Lt. Governor Sets Special Election for 11th Congressional District

Lt. Governor Brian Calley announced a special primary for September 5 and a special general election for November 6 to fill the remainder of former U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter’s term. Mr. McCotter abruptly resigned his seat last week in the wake of last month’s petition fraud scandal, which eliminated him from the ballot.

Republicans Nancy Cassis and Kerry Bentivolio have announced they will be running in the special election setting the stage for them to battle twice for the Republican nomination, once in August for the full term beginning in 2013 and in September to fill the remainder of the current term.

The timing of the resignation puts local governments and the state on the hook for the $650,000 cost of holding a special election primary when no other elections are being held. If Mr. McCotter had resigned sooner, the special election primary could have been scheduled for the same date as the regular primary, August 7, which would have had little or no extra expense.

A spokesperson for Governor Rick Snyder said he would be willing to consider any efforts by the Legislature to have the state pay for the $650,000 cost of holding the special election resulting from Mr. McCotter's resignation. Oakland County Clerk Bill Bullard has urged the state to cover the cost instead of the local governments having to pick up the tab.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, July 13, 2012 10:15 AM
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Residents Sue to Stop Consent Agreement

Three Detroit residents filed suit in Wayne Circuit Court challenging the City’s ability to enter into a consent agreement with the State, based on a lingering argument that the State owes money to the city. City residents, Rose Root, Yolanda King, and Yvonne Ross represented by attorney Herbert Sanders, indicated that they and other residents do not support the agreement.

The City’s new charter prohibits contracts with entities owing funds. Therefore, the lawsuit contends that because the state owes the city some $6.5 million, it is illegal for the city to enter an agreement with the state.

The case, Root v. City of Detroit (Docket No. 12008780-CZ), is scheduled for hearing on July 13th before Judge Amy Hathaway.

posted by PAA Online , 10:15 AM
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Court Battle Looms for Collective Bargaining Foes

Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution (CPMC), a group vehemently opposed to a ballot initiative that would put collective bargaining rights in Michigan’s Constitution, is preparing a lawsuit to prevent the issue from qualifying for the ballot. Recently, proponents of the Protect Our Jobs ballot initiative submitted over 700,000 petition signatures to qualify for the November 6, 2012 general election ballot.

This move was necessitated after the CPMC’s request to get the Department of State to shelve the proposal as an illegal general revision of the Constitution was denied. Elections Director Chris Thomas, denied the request after finding that Michigan Election Law does not provide the Department with the legal authority to take such an action.

posted by PAA Online , 10:14 AM
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Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on PA 4 Referendum

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on July 25 regarding the dispute over whether opponents of the emergency manager law used the correct point-size on the heading of their petition to repeal the law.

When Stand up for Democracy put together their petitions, they used 14 point size for the font they selected, but it apparently fell slightly short of the 14 point using pica ruler when it was actually printed.

The trial court and then the Court of Appeals ruled the activists had attained “substantial compliance” standard in the statute and ordered the referendum to be certified for the ballot.

Chief Justice Robert Young, Jr. and Justice Markman have asked both sides to address additional specifics. Both are asking for discussion of whether the definitions of “point” and “type” require a size measurement of the entire printer’s block or the size of the actual character produced by the block.

posted by PAA Online , 10:14 AM
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State Implements Anti-Obesity Policy

Negotiations between lawmakers and the Department of Community Health on a controversial proposal to track obesity in children resulted in a new statewide policy to voluntarily report unique BMI information on Michigan children. The agreement was a slight departure from the original proposal outlined by Governor Rick Snyder last fall as a means to combat the State’s alarmingly high obesity rates.

In order to assure the voluntary nature of the program, a parent or guardian would have to provide written authorization in order for the information to be reported by their physician. Also, physicians are encouraged to also participate on a voluntary basis. Initially, the proposal urged, but did not require, physicians to report height and weight information about children, as they do with immunization information. The state always envisioned the program being voluntary.

DCH Director Olga Dazzo commented that Michigan has approximately 800,000 children already obese or facing weight problems. This initiative would help the state track those children and provide the resources necessary to combat this debilitating condition. However, critics have charged that the initiative is nothing other than a way to keep tabs on Michigan residents. To this, proponents have responded that no identifying information will be captured on participating subjects.

Under the agreement, parents would sign a consent form to have their child's height and weight information forwarded to a state registry.

posted by PAA Online , 10:13 AM
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