Senate Passes Transportation Funding Package

The Senate passed their 8-bill transportation funding package Wednesday, with a little help from Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley. House Bill 4615 and HB 4616 passed the chamber on a 20-19 vote, with the tie-breaking vote coming from the Lieutenant Governor. Nine Republican Senators voted against the two bills, joining all of their Democratic colleagues except Senator Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) who broke party lines in support of the bills.

House Bill 4615 would increase the gas tax and create diesel fuel parity, raising the gas tax from 19 cents to 23 cents on October 1, 27 cents on January 1, 2016, and 34 cents on January 1, 2017. This regimented increase is slightly different than the original plan passed out of committee, which was a five-cent increase occurring on the same dates. The bill underwent a second change on the floor, which created the “50 year roads task force”, an internal group in the Michigan Department of Transportation who would evaluate the costs of road construction projects. The Department of Treasury would also see the implementation of a 50-year lock box fund, where 7 cents of the 15-cent raise would be kept and only released at the will of the legislature.

Senate Bill 414, which would dedicate $700 million of income tax money to transportation funding and create a system for diminishing the income tax with the end goal of eliminating the tax, was a bill that was also hotly debated. Its final passage was by a 27-11 split with Senator Virgil Smith again voting with his Republican colleagues in support, while Senator James Marleau (R-Lake Orion) voted against the measure.

One controversial bill, HB 4609, did not see a vote in the Senate. The bill would eliminate the Earned Income Tax Credit, and while it is an issue of hot debate, Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) said he expects to take the legislation up at a later date. All told the Senate transportation plan would dedicate $1.5 billion annually to the repair and maintenance to Michigan roads.

posted by PAA Online , Thursday, July 2, 2015 12:11 PM
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Emergency Municipal Finance Bills Passed by Senate

House Bill 4331 and HB 4332, which would increase the Emergency Municipal Loan Act statutory cap for school districts, were passed by the Senate on Tuesday. The bills would raise the loan cap to $70 million until September 2018.

House Bill 4331 was passed by a 25-10 vote, Senators Brandenburg (R-Harrison Township), Colbeck (R-Canton Township), and O’Brien (R-Portage) were the Republicans to oppose the passage of the legislation. Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) was the lone Democrat to support the measure; Senators Gregory (D-Southfield), Hopgood (D-Taylor), and Johnson (D-Highland Park) were absent from the vote.

House Bill 4332 saw a slightly less divisive vote, passing 28-7. Senators Brandenburg and Colbeck again voted against the measure, while Senators Bieda (D-Warren), Hertel Jr. (D-East Lansing), and Minority Leader Ananich joined the majority of their Republican colleagues and supported the passage of the legislation.

posted by PAA Online , 12:10 PM
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Redistricting Commission in the Cards for Michigan?

Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing voter established state commissions to draw Congressional district lines, some are pushing for Michigan to implement such a system for redistricting. In the case Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, the court ruled 5-4 stating that the U.S. Constitution did not give the power of drawing Congressional district lines solely to the Legislature.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg authored the majority opinion, using arguments from previous court decisions, as well as quotes from great political thinkers such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Locke. Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Justice Elena Kagan joined Ms. Ginsburg in deciding that these commissions did not violate the Constitution or any federal statute regarding elections.

Chief Justice John Roberts authored the dissent in the case, stating that the majority has used a loophole to interpret the legislature to mean the citizens of a state. The Chief Justice argued that in the majority of references to the legislature throughout the Constitution, the legislature is referred to as an individual group. Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Clarence Thomas, and Justice Samuel Alito joined the dissent of Chief Justice Roberts.

Lon Johnson, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, stated that the court’s decision shows that gerrymandering is no longer an accepted approach to suppress voting. He accused Republicans of using unfair lines to ensure that they continue to remain in control of the Legislature. The Michigan Republican Party has not released a statement regarding the decision.

posted by PAA Online , 12:10 PM
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New Requirements on Competing Utilities Under Nofs Energy Plan

Senate Bill 437 and SB 438, introduced by Senators Nofs (R-Battle Creek) and Proos (R-St.Joseph), would set aside ten percent of the electricity market for alternative suppliers; however, these alternative electric suppliers would face new regulations and requirements. A noticeable absence in the proposed legislation is an increase in the renewable energy standard. The lack of language to increase the amount of power generated by renewable sources from its current ten percent drew criticism from many environmentalists.

Alternative electric suppliers would be required to annually show the Public Service Commission that they have the ability to supply energy at peak customer demand, as well as supply a projection of growth in their total peak demand and show their reserve margin requirements. These requirements would be necessary for either the length of their contract or three years whichever was longer.

Under the energy plan clean energy would include the use of fossil fuels in a process that captures at least 85 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions are either stored permanently or used for another purpose; however, in both cases the emissions are never released into the atmosphere.

The plan drew criticism from various environmental groups such as the Michigan League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. These groups argued that the new energy plan is a step backward from the energy progress Michigan was making and will lead to higher utility bills and more pollution.

posted by PAA Online , 12:09 PM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Johnson Receiving Support Among Legislators

Lon Johnson, the soon to be former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, has announced that his campaign for the 1^st U.S. House District has received a total of 12 endorsements from current and former legislators. Representative Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) and Representative John Kivela (D-Marquette) are the two current legislators who have publicly announced their support for Mr. Johnson. He has also received support from Gary McDowell, a former legislator and candidate for the seat in 2010 and 2012.

Congressional Run for Mitchell a Possibility

Paul Mitchell, a Saginaw businessman and political activist in the Republican Party, is considering a run to replace retiring Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-Harrison Township). While he has stated that he is considering a run for the 10^th U.S. House District, he dismissed the idea that he would run in a primary against U.S. Representative Dan Benishek (R-Crystal Falls) in the 1^st Congressional District.

Extending Civil Rights Act to LGBT Supported by the Public

According to a survey, conducted by Public Policy Polling of more than 1,000 Michigan voters, 68 percent of the respondents would support extending civil rights protection to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in order to protect them from being fired or denied housing. Only 25 percent of voters stated that they would be opposed to extending this protection to the LGBT community. The poll also showed that a majority of those surveyed disagreed with the religious adoption agency legislation signed by Governor Snyder.

Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project Appeal Rejected

The Court of Appeals ruling that the Detroit International Bridge Company, owner of the Ambassador Bridge, was $3.03 million in debt to the Department of Transportation will stand as the Supreme Court denied the appeal. The amount owed to the Department of Transportation had previously been reduced by a lower court; however, the Court of Appeals ruled that this motion was void due to the fact that the Wayne Circuit Court was not in possession of the case when the amount owed was reduced.

posted by PAA Online , 12:09 PM
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