LANSING — State Rep. Aaron Miller recently commended strides made by the Michigan Legislature in the first year of his second term serving residents of St. Joseph and Cass counties.

Miller chairs the House Committee on Election and Ethics and serves on the Appropriations Committee, where he is a member of four subcommittees.

Miller also chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on Michigan State Police, where he helped usher in 127 new troopers in the just completed budget cycle and approved a budget that will add 150 by next fall. The other highlight of the budget was a boost for the state’s laboratories, adding more employees to help investigate serious crimes, Miller’s office said.

“I can’t say enough how important public safety is,” Rep. Miller said. “Along with bolstering the state economically, people of Michigan and prospective Michiganders need to know that they can be kept safe where they live and work. That not only includes the men and women of Michigan State Police, but all those who wear the uniform in fire departments, police departments, and ambulance services around the state at the local and county levels, too.”

Miller supported a bill reforming Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance. The legislation offered residents relief in the face of the nation’s highest auto insurance rates and a choice when it came to buying coverage plans.

The bills advanced through the House Insurance Committee but were defeated in a House floor vote.

“My goal over the next year is continuing to fight for relief for Michigan residents who are paying astronomically high auto insurance rates,” said Miller, of Sturgis. “The vote I cast in support of the bill was a vote for Michigan families trying to stay on course with their budgets. That is real relief residents need.”

Through his subcommittee positions on School Aid and Education, as well as Higher Education, Miller welcomed another increase to the school aid budget, putting more money in the classroom, especially for rural schools at the minimum foundation level, his office said.

“Training and advancing the next generation starts at the K-12 level,” said Miller, a former mathematics teacher. “It’s crucial that we provide the funding, support and oversight necessary to make sure our young people can flourish in the classroom and compete as they grow, whether they’re heading to college or to a career. The governor recently has made it a primary focus within education to get students career-ready and I would like to join in those efforts.”

Rep. Miller can be reached via email at AaronMiller@house.mi.gov or through his office phone at (517) 373-0832.