Lesia Liss

Lesia on Forbes.com

Power Women
You Want To Run For Office. Now What?
Heidi Brown, 07.10.09, 3:45 PM ET

Lesia Liss never thought of going into politics. She worked in health care for 23 years, but after spending 13 years as a registered nurse in the emergency rooms of the Henry Ford Medical Center in Warren, Mich., she had a change of heart.

To Liss, 42, her patients seemed to be a mirror of the souring economy, since Michigan had been hit harder by falling home prices, and unemployment had long been an issue as car industry slowly deteriorated. "[My patients] were like economic indicators," she explains. "In the ER, I could see everything that was wrong with society. I was at ground zero."

More...

Democrats push insurance reform

Unlike most states, Michigan does not protect consumers, they say

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

By Chad Selweski, Macomb Daily Staff Writer

Insurance companies that deny legitimate claims could face a fine of up to $1 million and insurance CEOs who conspire to delay or deny claims could face four years in prison, under Democratic legislation that will be taken up today by state lawmakers.

A package of 12 bills aims to make insurance companies accountable for the coverage promised in home, auto and health care policies. In a series of five news conferences held across the state, lawmakers said a crackdown is needed against insurers that renege on providing benefits.

"Michigan is one of only four states that have virtually no consumer protections against insurance companies that act in bad faith," said Democratic Rep. Lesia Liss, a Warren Democrat and a registered nurse.

More ...

General Motors Opens Battery Lab at Warren Tech Center; Pledges GM Future in Warren

On June 7, General Motors demonstrated its commitment to Warren's future with an announcement that a new Battery Lab will be built at the Warren Technical Center.  The Global Battery Systems lab will encompass 33.000 feet and will house good-paying jobs that will help Warren and Center Line maintain viability.

This is a heartening action that demonstrates the auto industry's commitment to Michigan.  With recent discussion about moving General Motors facilities, we can all rest somewhat calmer in the knowledge that the future of Michigan includes General Motors.  This battery lab announcement takes that commitment a step further.  While the early construction of the batteries required to run the next generation of General Motors cars will be built overseas, this action shows that there has been a decision to bring that high-tech work back to the United States.  I applaud General Motors for its vision in utilizing the talent pool here in Michigan to propel its prosperity in its new era.

Smoking Ban Bill Passes House

A smoking ban has come before the House and has passed. 

House Bill 4377, as amended and passed on Tuesday, May 26, would prohibit smoking in public places, including places of employment, restaurants and bars. Exceptions for places that cater specifically to smokers, such as cigar bars and tobacco retail shops, and home offices, are now part of the bill as well. While I was hopeful for a complete indoor smoking ban, I voted for this bill as it is the best we can get at this point. I am encouraged by Senator Michael Bishop, the Majority Leader in the Senate, who has indicated his caucus supports a complete ban.

Michigan must enact a smoking bill in order to stay competitive with other states. Earlier this month, Governor Beverly Perdue of North Carolina signed into law an indoor smoking ban, making her state the 35th to regulate this deadly practice. For me, it is not a matter of personal freedom. On the contrary; a ban on smoking in public indoor places will enhance the basic human freedom to breathe.

As the bill now awaits action in the Senate, I hope for positive movement on this in the next few weeks. Having seen the effects of long-term smoking in my work as a registered nurse, tending to patients whose lives are cut short by tobacco use, I see any action taken to reduce smoking as necessary to save lives. The arguments made by opponents of a smoking ban that the state would lose revenue from tobacco taxes is rendered moot by the subsequent decline in health care costs to Medicaid and other state-run health programs. I want a continued debate on this legislation. I am encouraging Speaker Dillon and Majority Leader Bishop to take a lead role in protecting the lives, and lungs, of Michigan citizens, and send a smoking ban bill to the Governor for her signature.

Coffee Meeting with State Representative Lesia Liss

Please join me for a coffee meeting on Monday, June 15 at 6 PM. In order to celebrate the re-opening of the Warren Fitzgerald Recreation Center, I am holding it there, at 4355 E. 9 Mile Rd., just east of Ryan Rd.

I would like to meet with as many of you as possible, hear your concerns, and update you on what is happening in Lansing. If you have a particular issue you like to talk with me about one-on-one, please come at 5:30 so we can have enough time to address your issue.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Yes We Did!

Lesia wins the race for the state house in the 28th District for Warren and Center Line! With 100% of the precints reporting, Lesia has 24,651 votes (70.5%) to 10,339 (29.5%) for Republican Jason Balaska.

Thank you for your support and hard work in Lesia's campaign.

"There are just so many people to thank and I do not want to leave anyone out, so thank you to everyone.

"This whole journey started a little over a year ago. In the initial stages when deciding to run, I was cautiously optimistic of my chances.  I knew it would be hard work, and as you all know through your efforts, hard work it was!  I decided this was the right thing to do.  The people need responsible elected officials in our state government and there are just so many issues to work on, that I decided I HAD to do this.

"I began walking door to door in the district and meeting so many wonderful people.  It was truly a pleasure to get to meet each person. I heard the stories of the effects of our broken economy, lack of affordable health care, and the status of our job losses in the state.  Each person’s personal story touched me and reminded me just how important this election was.

"Down the road, we faced a tough primary in which we came through with flying colors. I am so grateful to all those who supported me during that time, as, without your help in getting past the primary, we would not be standing here today.

"I have to say, that after all of the walking, phone calls, meetings, speaking engagements and just hearing all that was going on in people’s lives, I am so glad we did this. I am so glad each of you were here to do this with me.

"Each of you were a part of this journey in some way, shape, or form, whether it was passing out literature, coming to a fundraiser, working a poll, or simply voting for me, you were all a part of this, and this could not have been done without you!  I cannot thank each of you enough.

"Now that we have won this election, it’s time to get down to business. I will be in Lansing and getting acclimated to being YOUR state representative in the coming days. There is much work ahead, and it will be a pleasure doing it!  I cannot wait to get to work on all of the issues including health care, our economy, job growth, environmental protection and protection of our children and seniors.

"Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you, thank you.  I am so glad to have so many wonderful friends, who I have both known for a long time and met along the way, to be here, celebrating with me, on this great day.

"While there was so much hard work in this campaign and there is much work ahead, tonight is about celebrating!  Please kick back, enjoy yourselves tonight and give yourself a pat on the back, you ALL deserve it.

"I must say it is truly an honor to be the next State Representative in our district!  Thank you again so very much!"

Lesia Endorsed by the Detroit Free Press

Macomb County state House seats

These are the best choices in the Nov. 4 general election.

Term-limits, restricting state House members to three 2-year stays in Lansing, will remove six Macomb County representatives from office at the end of this year, creating some spirited contests in Michigan's third most-populous county. The demographics and politics of Macomb County, once solidly blue-collar and Democratic, have shifted, with Republicans generally dominant now in the north. Macomb voters in recent years have sent some of Michigan's most liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans to the Legislature.

District 28 (Center Line, south and central Warren): Democrat Lesia Liss, 42, of Warren, is competing with Republican Jason Balaska, 32, of Warren, to replace term-limited state Rep. Lisa Wojno, D-Warren.

Both candidates are capable and informed.

Moderate and independent, Balaska is committed to open government, proposing an online record of all state spending. He understands the need for good public schools to improve the state's economic future and would work to reduce class sizes, give local districts more flexibility to manage schools, and ensure access to lifelong learning. He also favors requiring businesses that get state tax breaks to hire a certain share of in-state employees.

Liss is an emergency room nurse. Sharp, compassionate and personable, she would bring much needed expertise on health care issues to Lansing. She also has good ideas on how to improve education and mass transit.

In a close call, LESIA LISS gets the nod. She is a fresh voice focused on moving Michigan forward who would not get bogged down in political bickering.

Thank You!

With all of the precincts in Warren and Center Line report­ing, Lesia de­ci­­sive­­ly wins the Demo­crat­ic pri­mary in a crowd­ed field of eight candi­dates, out-pacing the second-place finisher 31 to 22 percent.

Thank you for your support and hard work in Lesia's campaign. More news after Lesia catches her breath!

For a summary and detailed election results from the Macomb County Clerk's Office click here.

Dear Neighbor

My name is Lesia Liss and I want to serve as your next State Representative.

I am running because we need affordable health care for all residents, because our State needs to invest in good jobs and because we need to fight criminals that prey on our Seniors and all our citizens.

As a lifelong resident I share your concerns and believe in our future. As your State Representative I will work hard on the issues facing out community.

Sincerely,

Lesia Liss

Strong Support for Our Strong Voice!

Lesia is recognized as the best voice for our community by the strong support of a wide range of community leaders, including the UAW, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Operating Engineers Local 324, the Michigan Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers of Michigan, the Warren/Center Line Senior Connection, the Michigan Nurses Association, the Police Officers Association of Michigan and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Michigan!   

Strong support for Our Strong Voice!