House and Senate Republicans Outraise Democrat Counterparts

According to quarterly campaign finance reports released Monday the House Republican Campaign Committee outraised their Democrat colleagues, $207,770 to $180,764. While the Republicans raised over $20,000 more than the Democrats, they also carry $147,656 in debts, compared to the Democrats empty debt column. The GOP fundraising efforts are also evident in their cash on hand of over $60,000, $675,162 to $613,3199. The Michigan House Democratic Fund did outspend the Republicans by nearly a 3 to 1 margin, $90,729 to $35,132.

The House Democrats received seven donations of $10,000 or greater, with Minority Floor Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) donating $15,000, Minority Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills) giving $10,000, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, the Michigan Education Association PAC, the Justice PAC, the United Auto Workers PAC, and Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers each giving $10,000 as well. The Republicans were lead with four donations of $10,000 coming from Dykema Gossett State PAC, the Michigan Restaurant Association PAC, Michigan Credit Union League and Brooke Holdings/Jack National PAC. Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter (R-Mt. Pleasant) donated $6,000.

In the Senate, the Republican Campaign Committee outraised the Democrats $313,770 to $104,992, with neither party carrying any debts. This leaves the Democrats with a sizable disadvantage in cash on hand with $274,107 compared to the Republicans $640,565. The Senate Republicans also outspent their colleagues across the aisle by a near 3 to 1 margin, $59,677 to $20,521.

The Senate Democrats saw their largest donations come from Friends of Jim Ananich and the Ananich Future Fund PAC in the form of $40,000 and $37,500 donations respectively. Both PACs belong to Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint). The Republican donations were lead by the Blue Cross Blue Shield PAC with $40,000 and Ken Horn for Senate and the Marleau for Michigan PAC each chipping in $25,000 a piece.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, July 31, 2015 11:21 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

At-Risk Students Drawn by School Choice Program

A study released by Michigan State University showed that the at-risk students have been provided additional choices in their education due to the school choice program, which began in the mid-1990s with that exact goal. The number of students taking advantage of the school choice program has nearly doubled from 66,560 in 2005-06, up to 115,209 in 2012-13.

While the majority of students who have taken advantage of school of choice were white, 64.9 percent, the number of African-American students who chose to leave their home district was 10 percent higher than those who chose to stay, with 27.3 percent taking advantage of school of choice while only 16.5 percent remained in their home district. This difference shows that of those choosing to leave their home school, the largest percentage was black, poor, and lower-performing students.

While the focus of the study was on students choosing to leave their home district for another traditional school, figures were reported showing that more students are enrolled in charter schools than schools of choice. A near 3 percent increase in charter enrollment was seen in the data, increasing from 5.3 percent in 2005-06 to 7.97 percent in 2012-13.

The lead investigator on the study and associate professor of education policy at MSU, Joshua Cowen, stated that the study focused mainly on children in elementary school. Mr. Cowen said that he is looking to further his studies in the future, focusing on how school of choice programs affect certain districts as well as how it affects student performance and racial segregation.

posted by PAA Online , 11:20 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Right-To-Work Applies to State Workers, According to Supreme Court

In an opinion authored by Chief Justice Robert Young Jr., the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Michigan’s civil service workers are subject to the right-to-work requirements that allow for employees to choose to join a union. The decision in UAW v. Green, states that the Civil Service Commission is not allowed to force employees to pay agency fees, which fund the commission’s operations.

The ruling, which upheld the Court of Appeals decision, came in a 4-3 decision, with Chief Justice Young, Justice David Viviano, Justice Brian Zahra, and Justice Stephen Markman voting to uphold the ruling. Justices Mary Beth Kelly, Richard Bernstein, and Bridget McCormack dissented.

In the majority opinion, Chief Justice Young stated that due to the fact that the Civil Service Commission’s financing comes from a requirement that the Legislature must appropriate funds equaling at least 1 percent of the state’s payroll to the commission, and their ability to require the Legislature to budget for employee pay raises, the commission is open to right-to-work laws. Mr. Young also stated that it was impossible for voters to predict that civil servants would be required to pay fees as an additional source of funding for the commission when the Constitution was enacted.

In the dissent, Justice Mary Beth Kelly stated that the court was wrong to say that the commission was acting outside its power when collecting agency fees, as this falls within the commission’s power to regulate state employees. She also argued that the right-to-work law unconstitutionally clashed with the ability to regulate state workers, as the Constitution specifically limits the Legislature’s ability to interfere with disputes with state workers.

The decision saw mixed reactions throughout the state, as the Michigan Corrections Organization authored a memo to its members saying that this decision will allow the legislature more control over state workers. The Michigan Freedom Fund supported the decision, stating that it was a victory for employees across the state who have been attacked by union leaders.

posted by PAA Online , 11:20 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

Former Senator Harry Gast Dies

St. Joseph Republican and former State Senator, Harry Gast, died Thursday at the age of 94. Mr. Gast served the public for 57 years including 32 years in the Legislature, which ended in December of 2002. He left office with the goal of visiting family and farming.

Mr. Gast served the people for many years, including 32 in the local government. He held various positions during this time, including: school board member, County Board of Health Member, County Board of Public Works member, as well as township treasurer and township supervisor. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1970, and won reelection three times.

His career in the Senate began in 1978, when the Democratic Party controlled the chamber. During his tenure as Appropriations Chair, Mr. Gast was not afraid to butt heads with then Senate Majority Leader John Engler, telling him that the committee was his to run and refusing Mr. Engler’s attempts to control the committee. While there was much concern over whether Mr. Gast, 78 at the time, would run for his final term in the Senate in 1998, he decided to run and after winning his election oversaw the budget cuts of the early 2000’s during which he regularly disagreed with the way the budgets were being approached, going so far as to refuse to vote on their passage.

He continued to stay in tune with state politics after his retirement and was always willing to give advice to legislators should they come asking for it. Mr. Gast’s visitation will be from 2-4p.m. on Sunday at the Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. His funeral is at 1 p.m. Monday at the same location and will be followed by his burial at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph.

posted by PAA Online , 11:19 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

PAAdvisory Briefs

Road Resolution Conference Calls to Begin

Governor Rick Snyder began conference calls with the four legislative leaders as they search for a road funding compromise. The calls began late this week as both the House and Senate have passed funding solutions, but have yet to come to a collective solution. While there has not been a timeline for a decision to be made surrounding the transportation solution, the Governor’s spokesman, Dave Murray, did say that all both parties would be involved in the conference calls to ensure that a resolution to the road-funding problem is reached in an expedient manner.

National Wildlife Federation to Sue Over Pipelines

The National Wildlife Federation in Michigan announced Tuesday that they will sue the U.S. Department of Transportation, unless the department follows through with their duties to regulate natural gas and oil pipelines in the next 60 days. The group argued that the federal government has failed in their duties to ensure that pipeline operators have response plans for a disastrous oil spill and to approve operators; however, the U.S. Department of Transportation has never required safety plans for pipelines that travel below inland water sources.

Kelley to be Succeeded by Loepp on Mackinac Island State Park Commission

Former Attorney General Frank Kelley will be succeeded by his former driver, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBS) President Dan Loepp, on the Mackinac Island State Park Commission. Mr. Loepp’s, whose appointment is still subject to consent of the Senate, will serve a term that ends April 12, 2021. Dan Loepp spent many years in state government before moving to BCBS; he served as Mr. Kelley’s press secretary and held a position in the Speaker of the House’s office under Curtis Hertel Sr. Mr. Kelley’s term on the Commission expired on April 15 of this year.

Michigan Republican Party’s Event Adds Another Presidential Candidate

John Kasich, Governor of Ohio, has been added to the list of presidential candidates who will speak at the Mackinac Policy Conference, hosted by the Michigan Republican Party. Mr. Kasich joins a growing list of candidates planning to attend, making him the fifth confirmed so far. Also attending the conference will be Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, business executive Carly Fiorina, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.

State Acquiring New Voting Machines

A Request for Proposals was discussed with the Board of State Canvassers, which would acquire new voting machines in the state. Many of the current machines were put into service in 2003, and the age of the machines is creating issues as many are wearing out. Multiple machines would likely have to be approved by the board, allowing for counties to have some choice in the matter, according to Elections Director Christopher Thomas. While the new machines should be rolled out across the state in time for the 2018 elections, it is likely that some counties may receive the machines as early as the 2016 elections.

posted by PAA Online , 11:18 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

This Week's Newsletter

Past Newsletters