Legislature Adjourns – Leaves Much Unfinished Business

Readers Please Note: The Public Affairs Associates office will be closed on Tuesday, December 17^th from 10:00AM to 5:00PM for our holiday staff gathering.

The State Senate and House of Representatives adjourned as expected Thursday evening, with no further voting scheduled until roughly January 8^th of next year. With a busy three days of session through the week, numerous tasks were accomplished by the Legislature; however, it was what didn’t happen that grabbed many headlines.

Chief among those headline issues not addressed was the expansion of the Education Achievement Authority (EAA), House Bill 4369 although it was identified as a priority of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. The House passed the measure earlier in the spring; however, the version sent back by the Senate this week differed significantly. The House version codified the EAA into law and provided for an additional 50 schools to be included, while the Senate version does not codify the EAA, provides for no cap on the quantity of schools included, and sets a moratorium on new schools until the 2015-2016 school year.

Also on the education front was a package of bills (House Bills 5111, 5112, 5144, and 4154) providing for a number of reforms including issues such as letter versus color grading systems. The Speaker had previously noted that the measures needed further work prior to being addressed.

Two other issues received considerable chatter in the Capitol hallways but were not addressed. They were: the potential appropriation supplemental designed to fill the hole left because of the late implementation of the Medicaid expansion legislation and the attention-grabbing landline bill, Senate Bill 636.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, December 13, 2013 12:09 PM
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Campaign Finance Measures Finalized – Sent to Governor

The House of Representatives passed the campaign finance reform package, but not before making at least one material change…a change the Senate ultimately concurred in, sending the three bills to the Governor’s desk for signature. Senate Bills 440, 441, and 661 passed the Senate prior to the Thanksgiving/Hunting recess.

The House kept the Senate language to double individual and political action committee contribution limits, as well as the language to codify in statute the ability of issue ad donors to remain anonymous. The latter was a point of disagreement between legislative Republicans and Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson who had recently announced her intentions of proposing rules to provide for greater transparency in issue-ad funding sources.

The House of Representatives removed the Senate’s language to allow legislative caucus campaign committees to involve themselves in primary elections. Many of the Tea-Party supported members of both the House and Senate opposed this particular provision, seeing it as a way for the party establishment to further fund opposition in coming races.

Senate Bills 440 and 441 passed nearly unanimously; however, SB 661, the measure with the most controversial portions of the package, passed 56-52. The four Republicans who joined all 48 Democrats in voting “no” were Representatives Kevin Daley (R-Lum), Gail Haines (R-Lake Angelus), Martin Howrylak (R-Troy), and Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan). Representative John Olumba (I-Detroit) ended up giving the Republicans the affirmative vote needed to send the measure back to the Senate.

posted by PAA Online , 12:08 PM
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Billboard Measure Changes, Progresses, Stops

Legislation designed to bring Michigan statute in-line with federal guidelines relative to highway billboards, was amended and passed by the Senate late Thursday; however, the House did not address the Senate version prior to adjournment.

House Bill 4629, introduced by Representative Brad Jacobsen (R-Oxford) and co-sponsored by roughly 50 House members, was the product of considerable negotiations by multiple parties and passed the House in June.

The Senate adopted an amendment relative to vegetation management around billboards, specifically prohibiting the removal of vegetation over eight feet in height. The bill was also amended to allow for every billboard owner to apply for their first 50 upgraded permits to digital billboard permits without surrendering existing permits.

The Senate version passed 36-2 with Senators Hoon-Yong Hopgood (D-Taylor) and Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) opposing. The measure now awaits concurrence or further action on the House floor.

posted by PAA Online , 12:08 PM
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Other Legislation Addressed

Numerous other items were addressed by the House and Senate through the approximately 15 hours of session on Wednesday and Thursday. Among them:

House Bills 4271 and 5104: The House of Representatives passed two measures relative to medical marijuana, one regulating dispensaries and the other allowing for edible and topical products. The House also addressed Senate Bill 660, which provides for the regulation of medical marijuana as a pharmaceutical if the federal government reschedules the drug.

Senate Bill 275: The Senate passed the measure to provide for a pilot program for drug testing of Family Independence Agency assistance recipients if the caseworker suspects drug use.

House Bills 4352 and 4353: The Senate approved the two bills to provide for the availability of epinephrine injection devices, or EpiPens in schools to protect children with food allergies.

Senate Bills 169 and 663: The two measures passed by both chambers and now on their way to Governor Snyder, provide for the authorization of autonomous driving under certain circumstances.

House Bills 5050 – 5054: The Legislature completed its work and sent to the Governor a package of bills to criminalize the possession, transfer, sale, installation, purchase, or utilization of a “skimmer,” a device used to obtain an individual’s credit or debit card information at an ATM machine.

posted by PAA Online , 12:07 PM
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December 6th Survey Results

December 6^th Survey Results

In the December 6^th edition, PAAdvisory asked, “The Legislature is schedule to adjourn for the year next Thursday, December 12^th. Which of the following issues do you think they will address before adjournment?”

a. Right to Life abortion insurance rider initiative

b. Governor’s Education Achievement Authority proposal

c. Governor’s $1.2 billion infrastructure/road repair package

d. Filling the $70 hole in the Medicaid expansion package

40 percent of respondents answered “a. Right to Life abortion insurance rider initiative.” 27 percent answered “c. Governor’s $1.2 billion infrastructure/road repair package,” and another 20 percent answered “d. Filling the $70 hole in the Medicaid expansion package.” The final 13 percent answered “b.”

Hindsight is always 20-20, but in this case the majority was correct. The only one of the four listed issues to be addressed prior to adjournment was the Right to Life abortion insurance rider initiative.

posted by PAA Online , 12:06 PM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Senator Johnson Decides on Congressional Run

State Senator Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) announced Monday that he would not seek re-election in the State Senate and that he will be running for U.S. Congress in the state’s 14^th U.S. House District. The 14th District seat is open due to current U.S. Representative Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) running for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by U.S. Senator Carl Levin.

DNR Announces Belle Isle Partnerships

Officials from the Department of Natural Resources have announced the over 40 organizations that will help financially in supporting the transformation of the park at Belle Isle. Organizations such as Ducks Unlimited have offered support for habitat restoration. Other organizations such as Youth Connections have offered support in labor for various projects on the island.

Senator Kahn’s Chief of Staff Leaves for Lobbying Opportunity

Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township) announced on Tuesday that his Chief of Staff, Holly Fountain, will be taking a position in the lobbying community. Ms. Fountain previously worked in the House and non-profit sector before working for Senator Kahn.

Committee Expansion

The House passed House Resolution 283 to add two additional members to three House committees, the Health Policy Committee, the Energy and Technology Committee, and the House Oversight Committee. The additional committee members have not yet been named by House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall).

posted by PAA Online , 12:04 PM
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Question of the Week 12-13-13

posted by PAA Online , 11:44 AM
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