Governor Snyder Signs Medicaid Expansion Legislation

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed House Bill 4714 into law Monday, now Public Act 107 of 2013, expanding Medicaid to an estimated 470,000 Michigan residents.

While optimistic that the legislation could be a model for other states looking to expand under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Governor Snyder was also quick to say that work remains. The expansion under the new act is dependent on approval of some federal waivers for requirements placed on new recipients.

Surrounded by supporters of the measure at Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center in Dearborn, Governor Snyder signed the legislation that marked one of the more contentious debates of this legislative session; however, the debate also witnessed individuals like U.S. Representative John Dingell (D-Dearborn) and State Representative Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) both touting the benefits of the reform.

Because the measure failed to achieve “immediate effect” in the Senate, it will not go into effect until the end of March, 2014.

posted by PAA Online , Thursday, September 19, 2013 4:18 PM
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Community Service Requirement for Welfare Recipients Passes in the Senate

The State Senate passed a bill Wednesday that proposes to require welfare recipients under the Partnership Accountability Training Hope (PATH) welfare program to complete community service in order to receive benefits. PATH participants were already required, if possible, to complete community service. This legislation places this requirement into law.

Senate Bill 276 will only affect those that receive benefits as part of the PATH program. Certain recipients will be exempt from the community service requirement based on medical conditions or age.

Two amendments were offered to the measure by Senator Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield). The first amendment proposed stated that any recipient participating in community service would have child care expenses, if needed, paid for by the Department of Human Services (DHS) while the recipient was completing their community service requirement. The second amendment proposed would have required the work done by recipients to meet the hourly standards mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Republican support for the first amendment was given to Democrats by Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township) and Senator Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale), however, both proposed amendments failed.

With a 27-9 vote in the Senate, the bill moved over to the House and was referred to the Families, Children, and Seniors Committee.

posted by PAA Online , 4:17 PM
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Hunting, Fishing Licenses Reform Complete

Governor Rick Snyder signed House Bill 4668 into law Tuesday (now Public Act 108 of 2013), providing for a simplified and slightly more expensive fishing and hunting license structure for the State of Michigan. The measure was sponsored by Representative Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo).

In the case of small game and non-waterfowl migratory birds, the new law sets a base hunting license at $10 for Michigan residents, $5 for junior residents, $4 for seniors, and $150 for non-residents. Hunters would then purchase an additional license for specific game such as waterfowl, turkey, elk, or deer.

The all-species fishing license will be the only one available, at a cost of $25 for residents (down from $28), and $75 for non-residents (up from $42). The previously available restricted fishing license will no longer be available; however, a 24-hour fishing license is available $10.

A new combined fishing/hunting license will also now be available for $75 for residents and $265 for non-residents. The license includes an all-species fishing license, a base hunting license, and two deer licenses.

The new fee structure will go into effect on March 1, 2014, and the increased revenue to the state will go toward wildlife and habitat management through the Game and Fish Protection Fund.

posted by PAA Online , 4:16 PM
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Legislation Proposes to Transfer Farnum Building Ownership

Legislation introduced this week by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) proposes to transfer ownership of the Farnum Building from the State of Michigan to the State Senate. The Farnum Building houses most Senate offices and some committee meeting rooms.

The building was deeded to the State of Michigan rather than the Senate in 1978 and, as the Legislature begins considering future action, Senator Richardville describes the step as simply fixing a problem in the law.

Asbestos, temperature regulation, and outdated, small spaces are among the issues facing the Farnum Building as the Senate begins to consider options such as fixing the problems and updating the space or selling the building outright to an interested private party.

Named after former Secretary of the Senate Billie S. Farnum, the building was built in 1959 and was originally the Stoddard Building named for Michigan National Bank founder Howard J. Stoddard. The state began leasing office space in the 1970s.

Under the legislation, Senate Bill 509, the revenue gained from any sale of the building would go to the Michigan Senate.

posted by PAA Online , 4:13 PM
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Two Potential GOP Candidates Decline U.S. Senate Candidacy

Two names that have been widely circulated as potential Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate have decided not to run. West Bloomfield District Court Judge Kimberly Small and U.S. Representative Justin Amash (R-Cascade Township) have reportedly both decided not to throw their names into the ring.

Current U.S. Senator Carl Levin’s (D-Detroit) decision not to seek re-election has resulted in considerable shuffling among top stars in both parties. Current U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) remains the presumptive Democratic nominee for the seat, and with Judge Small and Congressman Amash not running, former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land remains the only Republican candidate.

The only other known name that has not yet made a decision is Rob Steele, the Ypsilanti Republican activist who has previously run unsuccessfully for the U.S. House and the University of Michigan Board of Regents.

posted by PAA Online , 4:12 PM
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September 13th Trivia Results

Last week’s Michigan trivia question was: Since the Michigan Territory was founded in 1805, the State Legislature has passed many laws – which was the first:

a. A tax on the fur trade

b. To establish salaries for legislators

c. To establish a territorial seal

61 percent of respondents answered “c. To establish a territorial seal.” This is the correct answer.

28 percent answered “a. A tax on the fur trade,” and another 11 percent answered “b. To establish salaries for legislators.”

Territorial Governor William Hull signed Michigan’s first law in 1805, an act which described and adopted an official seal for the Michigan Territory.

posted by PAA Online , 4:09 PM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Unemployment Grows for the Third Consecutive Month

The unemployment level in Michigan increased for the third consecutive month which brought the rate from 8.8 percent in July to 9 percent in August. This marks the highest point the jobless rate has reached this calendar year. Interestingly, the number of payroll jobs in the state actually increased during the month, as the education, professional and business, trade-transportation-utility, construction, and manufacturing sectors all showed increases.

McCall Enters 14^th Congressional District Race

The race to replace current U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) got a bit more crowded this week as Jessica McCall has announced her candidacy. Ms. McCall was a transition advisory to former Governor Jennifer Granholm and a scheduler for First Lady Michelle Obama during the President’s re-election campaign. The Michigan native is a graduate of North Farmington High School and Michigan State University. Current State Representative Rudy Hobbs (D-Southfield) is the only declared candidate in the race, with State Senators Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield) and Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) also looking at the race.

Leonard Honored

State Representative Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) was named among the top-10 up-and-coming legislators under 40 in the Midwest and will speak at the 2013 Regional Conservative Political Action Conference. The conference is in late September in St. Louis, Missouri.

posted by PAA Online , 4:06 PM
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Question of the Week 9-19-13

posted by PAA Online , 3:30 PM
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