Oakes, Slavens Make Senate Bids Official

As expected, State Representative Stacey Erwin Oakes (D-Saginaw) has established a committee to run for the State Senate in the 32^nd State Senate District. The seat will be open in 2014 as current Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township) is unable to run due to term limits.

Representative Oakes is the second Democrat to file in the district. Garnet Lewis has been actively campaigning since last spring. Former State Representative Ken Horn (R-Frankenmuth) is the presumptive Republican nominee for the seat.

In Southeast Michigan, Democratic Representative Dian Slavens (D-Canton Township) has announced her bid to run for the Senate in the 7^th District currently held by Republican and Tea Party favorite State Senator Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton Township).

Republican-turned-Democrat and former State Representative John Stewart has also announced his candidacy for the seat as a Democrat, setting up a potential Democratic Primary battle for the right to challenge Senator Colbeck.

Further speculation continues relative to a potential Republican challenger to Senator Colbeck as well.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, January 10, 2014 10:45 AM
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Schauer to Seek Public Funding for Gubernatorial Run

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer has submitted a request to the Secretary of State’s office for public funding for the primary portion of his bid to become Michigan’s Governor.

What this means for Mr. Schauer is that, although he is not expected to have any serious primary opposition from other Democrats, he will only be allowed to spent $2 million through the August 5^th Primary date. Further, he must raise a minimum of $75,000 in contributions of $100 or less from Michigan citizens to qualify.

Mr. Schauer will receive matching contributions from the state for any contribution up to $100 for a maximum of $990,000.

The $2 million spending limit would no longer apply if Governor Snyder’s campaign receives more than $340,000 in contributions from himself or his family. Governor Snyder, spent $6 million of his own money in 2010.

Both parties used the filings to spin messages to their advantage. Republicans claim the request for public funding clearly means the Schauer campaign is already failing and struggling with fundraising; while Democrats claim that the request shows that Schauer is more like average Michiganders.

posted by PAA Online , 10:44 AM
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Brown, Lipton also in for Senate Campaigns

State Representative Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) has filed his paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office to run for the 25^th State Senate District against incumbent Senator Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair.). The announcement gives the Democrats a credible challenger in the seat.

Representative Brown first won his House seat in 2006 in a major upset given the Republican’s stronghold on the 84^th District. He then narrowly lost the seat in 2010 during the Republican swell; however, reclaimed the seat in 2012.

In the 11^th State Senate District, Representative Ellen Cogen Lipton (D-Huntington Woods) has filed her committee to run, setting up a huge Democratic Primary with State Representative Vicki Barnett (D-Farmington Hills) who filed for the seat last July.

The 11^th is currently held by Senator Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield) who is not term limited out of the seat; however, has decided to vacate the seat in order to run for the 14^th U.S. House of Representatives slot. The 14^th U.S. House seat, is being vacated by Congressman Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) for his U.S. Senate run.

posted by PAA Online , 10:44 AM
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Education Reform Movement Possible in House

According to House Education Committee Chair Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto), there may be movement on some education reform items currently sitting in the House.

The Education Achievement Authority (EAA) reform, contained in House Bill 4369, was sent back to the House from the Senate with changes towards the end of the 2013 session. Representative Lyons indicated the House could take action on the Senate version, could make changes and send another version back to the Senate, or the measure could end up in a conference committee – either way, she is confident action will be taken.

In addition, House Bill 5111, the measure to retain certain third graders not reading proficiently, may also see action as progress has been made during the break, including regarding a parental involvement component.

posted by PAA Online , 10:43 AM
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January 3rd Survey Results

In the January 3rd edition, PAAdvisory asked: Depending on who you talk to, the Legislature and Governor could have up to $350 million in new revenue surplus heading into the first quarter of 2014. How do you think the lion’s share will be spent?

a. Road/infrastructure funding

b. Tax relief

c. K-12 funding

58 percent of respondents answered “a. road/infrastructure funding.” 25-percent believe the money will be spent on K-12 funding (c), and 17-percent believe tax relief is coming (b).

posted by PAA Online , 10:42 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Unemployment Rate Drops – Projected to Continue

According to the House Fiscal Agency, Michigan’s unemployment rate is projected to finish 2013 at 8.7 percent, a .4 percent drop from 2012’s 9.1 percent. Further, the rate is projected to continue dropping, to 8.2 percent in 2014, 7.3 percent in 2015, and 6.4 percent in 2016. The national unemployment rates are expected to continue to be ahead of Michigan’s, ranging from 7.4 percent to finish 2013 to a projected 5.6 percent in 2016.

State of the State Address

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has announced that he will deliver his State of the State Address on Thursday, January 16^th at 7:00PM. The speech will be delivered in the House of Representative’s Chamber in the State Capitol and will be accompanied by the traditional receptions and gatherings in the Lansing area beginning around 4:00PM that evening.

Study Shows Potential Loss of Congressional Seat in 2020

According to the website RealClearPolitics.com, Michigan is on track to lose yet another Congressional seat as a result of the 2020 census. Michigan now has 14 seats and 16 electoral votes, down from a 1970 census high of 19 congressional seats and 21 electoral votes. While Michigan’s population has been well-documented to be on the rise, the rate at which it is increasing is not even one-tenth the rate at which population is growing in southern and western states.

posted by PAA Online , 10:41 AM
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Question of the Week 1/10/2014

posted by PAA Online , 10:18 AM
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