Public Affairs Associates Office Hours

In observation of the 4^th of July holiday, PAA’s office will be closed at Noon, Thursday, July 3^rd and will reopen at 8:00AM, Monday, July 7^th. Here’s wishing all of you, your friends, and your family a safe and happy holiday weekend.

posted by PAA Online , Thursday, July 3, 2014 10:37 AM
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Snyder Signs Fiscal 2015 Budget

With no significant changes House Bill 5313, the omnibus budget, was signed by Governor Rick Snyder. The budget allows for $8.59 billion in the General Fund and $37.38 billion gross. $194.8 million will go toward the Detroit bankruptcy plan, $46.6 million will be used for 25 conservation officers in the Department of Natural Resources as well as 31 motor carrier officers and 100 troopers in the Department of State Police. Another highlight in the budget is the $15.7 million going toward the expansion of the Healthy Kids Dental Program.

The Governor vetoed funds for two programs, one that would provide for a pedestrian crossing study and a second, which would be for a high-speed rail crossing pilot program. Mr. Snyder also deemed a variety of items unenforceable such as requiring the Department of Transportation to send bills to municipalities within two years of the final payment for their part in construction projects. Other measures declared unenforceable included the setting aside of $30,000 for the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children’s travel expenses as well as a provision requiring the reimbursement of lost livestock due to predators by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the requirement that the department keep purse money in escrow until a race track applies for a license when dealing with thoroughbred horses.

Democrats criticized the signing of the budget saying that some departments did not receive proper funding and that recent tax changes should have been reversed. The Governor caught criticism from Lon Johnson, Michigan Democratic Party chair, over the increase in funding to a group who helps faith-based organizations gain state funding based out of Pennsylvania. The group, Real Alternatives, also has a history of a pro-life stance on abortion.

posted by PAA Online , 10:36 AM
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State to Begin Background Checks of Home Care Workers

Department of Community Health Director James Haveman and Department of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan announced that the State would begin background checks for in-home workers. These tests will begin on October 1 and will be funded by the State. The announcement came after a critical audit for the State’s Medicaid Home Help Program for elderly and vulnerable adults was released. Only a few legal infractions such as drug abuse or patient abuse will disqualify an individual in working as a home care worker. The information from the background checks will be shared with the family members of patients.

During the audit it was discovered that a projected $160 million, or almost 18 percent of the programs funds, were misused. This number has been disputed by both Haveman and Corrigan who stated that only $1 million needs to be collected by the State. The audit also revealed thousands of employees who had felony convictions including 572 with violent crimes.

According to Ms. Corrigan, the State has already begun implementing a policy to ensure participants safety even though this policy will not be enacted until October 1. Mr. Haveman added that the program was very important to the state as it has over 67,000 participants and allows for the state to save $50 million for every 1,000 people who are able to stay in their own home.

While there are some federal guidelines as to who cannot be a home care helper due to criminal behavior, Ms. Corrigan said that the Legislature might want to look into creating a more expansive list of exclusions for workers. Mr. Haveman said that while only a small percentage of the employees have criminal pasts, the background check will allow them to make the decision on whether or not they want to have an in-home helper with a criminal history.

posted by PAA Online , 10:36 AM
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Poll Shows Tie in Gubernatorial Race, Peters Still Ahead

Public Policy Polling, a North Carolina-based Democratic polling firm, has released a new poll showing Governor Rick Snyder and Democratic candidate Mark Schauer in a 40 point to 40 point tie. In the U.S. Senate race, the poll has Democratic candidate Gary Peters with a 41 percent to 36 percent lead over Republican candidate Terri Land. The firm, while Democratic, has a good record for polling in Michigan elections.

The poll, which was conducted from June 26 until June 29, was of 578 likely voters in the state. Of the respondents, 35 percent considered themselves Democrats while 27 percent identified as Republicans. 80 percent of respondents were reached by phone while 20 percent responded on the Internet.

Mr. Schauer’s campaign applauded the work that has been done for their candidate and highlighted that he has closed the gap since the last PPP poll in April which had Governor Snyder with a 43-39 lead. Emily Benavides, spokesperson for the Governor, dismissed the poll as a Democratic ploy to give a spark to the Schauer campaign.

This poll is the first to show a tie between the two candidates as most polls have shown a five to ten point lead for Governor Snyder. The PPP poll also revealed that only 37 percent of respondents had a favorable opinion of Mr. Snyder’s performance while 54 percent disapproved. Mr. Schauer had 27 percent of people who had a favorable opinion of him with 24 percent having a negative view and 49 percent not knowing who Mr. Schauer was.

In the Senate race the most recent poll has shown the same results as the last poll with Mr. Peters ahead by 5 points. These numbers are also consistent with the majority of other polls showing Mr. Peters with a 3 to 9 point lead even though Ms. Land has more name recognition after serving as Secretary of State for 8 years.

In the Attorney General race, possible Democratic candidate Mark Totten is behind Attorney General Bill Schuette by a narrow 2-point margin. The poll shows a 34 percent to 32 percent split. The possible race has been tight in many polls but some believe it is due to the lack of name recognition for both candidates. Mr. Schuette is unknown to nearly 50 percent of respondents while Mr. Totten is unknown to 75 percent.

posted by PAA Online , 10:35 AM
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Quote of the Week

“The facts is beginning to submerge.”

- Senator Arthur Cartwright, 1975

posted by PAA Online , 10:34 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

State Christmas Tree

On Tuesday the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget announced that nominations for the next Capitol Christmas tree are now being accepted. An easily accessible spruce or fir tree of at least 65 feet tall is ideal; however, the tree cannot be more than 30 inches across in the trunk or have a crown of more than 30 feet.

posted by PAA Online , 10:33 AM
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