Series 1: House of Representative Papers, 1974-1983 (4.5 cu.ft.). Legislative bills introduced or sponsored by Binsfeld. These are arranged by year and then sequentially by bill number. Alphabetical subject files follow bills. Includes constituent correspondence that is arranged alphabetically by constituent surname or name of corporate body. Legislative subject matter documents spouse abuse, the juvenile justice code, health care, fireworks, retirement and taxes. Materials generally consist of correspondence and, occasionally, some notes, a copy of the bill and/or legislative analysis. Correspondents include constituents, local governments, other legislators and advocacy groups. This series documents Binsfeld's 1980 campaign for reelection to the Michigan House and her 1982 campaign for the Michigan Senate. Materials include correspondence, financial information, speeches, endorsements, handwritten notes, voter polls and questionnaires. The small amount of pre-1981 constituent correspondence is filed with the general correspondence. General correspondence includes communications from and to state government agencies, Binsfeld's fellow Republicans, concerned (non-constituent) citizens and advocacy groups. Most of the content relates to specific legislation and legislative issues. The "Acme Hilton Hotel" folder concerns a Traverse City area hotel and convention center. A U.S. Farmer's Home Administration loan partially funded the hotel's construction. Binsfeld called for an investigation, charging that the loan unfairly favored a large corporation over the area's already-existing hotel businesses. The "Hartwick Pines State Park" folder contains letters from Frankfort, Michigan area students and a reply from Binsfeld. The letters concern the possibility of Hartwick Pines closing due to budget cuts. (The Park was not closed). The Michigan Mothers Committee selected Binsfeld as "Michigan Mother of the Year" for 1977. This series includes letters in support of her nomination and letters of congratulation. It also includes biographical information on Binsfeld and her family and a list of Michigan Mothers Committee members. The "Railroad/Car Ferry" materials span 1980-82 and document two occurrences. The first is the closing of a car ferry port in Frankfort, Michigan. The State-owned Ann Arbor Railroad System ran the ferry, and the port was closed to save money. Many Frankfort area residents were concerned about effects on the local economy. The second occurrence is the 1982 closure of railroad track between Petoskey and Mackinaw City. The folders consist mainly of correspondence with Michigan Department of Transportation officials, Ann Arbor Railroad System administrators, local governments, the Michigan House Republican Office and constituents. The "Sleeping Bear Dunes" documents touch on several issues, including land acquisition, funding and hunting and fishing rights. The folder consists mainly of correspondence. Correspondents include U.S. Department of the Interior officials, federal legislators, the director of the Sleeping Bear Natural Lake Shore and Binsfeld constituents. The Tower Mountain Ski Resort folder concerns a proposed ski resort near Mesick, Michigan. There is correspondence from constituents and some U.S. Department of Agriculture officials (The proposed site was in the Huron-Manistee National Forests, which fell under the Department of Agriculture's purview). The "Traverse City Regional Psychiatric Hospital" correspondence documents the hospital's budget problems and possible closing. (The hospital closed in 1989). There are also some letters on resident living conditions, building demolitions and property transfers. Correspondents include TCRPH employees, Michigan state government officials, local government officials, federal legislators, and union representatives. Series 2: Senate papers, 1983-1991 (1.75 cu. ft.). Materials pertaining to Senate Bill 63 of 1983 appear at the beginning of this series. Alphabetical subject files follow. Binsfeld introduced Senate Bill 63 of 1983 to outlaw surrogate parenting in Michigan. SB 63 materials include correspondence with judges, special interest groups, constituents and other concerned citizens and Binsfeld's fellow legislators. There are also notes, prepared statements, Senate testimony, copies of the bill and bill analysis. Finally, there are audio taped recordings of Binsfeld interviews on The Phil Donahue Show and Midday Magazine. The Interstate Legislative Committee on the Great Lakes was formed to study Great Lakes water diversion. It was comprised of legislators from the Great Lakes states (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana). ILCGL materials consist mainly of correspondence. Correspondents include the Senate Republican Office, other legislators and local governments. The collection contains transcripts of speeches made by Binsfeld dating 1983 to 1988, and two unidentified photographs. One depicts Governor James Blanchard signing something (a bill?) as Connie Binsfeld and others look on. The other photo depicts Binsfeld and two unidentified women. They appear to be at a meeting or conference of some sort. Under the Senior Intern Program, senior citizens were selected for internships in the Michigan legislature. Seniors selected would spend a week in Lansing, working with their district's Senator and learning about the legislative process. "Senior Intern Program" folders include correspondence, schedules of internship weeks and seniors' evaluations of their internship experiences. The "Traverse City Regional Psychiatric Hospital" folders consist of a building and facility study of TCRPH's Children's Center, handwritten notes taken at meetings and correspondence. Subjects include the children's center, budget matters, a proposed veterans hospital and TCRPH's closing in October, 1989. Correspondents include TCRPH employees, Michigan Department of Management and Budget and Department of Mental Health administrators, local government officials, federal legislators, and union officials.
