Rubio Endorsed by Huizenga
U.S. Representative
Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) has endorsed U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) for
the Republican presidential nomination. Representative Huizenga was named
co-chair of the Rubio Michigan efforts along with other co-chair U.S.
Representative John Moolenaar (R-Midland).
New SEIU Contract with State
Four of five state
employee unions have approved a new Service Employee International Union Local
517M contract for Michigan. The three bargaining units in Local 517M approved
the contract with 86 percent of the vote with 46 percent of union membership
returned. There would be a one-year contract for wages and health care
beginning October 1, 2016 with a 1 percent base wage increase and 1.5 percent
lump sum payment for employees. United Auto Workers Local 6000 is the final
union to vote and expects to count ballots December 11.
1-94 No More Prone to Crashes Than Normal
Following a 193
vehicle pile-up in January, Senator Margaret O’Brien (R-Portage) requested a
study be conducted to see if the I-94 stretch near Kalamazoo was more prone to
crashes than average freeways. The Michigan Department of Transportation
(MDOT), along with state and federal agencies, concluded this was not the case.
The winter crash rate in years with harsh winters is 24 percent higher than
other statewide freeways. 65 percent of the winter crashes involved a vehicle
driving too fast.