MSHDA Names Interim Director

After a unanimous vote by its Board Thursday, the Michigan State House Development Authority (MSHDA) named Deputy State Treasurer Wayne Workman as Interim Director. Mr. Workman replaces Scott Woosley who resigned amid allegations of inappropriate travel expense reimbursement.

Mr. Workman’s first responsibility will be to work with the Internal Audit Office of the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget which has been requested by MSHDA Board Chair and Chief Deputy Treasurer Tom Saxton to review the practices of MSHDA relative to travel expense reimbursement.

Mr. Workman had most recently been overseeing the Department of Treasury’s Local Government Services Bureau and had previously worked for the former Department of Commerce on economic development efforts.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, August 22, 2014 10:15 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Michigan Tied for Third Highest in Unemployment Rate

Michigan is tied with Nevada and Rhode Island for the third highest unemployment rate among the states with a July rate of 7.7 percent. Only Mississippi and Georgia have higher July rates, at 8 percent and 7.9 percent respectively.

Thirty states saw increased jobless rates in July according to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eight realized declines in rate and twelve were unchanged.

North Dakota’s 2.8 percent remains the country’s lowest. In the Great Lake region, Minnesota continues to have the lowest rate at 4.5 percent. Pennsylvania and Ohio follow at 5.7 percent, then Wisconsin at 5.8 percent, Indiana at 5.9 percent, New York at 6.6 percent, and Illinois at 6.8 percent.

posted by PAA Online , 10:15 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Murphy Expected to be Supreme Court Nominee

With the Michigan Association of Justice endorsement coming through, Chief Court of Appeals Judge William Murphy is expected to be the Democratic Party’s third nominee for the Michigan Supreme Court, although Party officials would not confirm the matter.

This would mark Judge Murphy’s second run for the Supreme Court after coming in 4^th in 1996 behind former Justice James Brickley, former Justice Marilyn Kelly, and Oakland Circuit Court Judge Hilda Gage.

At the age of 69, the run would also mark the last time Judge Murphy would be eligible to run for the Supreme Court or any other court position as the Constitution prohibits running after the age of 70. Justice Michael Cavanagh is stepping down from the Court as he is older than 70 and ineligible to run.

Judge Murphy is joining attorney Richard Bernstein in running for the two eight-year terms on the bench, presuming both are nominated. Justice Brian Zahra and Kent Circuit Court Judge James Redford are the presumptive Republican nominees for the two eight-year slots, while Justice David Viviano will be the GOP nominee to complete the term he was named to by Governor Snyder in 2013.

Judge Murphy has been on the Court of Appeals since his appointment by former Governor Jim Blanchard in 1988. His current term would end in 2019.

posted by PAA Online , 10:14 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Michigan Hispanic Legislative Caucus Under Development

State Representative Harvey Santana (D-Detroit) has announced he is forming a Michigan Hispanic Legislative Caucus for the 2015-2016 session.

Come January, the new Legislature will potentially contain more office holders of Hispanic descent than ever before. Representative Santana is joined by current (and likely returning) State Representatives Henry Yanez (D-Sterling Heights) and Bruce Rendon (R-Lake City). Additionally, three more individuals who have won their party’s primary and are heavily favored in the General Election include Erika Geiss, a Taylor Democrat, Daniela Garcia, a Holland Republican, and Vanessa Guerra, a Democrat from Bridgeport Township.

The caucus will not technically be the first Hispanic Legislative Caucus in Michigan as, in 1999, then State Senator Valde Garcia and then State Representative Belda Garza had a caucus of two.

posted by PAA Online , 10:13 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

PAAdvisory Briefs

$750,000 in Federal Dollars Coming for Road Repairs

The Michigan Department of Transportation will be receiving $750,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to aid in the cost of repairs to roads and bridges following last week’s flooding in Southeast Michigan. The money comes from the Federal highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program and officials stated that there more would be coming.

Benton Harbor Schools Financial Emergency Confirmed

Governor Rick Snyder confirmed a financial emergency in Benton Harbor Area Schools on Tuesday. Under Public Act 436 of 2012, the district has seven days to choose between entering into a consent agreement with the state, seeking a neutral evaluation process, going into Chapter 9 bankruptcy, or getting an emergency manager. The district general fund deficit would have bloomed to $17.5 million in the 2012-2013 school year if not for an emergency loan according to the report.

posted by PAA Online , 10:13 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

This Week's Newsletter

Past Newsletters