House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee Moves Budgets

The House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee met early this week while the Legislature is on Spring Break and moved budgets for several of Michigan’s departments, some a bit more controversial than others.

At the top of the list was House Bill 4220 which, similar to other budget policies moved in recent weeks, ties a portion of statutory revenue sharing funds for local units to whether or not labor contracts have been renewed. This is viewed by some as an attempt to avoid the right-to-work law. Under the bill, which passed on a 4-2 straight party-line vote, one of the three requirements for a city, county, township, or village to obtain funding from the Economic Vitality Incentive Program is not to enter into a new labor contract between December 10, 2012 and March 28, 2013 unless the contract would save more than 10 percent.

Republicans have claimed that many public employers, including universities, community colleges, cities, etc. have rushed to renew labor contracts or sign new contracts prior to the March 28, 2013 effective date of the right-to-work law passed late last year.

The subcommittee also passed budgets for:

The Department of Treasury: $2.70 billion, a 1.1 percent decrease from last year, including $4 million to the Pure Michigan campaign and a 50 percent cut in the film incentive program funding from $50 million to $25 million.

The Department of Technology, Management & Budget: $1.2 billion, an increase of $21 million over last year (1.8 percent) but still $22 million less than the Governor’s recommendation.

The Legislature: $119.9 million, a $4.7 million increase (4.1 percent) over last year.

The Department of Civil Rights: $14.6 million, including new operational reporting requirements and a requirement that the Department notify the Legislature and State Budget Office before submitting a complaint to the federal government.

The Department of State: $218.9 million, a $1.7 million decrease (.8 percent) from last year.

The Auditor General: $21.7 million, a $2.7 million increase (14.6 percent) over last year.

The Attorney General: $89 million, a $3.9 million increase (4.6 percent) over last year.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, March 29, 2013 9:48 AM
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Michigan Cities with Emerging Downtowns

Detroit and Grand Rapids have both been included in Forbes Magazine’s list of 15 U.S. Cities’ Emerging Downtowns. Both cities can make a claim, to some extent, that it’s attributed to the revamping of local commercial and residential real estate. More specifically, Grand Rapids can give praise to the booming medical industry, while Detroit can praise the influx of young professionals.

Detroit can credit, in large part, its real estate transformation to QuickenLoans founder and billionaire Dan Gilbert who has relocated many of his businesses to the area as well as spending millions to redevelop the area’s commercial real estate.

Grand Rapids, on the other hand, has converted more than a dozen abandoned office buildings and warehouses into remodeled residential, retail and office spaces. Another improvement is the $30 million Downtown Market set to open this upcoming summer.

posted by PAA Online , 9:46 AM
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Affirmative Action Case to be Heard by U.S. Supreme Court

Certiorari was issued on Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court for the case that Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette appealed after the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled the 2006 Michigan proposal was unconstitutional.

The Country’s highest court will hear arguments on whether the 2006 Michigan voter-approved constitutional amendment banning affirmative action violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause. The proposal outlaws affirmative action in universities and government on the basis of race and sex. In the 2006 election the proposal received 58 percent approval among the 600,000 voters.

Mr. Schuette sounded optimistic that the proposal would be upheld by the Supreme Court and noted that acceptance into one of Michigan’s great universities should be solely based on merit. Opponents and proponents alike praised the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the appeal. Both sides have interest because if Michigan’s ban is overturned it could lead to the overturning of California’s ban and possibly other states as well. Proponents believe that a successful appeal at the Supreme Court level will establish the right of the public to pass decisions on issues such as affirmative action.

posted by PAA Online , 9:46 AM
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March 22nd Survey Results

In the March 22nd edition of PAAdvisory, readers were asked, “given U.S. Senator Carl Levin’s recent announcement that he will not be seeking re-election, considerable speculation remains with regard to who will run for the open seat in 2014. Who do you believe will be the Democratic nominee?” An overwhelming 79 percent of respondents believe U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield) will receive the Democratic Party’s nomination. Others receiving votes were State Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing) and former U.S. Representative Mark Schauer.

posted by PAA Online , 9:44 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Orr’s Spokesperson to be Bill Nowling

The spokesperson for Detroit Emergency Financial Manager Kevyn Orr will be Bill Nowling. Mr. Nowling is currently working at the Duffey Petrosky public relations firm in Farmington Hills and is also known for his work as Governor Rick Snyder’s campaign spokesperson for the 2010 general election. He has also worked as spokesperson for former Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema as well as communications director for the House Republicans.

Increase in Wage and Salary Employment for January

The month of January saw an increase in both the wage and salary employment for the state of Michigan. It marked the largest one-month increase (27,000 jobs) since January of 2000. The increase was most notably driven by the transportation equipment manufacturing sector, which contributed 16,000 jobs. On the national level the unemployment rate increased from 7.8% to 7.9%, however; the 7.9% was down from the 8.3% of one year ago.

Motorcycle Helmet Requirement Repeal Numbers Released

At a traffic safety summit this week organized by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, the first numbers were released since the State’s motorcycle helmet law was repealed. Studies showed that during the months of April – December in 2008 through 2011, helmet-use rate was 98 percent; however, during the same months in 2012, after the repeal, helmet-use rate dropped to 74 percent. Researchers estimated that, had every rider been wearing a helmet in 2012, there would have been 26 fewer deaths and 49 fewer injuries.

posted by PAA Online , 9:42 AM
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Question of the Week 3-29-13

posted by PAA Online , 8:40 AM
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