Capitol Comments

Assemblyman Alex Sauickie

JACKSON - As a new legislator, there were certain issues I expected to work on. Veterans’ issues were among them, and one of the first bills I sponsored would require an independent investigation of the COVID-19 mass deaths at the state’s nursing homes for veterans, and to provide oversight in the future. But my conversations with veterans’ advocates took me in an unexpected direction. I met with a group planning to build a sober living facility primarily for homeless veterans. They told me about the project, but also about their Code Blue facility. I learned that they provide temporary shelter to the homeless during very cold weather.

I then introduced a bill to provide them matching state grants to help them do their life-saving work. It became one of my first bills to receive action in the state Senate. I never expected to go in that direction, but now I’m committed to see it through.

Similarly, I planned to work on