Santa Visits Detroit Early with Approval of Regional Transit, Lighting Authority, Eastern Market and Red Wings Arena Bills

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed a series of bills Wednesday, all specific to his agenda for improving the City of Detroit.

Describing the public lighting situation in the City of Detroit as “simply unacceptable,” Governor Rick Snyder signed three bills Wednesday to create the Detroit Lighting Authority, the creation of a Board to oversee the Authority, and the funding mechanism for the Authority.

The Authority will be composed of five members, two appointed by City Council, two appointed by the Mayor, and one appointed by the Council chosen from a list provided by the Mayor. The package of bills was House Bill 5688 (now Public Act 392), House Bill 5705 (now PA 393), and Senate Bill 970 (PA 394).

A five bill package to create the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority was also signed, providing for a single body to coordinate and facilitate all public transportation in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. The legislation, Senate Bills 445, 909, 911, 912, and 967 (now Public Acts 387 – 391), asks voters to approve a vehicle registration fee to support the region’s public transportation and provides for local control of the Authority’s finances and decision making.

House Bills 5926 and 5463 were also signed, now Public Acts 395 and 396, respectively. HB 5926 provides nonprofit organizations, such as Detroit’s Eastern Market, the ability to apply for loans and grants under the Community Revitalization Program, while HB 5463 permits Detroit Downtown Development Authority Funds to be directed to a new downtown arena for the Detroit Red Wings.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, December 21, 2012 11:38 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Personal Property Tax Phase-Out Signed

Describing it as the second dumbest tax in the state – next only to the previously eliminated Michigan Business Tax (MBT), Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation Thursday to phase-out the state’s tax on industrial personal property over the next 10 years. House Bills 6022, 6024, 6025, 6026 and Senate Bills 1065, 1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070 and 1071 were signed during a ceremony in the Governor’s press auditorium, while surrounded by legislators and business leaders.

80 percent of the revenue local governments previously received from the tax is theoretically replaced by the package. Local governments can also replace 100% of lost revenue to police, fire, ambulance, and jail operations through special assessment.

The package includes a redistribution of Use Tax dollars. This change, under HB 6026, requires voter approval and since all bills are tie-barred to HB 6026, in essence, the entire plan requires the same approval. The matter will be on the statewide ballot in 2014.

posted by PAA Online , 11:37 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Recall Reform Approved

Michigan clearly experienced a significant number of recall attempts in 2011 following the drastic changes to the state’s individual income tax base – efforts targeted nearly 50 legislators and Governor Snyder. While only one was successful (former State Representative Paul Scott of Grand Blanc), the sheer quantity of attempts and associated costs caused legislators to take matters into their own hands during the lame duck session, passing House Bills 6060 and 6063.

With the Governor’s signature, the measures became Public Acts 417 and 418, respectively.

The most significant items in the reform include:

· shortening the timeframe for collecting signatures

· requiring recall language to include “factual statements,” not just clear statements

· moving the authority for review and approval of recall language to the Board of State Canvassers rather than the respective county election boards or commissions

· requiring an elected official to be in office a minimum of six months prior to being eligible for recall

Finally, if a recall election is ordered, voters will now be deciding between retaining the current office holder or electing a specific opponent – not simply a “yes” or “no” question on recalling the current official.

posted by PAA Online , 11:35 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

House Appropriations To Be Chaired By Haveman

As expected, Speaker of the House Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) announced Wednesday that Representative Joseph Haveman (R-Holland) will Chair the House Appropriations Committee in the new legislative session, replacing the term-limited Chairman Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham). Representative Haveman was Majority Vice Chair of the Committee during the recent term and a member of Speaker Bolger’s inner circle.

The Ferris State University alum has a background in construction management and served on both the Holland City Council and the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners.

Representative Haveman also served as the Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections. He ran unopposed in November and was elected to his third term.

posted by PAA Online , 11:33 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Last Week's Survey Results

LAST WEEK'S SURVEY RESULTS

The question in last week’s PAAdvisory asked if readers believe there will be any successful recall attempts of Legislators in 2013 as a result of passing the “Right to Work” legislation.

63% of respondents do not believe any successful recall attempts will result from the Right to Work legislation, while 37% of respondents believe at least one will result.

posted by PAA Online , 11:32 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

PAA Government Profiles

District 71
Theresa Abed (D)
Email: abedtheresa@yahoo.com
Occupation: Former Eaton Co. Commissioner
Age: 58
Predecessor: Deb Shaughnessy (D)

District 74
Rob Verheulen (R)
Email: contact@verheulen.com
Occupation: Mayor of Walker
Age: 59
Predecessor: Dave Agema (R)

District 76
Winnie Brinks (D)
Email: www.winniebrinks.com
Occupation: Social services caseworker
Age: 44
Predecessor: Roy Schmidt (R)

District 78
Dave Pagel (R)
Email: davepagel@msn.com
Occupation: Apple business owner
Age: 57
Predecessor: Sharon Tyler (R)

posted by PAA Online , 11:31 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

PAAdvisory Briefs

Good News/Bad News from Census Bureau
With an estimated 2012 population of 9,877,607, Michigan realized population growth this year for the first time since 2004 – the good news. Michigan saw approximately 1,000 new residents. The bad news; however, is that Georgia has surpassed Michigan and moved into position as the Country’s 8th largest state having gained about 205,000 residents since 2010.

Gunman Charged with Terrorism
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced charges this week against Raulie Casteel, the man charged with 21 separate attacks along the I-96 corridor this fall. The state charges replace the Livingston County charges that had already been filed, and include one count of terrorism, one count of assault with intent to murder, five more firearms-related charges. The alleged gunman is also facing as many as 60 separate charges in Oakland County.

State Unemployment Drops
Michigan’s unemployment rate dropped again in November – by 0.2 points to 8.9 percent; however, the decrease was due largely to a significant drop in the state’s workforce, not job bump. The 24,000 individuals no longer in the labor force are due to a combination of retirements, people moving out of state, and people no longer looking for work. On the bright side, regardless of the drop in work force, the state still has 46,000 more individuals employed today than in November of 2011.

Hemond to be Chief of Staff
House Democratic Leader-elect Representative Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) has appointed Adrian Hemond as his Chief of Staff. Hemond had served as Appropriations Coordinator for former Appropriations Committee Chairman Representative George Cushingberry (D-Detroit), and more recently as a lobbyist with Governmental Consultant Services, Inc. (GCSI).

posted by PAA Online , 11:27 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Question of the Week

posted by PAA Online , 11:04 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

This Week's Newsletter

Past Newsletters