Senate Does Not Reconsider IE Vote, House Concurs in Medicaid Expansion

After an 8-hour session last Tuesday, the State Senate voted 20-18 to approve the S-9 substitute for House Bill 4714, extending Medicaid coverage to some 470,000 Michiganders. The body failed, however, to achieve immediate effect on the bill, falling two votes shy on the normally procedural vote.

There was speculation since last week whether or not the Senate would reconsider the vote by which immediate effect failed; however, when Democratic Floor Leader Senator Tupac Hunter (D-Detroit) moved to reconsider the vote this Tuesday, Lt. Governor Brian Calley responded that the measure had already been transmitted to the House of Representatives for a concurrence vote.

Without immediate effect, the Medicaid reform will go into effect at the end of March 2014. Disagreements exist on the impact of the delay of the reform’s implementation, with the Administration (specifically Department of Community Health Director James Haveman) stating that each day after January 1, 2014 that passes will cost the state $7 million – or a total of $630 million by the end of March.

At the end of the day, the Legislature moved forward without reconsidering the vote and the House voted 75-32 to concur in the Senate’s changes. The vote in the House was essentially the same as it was when the measure passed in June, with only Representative Greg MacMaster (R-Kewadin) switching from a “yes” to a “no.” Representatives Doug Geiss (D-Taylor) and Gail Haines (R-Lake Angelus) were absent for the June vote; however, voted “yes” this week. Representatives Thomas Stallworth II (D-Detroit) and Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor) voted “yes” in June; however, were absent for this week’s vote.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, September 6, 2013 10:44 AM
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Trott to Challenge Bentivolio

Putting to rest months of speculation, this week attorney David Trott officially announced his candidacy for Michigan’s 11^th Congressional District in 2014.

The seat is currently held by U.S. Representative Kerry Bentivolio (R-Milford), the former teacher and reindeer farmer who won the seat when former Congressman Thaddeus McCotter was removed from the ballot amid a petition scandal.

Mr. Trott’s announcement came with significant endorsements, including that of campaign co-chairs former Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, Wayne County Commissioner Laura Cox, former State Representative, and perennial candidate, Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski.

Pundits and strategists have pointed to Mr. Bentivolio’s poor fundraising performance since being in office as a sign of vulnerability and seem to believe Mr. Trott’s most significant hurdle to victory is ensuring no other GOP candidates enter the race.

posted by PAA Online , 10:43 AM
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State Canvassers Certify Detroit Mayoral Results

After nearly a month since the August Primary, the Board of State Canvassers unanimously voted earlier this week to certify the August Detroit Mayoral Primary results, officially making former Detroit Medical Center CEO Mike Duggan the winner.

Approximately 18,000 ballots were questioned by the Wayne County Board of Canvassers, causing them not to certify the election results following the August 6^th election. City election workers entered the numerical total for each spelling of a write-in candidate’s name; however, did not also show the individual tally marks that would add to the total. Although statute does not call for the tally marks, County election procedures do. The Wayne County Board of Canvassers initially considered certifying the election results without the 18,000 ballots which would have resulted in a change in election results, handing the victory to Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon instead of former Detroit Medical Center CEO Mike Duggan. When the Board decided not to certify the results, the issue moved to the Board of State Canvassers under statute.

The bipartisan Board of State Canvassers concurred with the Michigan Elections Bureau and certified the results providing Mr. Duggan with 48,716 votes and Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon in second place with 28,391.

Opponents of Mr. Duggan had been attempting to block the certification of the results, including obtaining a temporary restraining order from Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Joyce Draganchuk, whose order to block the state’s review and re-tabulation of the votes was overturned by the Court of Appeals.

Mr. Duggan and Mr. Napoleon will now face off in the November General Election.

posted by PAA Online , 10:42 AM
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August 29th Survey Results

Last week, PAAdvisory started a new feature by asking a Michigan historical trivia question. Last week’s question was, what did the United States Marine Corps do in 1978, in Michigan, which made history?

a. Dismissed a commanding officer for ethical misconduct

b. Changed the Marine Corps hymn

c. Promoted a woman to the rank of General

89 percent of respondents answered “c. Promoted a woman to the rank of General.” This is the correct answer.

11 percent answered “a. Dismissed a commanding officer for ethical misconduct.”

posted by PAA Online , 10:41 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Weiser Running for Regent

Former Michigan GOP Chairman Ron Weiser has announced his candidacy for the University of Michigan Board of Regents. Current Democratic Regents Julia Darlow and Katherine White are up for re-election in 2014. Weiser is a graduate of the University of Michigan and also established the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies at the University.

Initial Financial Review Commences for Communities

The Department of Treasury has announced the preliminary financial review of the City of Highland Park and Royal Oak Township. The financial review is the first step, under Public Act 436 of 2012, in determining if a financial emergency exists in the local unit. The City of Highland Park had previously been under an emergency financial manager in 2001.

Zorn Announces Senate Bid

As expected, State Representative Dale Zorn (R-Ida) officially announced his 2014 candidacy for the State Senate in the 17^th District currently held by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) who is term-limited at the end of the current term. Former State Representative Doug Spade has been campaigning on the Democratic side for the likely toss-up seat.

posted by PAA Online , 10:40 AM
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Question of the Week 9/6/13

posted by PAA Online , 10:14 AM
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