The Senate Families, Seniors and Human Services passed Senate Bill 176
which would allow the court to schedule a guardianship hearing for a
developmentally disabled person when he or she is 17 years, 6 months old. This
legislation will ensure that there is not a gap in care for the individual when
the guardianship officially begins on their 18th birthday. The Michigan Probate Judges Association
supports the bill, which is currently before the full Senate.
House Fiscal Agency Discusses Vehicle
Registration Taxes
The House Fiscal Agency (HFA) provided testimony and delivered a
detailed report to the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on the state's process for charging
vehicle registration taxes. In addition to reaching an agreement on how to fund
a comprehensive road package, lawmakers are beginning discussions on how to
simplify registration taxes. The Committee did not take any action on the HFA
report.
Board of State Canvassers Begin
Processing Ballot Proposals
The Board of State Canvassers approved
the petition form for a Right
to Life of Michigan ballot committee that would prohibit insurance
companies from including abortion coverage. The committee (No Taxes for Abortion Insurance)
can begin collecting the required number of signatures needed to be placed on
the next statewide ballot. Additionally, the Commission approved the
signatures submitted by Keep
Michigan Wolves Protected to allow voters to decide in November 2014 on whether
the wolf hunt law (PA 520 of 2012) should continue.
Senators Levin and Stabenow Endorse Gary Peters for U.S.
Senate
U.S. Senators Carl
Levin (D-Detroit) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) endorsed Gary Peters for U.S.
Senate. Sen. Levin, who has represented
Michigan since 1979, recently announced he would not seek a seventh Senate
term. These endorsements signify that Congressman Peters has largely secured
the Democratic nomination. At
this time, the Republican field remains unclear. U.S. Representatives Mike
Rogers and Justin Amash, and former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land are all considering
running for the Republican nomination.
House Business Office Investigating Rep. John Olumba’s Literature
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit)
filed a formal complaint with the House Business Office this week charging Rep.
John Olumba (I-Detroit) with improperly using state dollars for
campaign-related purposes. According to
the complaint, a volunteer was distributing a “legislative briefing” from Rep.
Olumba that included an invitation to attend a meeting about his Detroit
mayoral campaign. The document was also being distributed outside of Rep.
Olumba’s district, which is against House rules. Rep. Olumba was previously
fined for mailing outside his legislative district. Rep. Olumba denied any
knowledge of the literature or where it was being distributed.
Democratic Candidate Announces Candidacy for Attorney General
Mike Totten, a university law
professor and volunteer federal prosecutor, filed the necessary paperwork to
run for Attorney General in the 2014 campaign. At this time, Mr. Touten is the
only Democrat to announce their intention to challenge incumbent Attorney General
Bill Schuette.