Surge in House Candidate Filings This Week

There has been a large increase in House candidate filings this past week for the 2014 elections. Some include:

Howell Mayor Phil Campbell III, a Republican, will run for Representative Cindy Denby’s (R-Handy Township) current 47^th District seat.

Two Democrats, Robert Ptaszynski and Brownstown Township Supervisor Andrew Linko, have filed to run in Representative Patrick Somerville’s (R-New Boston) competitive 23^rd House District seat.

Republican Highland Township Trustee Russ Tierney will run for a seat in the 44^th House District where Representative Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake) cannot seek re-election due to term limits.

Elena Herrada and Stephanie Chang, both Democrats, have filed to run for the 6^th District seat where Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) cannot run due to term limits.

Republican Donijo DeJonge will challenge Representative Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) for the 76^th District seat.

Republican Mark Avery will run for the 45^th District seat. Representative Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) cannot run due to term limits.

Republican Kalamazoo County Commissioner Phil Stinchcomb will run in Representative Margaret O’Brien’s (R-Portage) 61^st District seat. Ms. O’Brien will be running for a Senate seat.

Karen Renny, Republican, will run for Representative Wayne Schmidt’s 104^th District seat. Mr. Schmidt cannot seek re-election due to term limits.

Farmington Hills resident Barry Brickner, Democrat, will run for Representative Vicki Barnett’s 37^th District Seat. Ms. Barnett is term limited.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, November 22, 2013 11:19 AM
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Peters Backs Republican Bill to Keep Existing Insurance Policies

Complaints about the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act led to a Republican bill this week that would allow existing health insurance plans to be sold for another year – a bill that had one lone Democrat from Michigan, U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills), in favor.

Republicans say that, despite President Obama’s promise that people who liked their existing policies could keep them, insurers have cancelled thousands of policies. The Affordable Care Act has been criticized heavily for this and other reasons and Republicans have stated that Mr. Peters was just trying to protect himself politically with his vote.

posted by PAA Online , 11:19 AM
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No Change in Unemployment through September and October

The Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) released a report this past Wednesday showing that the 9-percent unemployment rate of August remained unchanged through September and October.

While the percentage remained the same throughout the three months, the employment numbers fluctuated. The employment numbers improved from August to September and then declined from September to October.

October’s federal government shut down caused a delay in the release of September and October’s figures.

The numbers reflect an increase of an employment compared to last year’s numbers. 77,000 more people were working this October as opposed to October 2012.

posted by PAA Online , 11:18 AM
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Sine Die May Come Early This Year

On Tuesday of this week, the possibility for a sine die adjournment date as early as December 12^th was raised. The legislature usually adjourns on a date that falls between Christmas and New Years.

The Senate’s plan is to have two weeks of session beginning December 3rd and would adjourn sine die on December 12^th, said a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe). A spokesperson for House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) said there have been no discussions or plans made to adjourn sine die earlier in the House.

posted by PAA Online , 11:18 AM
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November 15th Survey Results

Last week, PAAdvisory asked, “With the conclusion of today’s session, the Legislature will not reconvene for two week, as is tradition, for hunting season and the Thanksgiving holiday. Will you be taking advantage of the two week recess?”

a. Yes. I am leaving the state on vacation for at least part of the next two weeks.

b. Yes. I am taking some vacation, but staying in Michigan.

c. No. I will be working as usual

A significant majority of respondents, 81 percent, stated that they are not taking advantage of the two week recess and will be working as usual. Only 6 percent are taking vacation and staying in Michigan. The lucky 13 percent will be vacation out-of-state for at least a portion of the two weeks.

posted by PAA Online , 11:17 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

PAA Holiday Hours

In observation of Thanksgiving, Public Affairs Associates offices will be closing at Noon on Wednesday, November 27^th and will re-open at 8:00AM on Monday, December 2^nd. The next edition of PAAdvisory will be Friday, December 6^th. From everyone on the PAA Team, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Calhoun County Board Chair Running for House

The Chair of the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, Art Kale, has announced his intention of running for the State House of Representatives in the 62^nd District. The seat is currently held by Representative Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) who is unable to rerun for the House due to term limits. Kale is the second Republican to announce. John Bizon, a doctor and former President of the Calhoun County Medical Society announced his candidacy earlier this fall.

Continual Growth Predicted For U.S. Economy

Daniil Manaenkov and Matthew Hall predicted that the U.S economy would continue to grow and would create upwards of 5 million jobs by the end of 2015 during the University of Michigan Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics in Ann Arbor this past Thursday morning. They also expect that the unemployment level would decrease by just over 1% from 7.1% to 6% over the course of the next two years.

posted by PAA Online , 11:13 AM
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Question of the Week 11-22-13

posted by PAA Online , 10:45 AM
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