More Michigan residents need access to affordable housing and health insurance, and those are the priorities of state Representative Carrie Rheingans, a public health policy expert from Ann Arbor.
This week, Rheingans, a Democrat, introduced House Bill 4009 to repeal Michigan’s 1988 ban on rent stabilization. She says it would restore local control and allow cities to consider measures like rent control.
Rheingans shared her personal experience of the financial strain on renters in cities like Ann Arbor, where many spend over half their income on housing.
“I’m a renter in Ann Arbor,” Rheingans said. “I’ve been a renter there for over 20 years because I can’t afford to buy a house in the area. My rent went up 33% from my last lease year to this lease year, and there’s nothing prohibiting that.”
The bill has been referred to the Committee on Government Operations for review.
Rheingans says she’s also a strong advocate for expanding the MiCare program — created under the Affordable Care Act — to become publicly funded insurance that would cover all Michiganders without copays or coverage limits.
