Cross-posted to MichiganLiberal.com.
In This Week's Edition
- Governor Unveils FY 2007 Budget
- Republicans Takes Aim at Single Business Tax
- What's Happening in Washington?
- Looking Ahead to November...and 2008
- Legislature Update
- Around the State
- Opinion Roundup
- Sound Bites of the Week
Michigan By the Numbers
- States with higher average insurance rates than Michigan: 9.
- Detroit's rank on the list of cities with the worst traffic: 8th.
- Attendance at this year's Detroit Winter Blast: 1.2 million.
- Percent of state's landfill trash originating outside Michigan: 28.9.
- Former governor "Soapy" Williams's shoe size: 15E.
- Lottery tickets sold during Super Bowl week: $47 million worth.
- Cost of the Pontiac Silverdome: $55.7 million, in 1973 dollars.
Governor Unveils FY 2007 Budget
Governor Granholm proposed a $42.6 billion budget for fiscal 2007--about the same as the current year's budget if you factor in inflation. As budgets go, the governor's proposal was "relatively pedestrian", with few new programs.
According to the Detroit News, highlights of the budget include:
- Boosting school aid by $200 a pupil.
- A 2-percent increasing in spending for state colleges.
- No new revenue sharing money for cities, townships and counties.
- $111 million in extra revenue from the closing of business tax loopholes.
- Higher fees for liquor licenses.
- Health care coverage for about half a million uninsured residents, to be achieved largely by redistributing federal funds.
The Associated Press provides
a department-by-department look at the governor's proposed budget.
Writing on the state GOP's website, Senator Alan Sanborn (R-Richmond Township) charged that the governor's budget would usher in "a new era of big government".
Metro Leaders Focus on Transit. Problems with shuttle bus service between the suburbs and Detroit during Super Bowl weekend highlighted the need to improve mass transit in the metro area. One problem is that the city of Detroit and the suburbs operate separate bus systems. In an editorial, the News argued that a strong public transit system is essential to the region's recovery.
Republicans Takes Aim at Single Business Tax
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson launched off an effort to abolish the state's Single Business Tax. Patterson hopes to put a proposal abolishing the tax on the November ballot, and he says he's gotten offers of financial support from business and political leaders. The Detroit News endorsed Patterson's proposal, saying that the tax has driven businesses out of the state. The Detroit Free Press agreed that the SBT is a bad tax but repealing it could result in cuts in services while lawmakers scramble to make up lost revenue. Republicans sidestepped the question of how, or even whether, they plan to make up the $1.8 million in revenue the SBT brings in. Patterson was vague on that point, saying only that he wanted the SBT replaced with a "fair" tax like that levied by other states.
What's Happening in Washington?
Michigan Comes Short in GOP Leadership Vote. As it turned out, Michigan lawmakers didn't fare well in last week's elections for the House Republican leadership. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) lost the race for House Majority Whip, and Representative Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia) was defeated in his bid to chair the House GOP Policy Committee.
Autoworkers Mull Legislative Strategy. The United Auto Workers held their legislative conference this week. Their priorities include universal health care, a crackdown on unfair trade practices, and incentives for alternative fuel vehicles. On Monday, Governor Granholm and federal lawmakers met with UAW officials; and on Tuesday, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) endorsed the union's call for a "Marshall Plan" for the auto industry.
In Brief. Michigan stands to lose even more federal funds under President Bush's budget proposal for fiscal 2007....Freshman Representative Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) finds himself pressured by both conservative and liberal activists....The House narrowly approved a package of budget cuts, and Michigan's House delegation split along party lines.
Looking Ahead to November...and 2008
DeVos: Big Plans, Big Risks. Last month, likely GOP gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos said on "Off the Record" that he'd consider ending Medicaid and eliminating the Single Business Tax. Chris Christoff of the Free Press remarked that Democrats could capitalize on the idea of a billionaire "who'd slash health care for poor people to pay for business tax cuts."
Update on Ballot Proposals. A group of business leaders has has formed the Coalition to Stop the K-16 Spending Mandate....According to the Oakland Press, there are several good arguments for eliminating the State Senate, a proposal that might be on the ballot...A group calling itself One United Michigan will fight the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, which would ban affirmative action in government hiring and state colleges....Labor leaders are set to kick off their petition drive to increase the state's minimum wage.
In Brief. A few days after his original column about DeVos, Free Press's Chris Christoff said that he'd mischaracterized Dick DeVos's comments about Medicaid. Christoff earlier said that DeVos had advocated doing away with the program....The state Democratic Party has unveiled The Outsourcing Thermometer, which counts American jobs shipped overseas....The Free Press profiled Senator Michael Switalski (D-Roseville), which it described as a moderate Democrat in an increasingly conservative district.
Legislature Update
Latest on Proposed State Curriculum. The Detroit News endorsed the Education Department's proposed curriculum. It also took aim at legislative "Puritans" whose proposed curriculum could lead to the teaching of "intelligent design". The Free Press also voiced its objection to language in the bill relating to science classes, warning that it could allow intelligent design to slip through the back door.
Stem Cell Research Faces Uphill Battle. Legislation that would lift the state's ban on embryonic stem cell research faces an uphill battle, with the Michigan Catholic Conference and Right to Life of Michigan lined up against it. However, Representative Ed Gaffney (R-Grosse Pointe Farms) promised to hold hearings on permitting embryonic stem-cell research by April 1.
There's also an economic angle to the stem-cell controversy. Chuck Sweeley, a retired Michigan State University professor, argues that stem-cell research could bring jobs to Michigan.
Lawmakers Hammer Out Water Diversion Bill. Lawmakers passed compromise legislation aimed at protecting Great Lakes water. The legislation would ban bulk diversions of water out of the lakes, and require users of large quantities of water to obtain a permit before drawing it. However, it would allow bottled water to be drawn from the lakes and exported.
Dems Target Trash Imports. In an op-ed in Tuesday's Traverse City Record-Eagle, Representative Dianne Byrum (D-Onondoga) called on lawmakers to either hike dumping fees or put the issue on the November ballot. Earlier this week, the head of the Department of Environmental Quality said that trash imports fall when a state raises dumping fees.
Detroit, Suburbs Face Off Over Water Board. The Senate passed legislation that would create a seven-member board to oversee Detroit-area water rates. The Free Press's Brian Dickerson called the legislation a political "wedge issue".
Bills in the Hopper. Jack Hoogendyk (R-Kalamazoo) introduced a bill that would make English the state's official language....The House passed legislation that would ease regulations on logging. Meanwhile, the Republicans are backing legislation that would eliminate a scheduled tax hike on foresters and force municipalities to rely on property taxes for the revenue....Representative Steve Bieda (D-Warren) introduced a bill that would provide compensation to those who have been wrongfully imprisoned....A House panel approved legislation making clear that a liquor license is required for events where alcohol is served and admission is charged....The House approved legislation limiting the number of passengers in a car driven by a newly-licensed driver.
In Brief. The legislature let stand an administrative rule barring the construction of new surgery center....A citizen's group is urging lawmakers to take up legislation overturning drug companies' immunity from lawsuits....Republican legislative leaders oppose the governor's plan to close business tax loopholes and raise liquor license fees.
Around the State
Governor, AG, Trade Charges Over Pricing Enforcement. Under fire for lax enforcement of the state's item-pricing law, Attorney General Mike Cox accused the Granholm administration of not cooperating in an investigation of Wal-Mart. The administration responded that Cox's office had independent authority to investigate item-pricing violations.
Opinion Roundup
The Lansing State Journal called on the nation to launch a energy-independence effort on the scale of the Manhattan Project....The Booth Newspapers' Peter Luke said that the Democrats are pursuing "low-cost" solutions to help lower-income residents with pay, health care, and retirement....The News endorsed Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land's election reform proposals....The State Journal argued that proposed statewide cable regulation won't benefit customers....Teamsters leader James P. Hoffa contended that our focus on homeland security has resulted in our neglecting economic security of America's working families....The News endorsed the Secretary of State's proposed overhaul of Michigan's election laws.
Sound Bites of the Week
"We don't need 148 legislators here in Lansing."--Representative Glenn Steil (R-Cascade), who introduced a bill that would cut the state House from 110 members to 60.
"Bankruptcy is big business. Corporate executives gain a lot from it, workers struggle as a result of it."--Ron Gettelfinger, United Auto Workers president.
Turning to the highest available intellectual talent, The Detroit News ran a column by sportscaster Frank Beckmann predicting that corporations would pull out of Michigan if this passed.--The Metro Times's Jack Lessenberry, commenting on the effort to defeat the so-called "Wal-Mart bill."