Legislative Newsletter Archive
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce Bi-Weekly Report, 12/13/10
Autism Insurance Mandate Dies In Senate
An all-out push from the House Majority Floor Leader and the future Lieutenant Governor wasn't enough to convince Senate Republicans to take a vote on legislation that would mandate health insurers cover autism-related expenses as part of their coverage.
Lt. Gov.-Elect Brian Calley spent nearly two hours...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce Biweekly News Digest, Period Ending Fri., Nov. 26, 2010
Speaker Elect Promises Faster Start
Saying Republicans are chomping at the bit to get started, House Speaker-elect Jase Bolger told MIRS last week that he expects the House to be organized and up and moving earlier in January than it was two years ago.
In January 2009, freshman Rep. Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc) slammed the Legislature for doing...
Traverse City Chamber of Commerce Bi-Weekly News Digest, Period Ending Fri., Nov. 12, 2010
New State Leadership Takes Shape
With the election settled earlier this month, the focus in Lansing has turned to just who will replace outgoing House Speaker Andy Dillon, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and other key-termed out state leaders in the Legislature.
With a new GOP majority, control of the Michigan House will switch come...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bi-weekly News Digest For The Period Ending Fri., Oct. 29, 2010
Election 2010 Coming To A Close
With only hours left in the 2010 election cycle -- it appears that the only question may be over which part controls the Michigan House after the dust settles Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.
A big reason for optimism among Republicans is the continuing strong support for GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bi-Weekly News Digest, For The Period Ending Fri., Oct. 15, 2010
The Final Two Weeks What to Expect
The final two weeks of Michigan's campaign 2010 will be replete with lots of ads (mostly from GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Snyder and congressional candidates) and perhaps a few announcements of what Snyder might do as governor.
The latest polls still show the Ann Arbor businessman holding a 20-point lead over...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce Bi-Weekly News Digest, Week Ending Fri., Oct. 1, 2010
Duct Tape/Bailing Wire Get Budget Out
It wasn't pretty and it doesn't solve many of the state's ongoing spending/revenue problems but the Legislature on Wednesday cranked out one day early the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget.
By late Thursday night, Gov. Jennifer Granholm had signed all but one of the bills making up the budget. The remaining budget...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce Bi-Weekly News Digest, Week Ending Fri., Oct. 1, 2010
Duct Tape/Bailing Wire Get Budget Out
It wasn't pretty and it doesn't solve many of the state's ongoing spending/revenue problems but the Legislature on Wednesday cranked out one day early the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget.
By late Thursday night, Gov. Jennifer Granholm had signed all but one of the bills making up the budget. The remaining...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce Biweekly News Digest, Two Week Period Ending Fri., Sept. 17, 2010
Retirement Could Be What Stalls Budget To Deadline
Lawmakers have a mere 10 days to finish up action on the upcoming fiscal year budget with the end of the current fiscal year looming at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30.
While the state's legislative leaders have agreed on the underpinnings of a deal to allow that budget to advance -- the House of...
Traverse City Chamber of Commerce Bi-Weekly News Update, Period Ending Fri., September 3, 2010
Steffek Tea Party Saga Ends
The battle over whether an alleged "fake Tea Party" will be allowed to have candidates appear in key races came to a crashing end Friday when the Michigan Supreme Court ended the saga by opting not to take up a Court of Appeals ruling keeping the party off the ballot.
Republicans contend that the Steffek Tea Party was...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Biweekly News Digest, Period Ending Fri., August 20, 2010
Countdown To Conventions
The two major party gubernatorial nominees have been selected and this week marks the countdown to the two major party conventions this coming weekend.
On the GOP side, the big battle appears to be over who will win the right to represent the GOP in the race for Secretary of State. With the surge in registration of Tea-...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bi-Weekly Capitol News Update -- Period Ending Fri., Aug. 6, 2010
Independent Congressional Candidate Dogs Benishek
Glenn Wilson, the independent congressional candidate in the 1st District, said Republican Dan Benishek, who is holding on to a thin 13-vote margin over Sen. Jason Allen, is not a Tea Party candidate, contrary to the statewide and national labeling of the Upper Peninsula physician.
Wilson, who is...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bi-Weekly Capitol News Update -- Period Ending Fri., July 23, 2010
GOP Race Appears "Frozen" Heading Into Final Days
When it comes to who will be the Republican gubernatorial standard bearer following next Tuesday's August 3 primary -- pundits are describing the race as "frozen."
"I think it's still up for grabs," said Inside Michigan Politics Editor Bill Ballenger. "Anybody could win."
The polls are...
Traverse City Chamber of Commerce News Digest For The Two Weeks Ending Fri., July 9, 2010
Northern Michigan's 1st CD GOP Nomination Race Statistically Tied
One of the hottest races going into the upcoming August 3 primary is the GOP battle for the nomination in the 1st Congressional District and a new poll out Friday suggest the race could be a barn-burner.
According to a new survey by Inside Michigan Politics, Dr. Dan Benishek of...
Traverse City Chamber of Commerce Bi-Weekly News Digest, Period Ending Fri., June 25, 2010
Budget Blues Worsen With Fed Inaction On FMAP Hike
What state leaders saying on the record is that Thursday's failure by the federal government to enact legislation boosting the state's Federal Medical Assistance Program (FMAP) money presents another challenge to getting the budget done by their self-appointed deadline of July 1.
What they're...
Traverse City Chamber of Commerce Biweekly Report, Period Ending Fri., June 11, 2010
No Budget Solution For '10 Yet, Let Alone Talks On '11
Legislative leaders said this year's state budget process would be different -- yet almost half way through June and there appears to be little discussion and little progress on resolving the current year's budget let along that for next year.
Meetings two weeks ago with Budget Director Bob...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce Biweekly News Digest, Period Ending Fri., May 28, 2010
An Independent In The 1st?
A Rose City businessman, who supposedly has deep pockets, says he's running in the 1st Congressional district as an Independent.
"I have to," Glen Wilson said when asked him about his plans to run. "I don't have a choice. Northern Michigan needs jobs. Northern Michigan needs someone who will serve it. We're not going to...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce Biweekly News Digest, Period Ending Fri., May 28, 2010
An Independent In The 1st?
A Rose City businessman, who supposedly has deep pockets, says he's running in the 1st Congressional district as an Independent.
"I have to," Glen Wilson said when asked him about his plans to run. "I don't have a choice. Northern Michigan needs jobs. Northern Michigan needs someone who will serve it. We're not going to...
Traverse City Bi-weekly News Digest, Period Ending Fri., May 21, 2010
No Cuts Needed In '10
Lawmakers and the Governor don't necessarily need to make mid-year cuts to the General Fund for the remaining four and a half months of Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, fiscal analysts agreed Friday, saying enough money exists in the School Aid Fund (SAF) to get the Michigan budget out of the woods until next year.
However, if decision...
Traverse City Regional Chamber, Bi-Weekly News Digest, Week Ending, Fri., May 10, 2010
Negotiations Take Pause After Long Week On Retirement Issue
After a tense week with no resolution on the public school employee retirement plan, lawmakers took a break from negotiations Friday.
Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing), the chief House negotiator, said there had been "absolutely zero" talks Friday. When asked if it was a bad sign,...
Traverse City Regional Chamber of Commerce Bi-Weekly News Digest, Period Ending Fri., April 23, 2010
First GOP Debate Sees Candidates Getting Testy
The GOP field of five gubernatorial candidates had their first official endorsed and party-held debate last Wednesday and the debate showed candidates were ready to mix it up.
With some polls showing him dropping and others just holding steady, Attorney General Mike Cox clearly had his sights...