MSHDA Director Resigns Amid Controversy On Expenses

Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Executive Director Scott Woosley has stepped down after news broke that he had been reimbursed for more than $200,000 in travel expenses. Mr. Woosley’s resignation comes only 22 months after he had been appointed as Director. State Treasurer Kevin Clinton said he would ask the MSHDA Board to make Deputy Treasurer Wayne Workman acting MSHDA executive director.

Documents obtained by Michigan Democrats under the Freedom of Information Act showed expensive dinners, high-priced hotel rooms, limousine services, and costly airline tickets totaling over $200,000 that had been charged by Mr. Woosley. A few requests for reimbursement were denied, however, most of the denied requests were alcohol related. Mr. Woosley has asked that his expenditures be reviewed adding that he would personally reimburse the state for any expenses deemed inappropriate.

Sara Wurfel, Governor Snyder’s spokesperson, said that Mr. Woosley was not asked to resign and both parties agreed that his resignation was the best step forward. Mr. Woosley added that he resigned because he did not want the controversy to take away from the accomplishments of MSHDA and all of the positive work being done. During his resignation announcement, he highlighted an $800 million effort to steady neighborhoods that had suffered from the foreclosure crisis as well as a $100 million blight removal project in Detroit.

Ms. Wurfel added that the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) is working toward making sure all state employees follow proper travel protocol and emphasized that Mr. Woosley would repay any expenditures he is found personally liable for.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, August 15, 2014 10:31 AM
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Schuette Posts 13-to-1 Cash Advantage Over Totten

According to campaign finance reports, Attorney General Bill Schuette has an incredible financial lead over his presumed Democratic opponent Mark Totten. Mr. Schuette posted $1.91 million cash on hand after raising $1.02 million and spending $504,457. Mr. Totten raised $87,672 this year leaving him with $150,610 cash on hand. Mr. Totten has spent $65,474 and he personally loaned his campaign $63,000.

Mr. Schuette has received a number of large donations from strong Republican sources such as $60,000 from the Red and Blue PAC, $21,500 from the Michigan Realtors PAC, while the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers PAC chipped in $16,000.

Lt. Governor Brian Calley has the upper hand against his tea party challenger, Wes Nakagiri, in his race to maintain the Republican nomination. Mr. Calley has outspent his opponent $214,361 to $21,299 and holds a cash-on-hand advantage of $77,644 to $18,246. Lisa Brown, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, filed a waiver stating that she would not raise or spend more than $1,000. Ms. Brown has come under fire from the Republican Party as she filed her statement of organization well past the deadline. She will be fined $300 for the late filing.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson reportedly raised $105,556 this year and spent $380,245 leaving her with $251,835 cash on hand for her reelection bid. In the race the Democrats have just recently selected Godfrey Dillard to challenge Ms. Johnson. Mr. Dillard has not yet been required to file campaign finance reports.

The expected Republican nominees for the Supreme Court have posted big numbers so far with Justice Brian Zahra raising $503,569, spending $20,267, and having $483,302 cash-on-hand and Kent County Circuit Judge James Redford raising $194,275, spending $44,268, and having $150,007 cash on hand. Justice David Viviano reported $495,424 raised, $20,222 spent, and $475,202 cash-on-hand. The Democrats have not yet named a candidate to challenge Mr. Viviano. Richard Bernstein, one of the expected Democratic nominees, has raised $100,025, all but $25 of this has come from Mr. Bernstein himself. He has also spent $44,268 leaving him with $55,745. Wayne Circuit Judge Deborah Thomas, the other expected Democratic candidate, filed her statement of organization on August 4.

posted by PAA Online , 10:30 AM
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July Unemployment Rate Up From June, 7K Jobs Lost/Revenue Estimating

The state’s unemployment rate has seen an increase in the last month rising to 7.7 percent in July, up from 7.5 percent in June according to DTMB. The unemployment rate is still above the national unemployment rate of 6.2 percent. The highest payroll job rates were seen since 2008 in July with an 18,000 job increase.

The largest labor market in the state, Detroit-Warren-Livonia, also saw unemployment increase by .3 percent from 8.4 to 8.7 percent. This is the highest unemployment rate in the area since December 2013.

In other fiscal news the state’s revenue estimating conference has drawn significant praise from the national organization Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The process received acclaim, as it requires agreement between the executive and legislative branches of government, for adjusting revenue estimates, and for being public.

The process used in Michigan has been in place for almost 25 years and requires that the conference meet twice a year. During their January meeting the conference decides the revenue that the governor must use to propose his executive budget. The May meeting revenue numbers are set for the final budget by the conference.

posted by PAA Online , 10:29 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Lyons Appointed Co-Chair of House Republican Campaign Committee

Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto) has been named the new co-chair to the House Republican Campaign Committee after Representative Frank Foster (R-Petoskey) lost in his primary election. The chair of the committee, Representative Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), announced that Mr. Foster would still remain involved with the finance committee.

Haskins Back in 95^th District Race

Jordan Haskins, the Republican candidate for the 95^th House District, has announced that he will resurrect his campaign. Mr. Haskins suspended his campaign after it was reported that he has been arrested multiple times. The district leans heavily in favor of the Democratic candidate Vanessa Guerra.

Expanded Medicaid Enrollment Tops 350,000

The Healthy Michigan Medicaid eligibility program has reached more than 355,000 people according to the Department of Community Health. Only 320,000 people were expected to enroll in all of 2014. Wayne County has the largest number of enrollees at 98,414 with 54,896 of those coming from Detroit. Macomb County is next with 26,334 followed by 25,760 from Oakland County, 23,644 from Genesee County and then Kent County with 17,256.

posted by PAA Online , 10:28 AM
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