Rogers to Lead U.S. House Intelligence Committee

Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers was selected this week by House Speaker-designate John Boehner (R-Ohio) to chair of the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence when Congress convenes in January. Retiring Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland) is currently the committee’s ranking Republican member. The appointment makes Rogers the third Michigan Republican to chair a U.S. House committee during the next Congress. As reported last week, Dave Camp (R-Midland) will chair the Ways and Means Committee and Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) will oversee the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Richardville Names Legislative Director

On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader-elect Richardville announced that Jennifer Spike will serve as legislative director for the Senate Republicans. Spike currently works for the Michigan Manufacturers Association and previously worked as a senior aide to several state House Republicans.

Senate Fiscal Director Joining Public Sector Consultants

Michigan Senate Fiscal Director Gary Olson is joining Lansing-based Public Sector Consultants (PSC) early next year. Olson has served as director of the agency since January of 1991 and will leave the organization on Dec. 31. He will focus on issues relating to public finance and state government at the PSC. Senate Majority Leader-elect Richardville has not officially announced Olson’s replacement; however, it is expected that Ellen Jeffries will be named to the post.

Michigan State Party Chair Race Clearing Up

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop announced last week that he will not run for chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. As a result, current Republican Party Finance Chair Bobby Schostak has no official opposition in his efforts to become the next GOP chair. Current party chair Ron Weiser does not plan on seeking a second term.Gov.-elect Rick Snyder, Lt. Gov.-elect Brian Calley, Attorney General-elect Bill Schuette, Secretary of State-elect Ruth Johnson and Senate Majority Leader-elect Randy Richardville have all endorsed Schostak’s candidacy. The chairman will be elected for a two-year term at a convention in late January.

Gov.-elect Snyder and Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb reached an agreement for Bobb to stay with the school system through the end of June.

In 2009, Gov. Granholm placed Bobb in control of the Detroit schools’ budget after the district’s deficit was projected to reach $400 million.

Bobb’s current contract is slated to expire on March 2, and he originally stated he would not remain in the position beyond that date. This new agreement will allow Bobb additional time to develop a comprehensive transition plan for the new emergency manager and/or superintendent.

Canada’s transportation minister Chuck Strahl met with Gov.-elect Rick Snyder on Monday in an effort to win his support to build the D.R.I.C. (Detroit River International Crossing) bridge.

During the meeting, Strahl reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to build the new Windsor-Detroit border crossing. Furthermore, the $550 million loan Canada offered to Michigan to pay for the cost of the bridge project remains fully intact. The final hurdle in building the bridge is approval by the Michigan Legislature. The effort to approve legislation (House Bill 4961) authorizing the D.R.I.C. bridge died at the close of this legislative session.

Snyder issued the following statement at the conclusion of the meeting: “On the topic of building a second span over the Detroit River, I reiterated to the Canadians that I am generally supportive of a second span, but I also made it clear that I want to make sure the project is financially sound and Michigan taxpayers are not burdened with the construction or maintenance costs of a new bridge.”

Strahl pledged to work with the Snyder Administration in the months ahead on understanding the economic benefits of this project.

Gov.-elect Snyder and Lt. Gov.-elect Calley announced throughout the week three additional members to their administration.

Terri Reid will serve as the governor’s director of external affairs, overseeing the appointments office, constituent services and the northern Michigan office. Reid currently serves as the Michigan Republican Party political director and previously worked for Congressman Mike Rogers while he served in the U.S. House and State Senate.

Greg Andrews will represent the governor in northern Michigan. Andrews previously served as Snyder’s northern Michigan field representative during the campaign.

Lastly, Lt. Gov.-elect Calley named Nat Forstner as his chief of staff.

The Michigan Legislature reconvened last Wednesday to complete legislation they did not finalize before adjourning on Dec. 3. In the end, legislative action was limited to concurring in changes made by the other chamber or granting immediate effect to legislation before being sent to the governor for signature.

The 95th Legislature now has concluded all anticipated business with only the sine die adjournment session remaining on Dec. 29.

Republican Gov.-elect Snyder and outgoing Democrat Gov. Granholm jointly announced last week a new 20-member governing board for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). The MEDC uses tax incentives and other tools to promote business recruitment and economic development in the state.

Snyder also named Michael Finney as the MEDC’s next chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1, 2011. Finney is currently president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK, a public-private partnership focused on economic development in Washtenaw County. Finney will replace Granholm’s appointee Greg Main.

Snyder and Granholm each announced ten individuals to the new MEDC board, as all of the current members tendered their resignations last week.

Named by Snyder to the MEDC board were Robert Collier of the Council of Michigan Foundations, Christopher Rizik of the Renaissance Venture Capital Fund, Lizabeth Ardisana of ASG Renaissance, Greg Northrup of West Michigan Strategic Alliance, John Rakolta of Walbridge, Detroit corporate and civic affairs executive Kirk Lewis, Stephen D’Arcy of the Detroit Medical Center and Partner Quantum Group, Stephen Forrest of the University of Michigan, and David Armstrong of Greenstone Farm Credit Services.

Named by Granholm to the MEDC board were Mary Lou Benecke of Dow Corning Corporation, D. Jeffrey Noel of Whirlpool Corporation, Kalamazoo Valley Community College President Marilyn Schlack, Chris MacInnes of Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa, Jeff Metts of Dowding Industries, Thomas Lewand of Bodman LLP, Stryker Corporation chair emeritus John Brown, Haifa Fakhouri of the Arab American and Chaldean Council and Flint Mayor Dayne Walling.

Snyder will also ask the new MEDC board to appoint Doug Rothwell as board chairman. Rothwell is currently chair of Snyder’s gubernatorial transition team and president of Business Leaders for Michigan. He previously served as the MEDC’s chief executive officer under former Gov. John Engler.

Senate Majority Leader-elect Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) and Senate Minority Leader-elect Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) released on Thursday the remaining policy committee chairs, Appropriations subcommittee chairs and Democratic vice chairs. The full committee assignments are still being finalized.

The two policy committee chairmen not previously released are Sen.-elect Joe Hune (R-Hamburg Twp.) to chair the Redistricting Committee, and Sen.-elect Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) to oversee the Transportation Committee.

To review the entire list of the Senate Committee leadership, please click http://www.gongwer.com/public/SenateCommitteeChairs.pdf.

Gov.-elect Snyder announced today the appointment of Olga Dazzo as the new director of the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH). At the news conference, Snyder stressed the importance of improving health care while driving down costs.

“There is an attitude that the only way to lower costs is to reduce the level of care. I reject that premise,” Snyder said. “Olga understands that the decisions she makes will directly impact the wellbeing of Michigan’s most vulnerable citizens, and she will always have an eye toward delivering services more efficiently so those who need treatment are able to get it.”

Dazzo is currently president and CEO of Health Reform Innovations LLC, a consulting firm focused on improving health and lowering costs. She previously served as vice president and executive director of Jackson Health Plans in Miami, Florida and as president and CEO of Physicians Health Plan at Sparrow Health System in Lansing.

She will focus on improving customer service by reaching out to underserved groups in an effort to lower costs and improve the health status of all Michigan residents.

Dazzo holds a B.A. in Accounting and a M.B.A. in Finance from Michigan State University. She is also fluent in Spanish.