During one of the more contentious session
days in recent history, three of the five bills in the Regional Transit
Authority legislative package moved from the House of Representatives,
advancing to the Governor’s desk for signature.
The main bill, Senate
Bill 909, passed the House 57-50 on a mostly party-line vote. Two
Democrats, Representative Shanelle Jackson (Detroit) and Lesia Liss (Warren)
supported the legislation which establishes the RTA for metro-Detroit. Nine
Republicans voted no.
Also passing were Senate
Bill 445, setting forth the RTA’s funding, and Senate
Bill 911, which lays the foundation for a regional fee.
Senate
Bills 912 and 967
remain on the House floor awaiting action as the House Democratic Caucus
withheld votes in support of the package in protest to the action being taken
on the Right to Work legislation.