Homecourt Advantage Pays off for Romney

Michigan-Native Wins State Primary, Most Delegates

Former Massachusetts’ Governor and Michigan-native Mitt Romney avoided what many pundits described as a potentially catastrophic defeat Tuesday by winning the Michigan GOP Presidential Primary popular vote. Governor Romney’s chief opponent, former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, had a double-digit lead in most polls a few weeks prior to the vote.

Mr. Romney’s victory in the popular vote, 41 percent to 38 percent, and his victory the same night in Arizona will move him a bit closer to the 1,144 delegates necessary to win the GOP nomination.

His success in Michigan, however, did not come without costs. First, Romney’s campaign and his SuperPAC spent approximately $3.5 million to win his home state. Secondly, Governor Romney watched Mr. Santorum walk out of Michigan with at least 14 of the 30 delegates awarded by the Primary.

The Michigan Republican Party announced Thursday afternoon that the Credential Committee would be awarding 16 delegates to Governor Romney and 14 to Senator Santorum, a move that had quickly resulted in an outcry from Santorum supporters, Democrats and even members of the Credential Committee itself.

Senator Santorum’s campaign is expected to appeal the delegate distribution to the Republican National Committee.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, March 2, 2012 9:52 AM
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Legislature Address Ban on GSRA Unionization

Following the Senate’s lead, the House of Representatives moved quickly this week to address Senate Bill 971, legislation to prohibit the unionization of graduate student research assistants (GSRAs). The legislation is sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) and codifies a 1981 decision by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) into law.

Last week the Senate moved the measure from the Government Operations Committee through final passage on a single day – all along party lines. The House followed suit by moving the legislation from their Government Operations Committee on Wednesday and through Second and Third readings on the House floor Thursday.

The final House vote was also along party lines, 62 – 45.

The measure did not leave the House of Representatives, however, as House Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas (R-Midland) requested a record roll call vote on immediate effect and then moved to pass the motion for the day. Members of the Democratic Caucus had issued warnings earlier in the week that they would utilize procedural moves to avoid the measure’s final passage, including withholding votes on immediate effect. Unlike the Senate, House Republicans do not have the numbers necessary to meet the constitutional required vote for immediate effect on legislation.

posted by PAA Online , 9:52 AM
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Autism Coverage Issue Hearings Begin in Senate

The Senate Health Policy Committee began taking testimony Thursday on a three bill package to require health insurers to include autism treatment in their coverage. Senate Bill 414, 415, and 981 are sponsored by Senators Mike Green (R-Mayville), Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit), and Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe), respectively.

For nearly three hours the panel took testimony from both proponents and opponents to the measure, including the three sponsors, Lt. Governor Brian Calley, and The Economic Alliance for Michigan representative Sarah Roberts. The Committee is hoping to meet again next week to continue hearing testimony.

Proponents of the measures claim that this package represents a compromise reached with the business community that had historically been opposed to any healthcare coverage mandates. The legislation provides of the creation of a special fund of (initially) $15 million of state dollars for the purpose of reimbursing insurance carriers and third-party administrators for autism-related claims.

Some of the opposition to the package stems from many who advocate for complete mental health parity, such as within Senate Bill 50 sponsored by Senator Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor).

posted by PAA Online , 9:51 AM
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51st House Seat Stays Republican, 29th Stays Democratic

Genesee County Commissioner Joe Graves was successful in his bid to win the special election for the 51^st Michigan House of Representatives District, keeping the seat in Republican hands after the successful recall of former Republican Representative Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc).

Representative-elect Graves took 10,290 votes compared to the 8,173 votes cast for Steven Losey, a Redford Union High School special education teacher and Linden Community Schools Board member. Given the Republican base of the district and the expected high Republican turnout resulting from the Presidential primary, it was anticipated that Mr. Graves would win with relative ease; however, Democrats made a late and strong move for the seat.

In the 29^th House seat, left vacant after the resignation of former State Representative Tim Melton (D-Auburn Hills), Oakland County Commissioner Tim Greimel coasted to victory over Republican Bob Gray. Representative-elect Greimel took 77 percent of the vote in the special election.

posted by PAA Online , 9:50 AM
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Signatures Submitted for PA 4 Recall

Stand Up for Democracy, the organization leading the charge to recall Public Act (PA) 4, Michigan’s emergency manager statute, submitted 226,637 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office Wednesday. It will take 161,305 valid signatures to place a “hold” on the substance of PA 4 and a vote on the November ballot to recall the measure.

Speculation continues over whether the Republican-lead Legislature will pass an interim bill to ensure those powers granted to an emergency manager by PA 4 continue upon the potential validation of enough signatures.

posted by PAA Online , 9:50 AM
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Paadvisory Briefs

Legislation Introduced to Eliminate Renewable Energy Mandate

State Representative Ray Franz (R-Onekama) introduced legislation this week that would eliminate the requirement that 10 percent of a utility’s energy come from renewable sources by 2015, as passed in the 2008 energy package. House Bill 5447 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Technology.

Battaglieri to Depart MEA

Long time MEA official Lu Battaglieri will be leaving the Michigan Education Association (MEA) in April according to reports. Battaglieri was an educator from 1974 to 1992 when he joined the education union industry. He was elected president of the MEA in 1999 and became Executive Director in 2006.

Henning Promoted, O’Connell to Lead Michigan

General Motors has announced that former regional director Eric Henning has been promoted to oversight of GM’s government relations throughout Central and Southeast US regions and Brian O’Connell has been named regional director for the region to include Michigan. O’Connell led government affairs for Wyeth prior to joining GM in 2010.

Hackel Files Suit Against County Board

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel filed a suit this week against the Macomb County Board of Commissioners. The suit claims that the County Board is violating what Macomb County voters put in place when the Executive Office was created by requiring pre-approval by the County Board of all County business.

Staff Moves

State Senator John Moolenaar (R-Midland) announced that his new Chief of Staff is Mike Telliga who had most recently been the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Relations Director. Mr. Telliga is replacing Trevor VanDyke who left Senator Moolenaar’s staff to become the new legislative liaison for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

posted by PAA Online , 9:49 AM
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