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Hi. I'm State Representative Terry Brown. Welcome to my news update, "Talking With Terry."

Michigan's rural areas have many assets, and I'm proud to represent one of the most rural districts in the state.  Our way of life and our traditions are worth protecting and passing down to future generations.  We also have many needs that differ from Michigan's urban areas – needs that often are overlooked or underfunded.  That's why State Senator Jim Barcia and I have started a new legislative group to advocate for Michigan's rural needs. 

This group, called the Rural Caucus, includes State Representatives and State Senators who represent rural areas all over Michigan.  Our goal is to help our fellow lawmakers understand the challenges facing Michigan's rural residents.  For example, Michigan's 57 rural counties have higher percentages of poverty and unemployment.  In fact, the average Michigan resident made $33,778 in 2006, according to the U.S.D.A. Economic Research Service – but the average rural Michigan resident made only $27,408.

Rural residents tend to have less access to quality health care than those who live in urban or suburban areas.  That's partly because rural areas often have a shortage of health care providers, especially primary care physicians and dentists.  This can lead to long waits for appointments and having to travel long distances for health care, which can be especially tough for folks who don't have their own transportation.  One of the tools that can help is telemedicine, where medical consultation, diagnosis and even treatment can be done or at least overseen via e-mail or video.

Rural areas also need help expanding telecommunications and computer networks.  Having clean, safe water, improving our infrastructure, expanding police and fire services – all these are rural needs that deserve attention. 

The Rural Caucus will be a source of information on all these issues for legislators.  We will bring in experts to share information and provide up-to-date research.  The discussions that result from these meetings will provide many legislators with a level of understanding that they might not otherwise have.  This will help all of us legislators work together at the Capitol to find positive solutions that benefit the whole state. Within the few square blocks of the city of Lansing, some lawmakers can lose sight of the needs of rural Michigan. The Rural Caucus will be here to remind them.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  I am here to serve you and your family.  You can call me, toll-free, at (888) 254-5284. Or, you can e-mail me at terrybrown@house.mi.gov.

You can also visit my Web site to see the work I am doing or check on upcoming events and sign up for my e-newsletter.  Thank you for listening to "Talking with Terry."

Make it a great day!