Surplus Momentum Possibly Changing

With the cries from constituents relative to needed road repairs evidently rising above the deep-rooted, election-minded desire to provide tax relief, at least a couple members of the State House of Representatives responsible for introducing the House’s income tax rollback package have made it clear they would like to see funding for road repair take a precedent over tax reform.

Representative Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw), as well as House Tax Policy Chairman Jeff Farrington (R-Utica), both sponsors of bills in the aforementioned income tax reform legislation, were quoted as saying that road funding is a priority over tax cuts, and that much of their caucus is beginning to feel the same way.

House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall), when opining on the same issue, stated that finding a balance among priorities is a delicate task, citing investment in education, road repairs, and tax reform all as priorities for the more than $1 billion surplus.

Meanwhile in the Senate, Finance Committee Chair Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Township), the sponsor of the Senate’s version of the income tax rollback, made it clear he will approach the issue with an open mind. He remarked that even if all $1 billion of the surplus was spent on road repairs, there would still be a need for more.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, March 7, 2014 11:30 AM
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Supplemental Budgets Progress

The Senate Wednesday unanimously agreed to not concur in the House version of the current fiscal year supplemental bill, sending the measure to a conference committee to work out the details.

The two apparent major issues to be worked out between the House and the Senate relative to SB 608 are the amount to appropriate in road money to offset the repairs costs for this year’s especially harsh winter, and how to handle the Health Insurance Claims Assessment (HICA) shortfall.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw) has made no secret of his priority to fill the HICA shortfall while House members, including House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) and House Appropriations Committee Chair Joe Haveman (R-Holland) see it as considerably less of a priority. Both agree on the goal of having the supplemental to the Governor by March 14^th.

On the School Aid supplemental, the House passed the measure Wednesday on a 107-3 vote, sending HB 4295 to the Senate for consideration. Among the noteworthy items in the supplemental is the inclusion of $2 million in funding for a pilot program to allow for at-risk schools to have year-round school. The measure had previously been its own legislation, sponsored by Representative Andy Schor (D-Lansing); however, was added to the School Aid supplemental in a floor amendment.

posted by PAA Online , 11:30 AM
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Election Update

Andrew “Rocky” Raczkowski has reportedly moved closer to a long-rumored bid for the State Senate in the 13^th District, filing paperwork to set up a campaign committee as well as creating a website for his campaign. Fellow Republicans State Representative Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) and former State Representative Chuck Moss have both been actively campaigning already for the GOP nod.

In more news related to the State Senate, late last week current State Senator Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale) announced that he will not be seeking a second term in the State Senate. The new lines in 2014 contain three current House seats – those of State Representatives Kenneth Kurtz (R-Coldwater), Earl Poleski (R-Jackson), and Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake). Since then, both Representative Kurtz and Representative Poleski have announced their intentions on passing on the Senate bid – paving the way for a run by Representative Shirkey.

Meanwhile, in the run for the 32^nd State Senate seat, Representative Stacey Erwin Oakes (D-Saginaw) earned the endorsement of the United Auto Workers (UAW), giving her a leg-up on Democratic organizer Garnet Lewis for the Democratic nomination and the honor of taking on former Republican State Representative Ken Horn.

Also in the Tri-City area, Democrat Ron Mindykowski, a drama teacher at Bay City Western High School, has filed to run for the 31^st State Senate seat currently held by Senator Mike Green (R-Mayville). Senator Green is also facing a Primary challenge from current State Representative Kevin Daley (R-Lum).

Finally, on the State House side of the campaign, Democratic Battle Creek City Commissioner Andy Helmboldt has filed paperwork to create a campaign committee to run in the 62^nd House District being vacated by Representative Kate Segal due to term limits. Democratic Calhoun County Commissioner Terris Todd has already filed to run in the seat as well.

posted by PAA Online , 11:29 AM
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Logoed Barware Package Progresses

The House Regulatory Reform Committee approved a substitute version of Senate Bill 505 this week, sending the measure to the full House for debate, and representing a potential compromise in one of the more hard-fought legislative battles of the session regarding barware bearing the logos of drink brands.

The measure, sponsored by Senator Joe Hune (R-Hamburg Township), passed the Committee on a 12-0 vote with Representative Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) abstaining and Representatives David Nathan (D-Detroit) and Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint) absent at the time of the vote.

The measure allows for retailers to purchase 13 specific types of items featuring logos and provides for strict limits on adding new items to that list. The bill also establishes a specific process by which retailers purchase the items.

The list is: trays, coasters, napkins, shirts, hats, pitchers, drinkware intended for reuse, bar mats, buckets, bottle openers, stir rods, alcoholic drink menus, patio umbrellas, and packaging used to hold and deliver liquor by the retailer. The Liquor Control Commission, under the proposal, can add or remove an item once 18 months have passed from the time the bill takes effect – and can only add one item per rule promulgation.

posted by PAA Online , 11:28 AM
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February 28th Trivia Results

In the February 28^th edition, PAAdvisory asked: Detroit telephone customers were the first to be assigned telephone numbers to facilitate handling calls. What year were numbers first assigned?

Only 12 percent of respondents replied with the correct answer, 1879. 47 percent replied 1931, 29 percent answered 1908, and 12 percent replied 1949.

posted by PAA Online , 11:27 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Unemployment Rate Drops Sharply

January gave Michigan the largest gain in overall employment in more than 15 years, and the largest monthly decrease in the unemployment rate in more than 30 years. The state’s unemployment rate fell 0.5 percent from December to January, dropping to 7.8 percent – the lowest it has been in Michigan since May 2008. The last time Michigan saw such a sharp decline in the monthly rate was from August to September of 1983 when the rate dropped from 14.1 to 13.6 percent.

Senate Committee Moves Microbrewery Expansion Measures

The Senate Regulatory Reform Committee Thursday moved a package of bills (House Bill 4709, 4710, and 4711) redefining microbrewer and brewpub. The three-bill package proposes to modernize archaic restrictions governing the craft beer industry by allowing a Micro-brewery to expand and allow the state’s largest breweries to open one locations. All three bills passed unanimously.

posted by PAA Online , 11:25 AM
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Question of the Week 3/7/2014

posted by PAA Online , 10:47 AM
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