention to the importance of accountability and responsibility in handling taxpayer funds. He compared the situation to a bank theft, stating, "If someone walked into my bank...
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Rep. Kunse to host local office hours
State Representative Tom Kunse, a Republican from Clare, has announced that he will be hosting local office hours in Reed City and Harrison. These office hours will provide an opportunity for constituents to meet with the representative and share their thoughts and concerns.The office hours will be held on Saturday, January 13, at the Reed City Offices located at 227 Lincoln Ave. in Reed City. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Following that, on Saturday, January 20, there will be another session at the Harrison District Library, located at 125 W. Beech St. in Harrison,...