Flint Update

As the crisis in Flint continues, both the U.S. Congress and the Michigan Legislature move to aid Flint with various legislative proposals. U.S. Representative Candice Miller introduced a $1 billion supplemental appropriations bill to go toward replacing Flint’s underground water line infrastructure. Flint Mayor Karen Weaver has said replacing the pipes could cost up to $1.5 billion, but estimates have come in anywhere from low tens of millions to $1 billion.

The Michigan Senate passed SB 136 on Thursday, which included an amendment by Senator Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) that allocates $30 million to the city of Flint to essentially reimburse Flint residents on their water bills. In a letter, Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich also called on Governor Rick Snyder to provide a $10 million supplemental to expand the Women, Infants and Children program in the wake of the federal government denying the request. The governor has not acted on this request yet.

Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discovered 26 residents in Flint had high lead levels in places where filters are rated as effective. This prompted an urgent Friday evening news conference saying the information presented a dire warning for residents to test their water. The number of residents with lead levels of more than 150 parts per billion had grown to 42 as of Sunday. Until Sunday, the state’s message on lead levels had emphasized the majority were below the 15 parts per billion standard.

Several individuals have been requested to testify in front of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform. Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards and Flint resident LeeAnne Walters testified before the committee on Wednesday. In their testimony, Mr. Edwards and Ms. Walters placed blame on all three tiers of government, local, state, and federal, for this crisis. When concerned about her water, LeeAnne Walters sought Mr. Edwards’ help, and the two of them went to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to seek help. Miguel Del Toral, an employee at the EPA, concluded lead was leaching into the water but Region 5 chief Susan Hedman disagreed with him. Mr. Edwards testified that both the Department of Environmental Quality, who failed to enforce the federal Lead and Copper Rule and the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the EPA share part of the blame. In his opinion, Flint is responsible for daily operations and the distribution system and certifying that samples meet the lead and copper rule and the state is responsible for ensuring these levels are in line with federal standards. The EPA is then responsible for setting drinking standards and providing oversight and auditing state performance. In this breakdown, each level of government is partially responsible for the emergency situation, according to Mr. Edwards. Mr. Edwards and Ms. Walters believe the events that occurred should be considered criminal.

Soon to be former Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager and former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley has agreed to testify in front of the committee after the committee ordered a subpoena. Darnell Earley officially resigned as Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manager earlier this week and is expected to vacate the position at the end of February. Initially, Mr. Earley had refused to testify. Additional members of the committee, namely U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield), have requested both Governor Snyder and former Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant also be called to testify. Neither have been formally invited yet.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, February 5, 2016 10:19 AM
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Detroit Public Schools Update

The Senate Education Committee on Tuesday reported a three-bill package to respond to teachers “sickouts” at Detroit Public Schools.

SB 713 requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to notify the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) when a teacher strikes, whether a full or partial day. It also requires the commission to conduct a hearing within two days of the notice (currently 60 days) to determine if there has been a violation of state strike laws. The bill also allows a court that could enjoin a strike or lockout to fine additionally or offer relief if necessary. The fines are defined in accordance with strike versus lockout, and fines can be placed so long as the sanction was not equitable or duplicative of one imposed by the commission.

An S-2 substitute adopted included punishments for unions affiliated with prohibited conduct, such as: the public school employer must stop collecting dues or service fees if a violation of the law occurs; the incumbent bargaining representative, its parent organization or affiliates are not able to represent the unit five years after confirmed prohibited conduct occurred; conduct an election to certify a different bargaining representative should the prior occur, and do so within 90 days of termination.

SB 714 requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to notify a teacher who is suspected of engaging in a strike that his or her certificate could be suspended or revoked, and of their right to an administrative hearing. If the teacher failed to take advantage of that hearing, their teaching certificate would be revoked. Otherwise, the Superintendent must issue a decision and order within 120 business days of the hearing whether a strike occurred; if so, the teacher’s certificate would be suspended for two years.

SB 715 details the consequences if a school fails to comply with an order of the commission to deduct a fine from an employee’s salary; the district or intermediate school district would forfeit an amount equal to 5 percent of the total state school aid.

The bills passed along party lines.

posted by PAA Online , 10:18 AM
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Michigan Legislature Campaign Finances

House

Heading into 2016, House Republicans have $1.35 million on hand with Democrats securing $908,722 on hand. Republicans have reported 94 different donations whereas Democrats received 415 donations.

The House Republican Campaign Committee raised $752,685 from October through the end of the year with $1.6 million for the year. The Michigan House Democratic Fund raised $218,633 this period and $1.04 million for the year. Neither party has any debts.

Union Township Trustee Bryan Mielke, a Democrat, has raised $16,801 this quarter with $21,405 on hand. He is running against Roger Hauck, a Republican of Mount Pleasant and fellow Union Township trustee. Representative Tom Barrett (R-Potterville) faces former Representative Theresa Abed of Grand Ledge. They have $57,928 and $7,116 on hand, respectively. Representative Jason Sheppard (R-Temperance) raised $58,137 for the year and retains $36,569 on hand. His Democratic opponent has yet to be named.

Former Representative Dan Scripps, a Democrat from Northport, and former Frankfort-Elberta schools Superintendent Thomas Stobie are even in cash on hand for the 101^st House District race. Mr. Scripps raised $30,245 for the year and has $25,065 on hand and owes $5,000. Mr. Stobie raised $9,780 for the year and has $25,167 on hand. In Owosso, Ben Frederick outraised Hartmann Aue in the 85^th House District race. Mr. Frederick raised $75,364 for the year with $51,779 on hand. Mr. Aue raised $19,495 in 2015 and has $18,532 on hand.

Senate

The Senate Republican Campaign Committee (SRCC) reported $269,400 in contributions from late October until the end of the year. A report indicated the committee has raised about $1.12 million in contributions for the year. Major contributors include the DeVos family, Matthew Moroun, and Perrigo Chair Michael Jandernoa. The SRCC reports slightly more than $1 million cash on hand.

The Senate Democratic Fund saw its most successful non-election year with $129,913 in contributions for the period and $580,849 for the year. The Senate Democratic Fund reports $443,702 cash on hand. Major contributors include Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich’s (D-Flint) committee and Senator David Knezek’s (D-Dearborn Heights) campaign committee. AFSCME, UAW Michigan V-PAC, and Senator Curtis Hertel Jr.’s (D-East Lansing) committee also made considerable contributions.

posted by PAA Online , 10:17 AM
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U.S. House Campaign Finance

In the 10^th U.S. House District, businessman Paul Mitchell has raised $478,688 so far in addition to $710,000 in his own personal loan. He had $769,500 in cash at the end of the year. Senator Phil Pavlov in comparison had $131,452 on hand at the end of the year with $191,202 total raised. Former Senator Alan Sanborn had only $22,314 in cash with $48,152 total raised.

Former Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson, running for the 1^st U.S. House District, has raised $624,554 so far with $483,530 cash on hand. Opposing him, former Kalkaska County Sheriff Jerry Cannon raised $22,245 total with $5,339 in cash on hand. Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) raised $143,404 total with some debt. Former Senator Jason Allen has not registered a campaign committee yet.

Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey trails U.S. Representative John Conyers Jr. (D-Detroit) $6,665 cash on hand to $36,344. U.S. Representative Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) again faces Representative Gretchen Driskell (D-Saline). Ms. Driskell has raised $765,468 this cycle with $603,791 in cash with some debt. Mr. Walberg has $1.06 million in cash on hand. U.S. Representative Mike Bishop (R-Brighton) leads Democrat Melissa Gilbert $586,388 in cash to $254,252.

U.S. Representative Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) has $1 million in cash on hand and has raised $293,108 for the quarter, whereas Democrat Paul Clements has raised $274,513 total for the cycle. Both have raised similar amounts from individual contributions, however.

posted by PAA Online , 10:16 AM
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Speed Limit Increase

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reported a number of bills aimed at changing the speed limits in some areas of the state. Once the initial change has been made, additional studies could be conducted testing safety, speed, and the engineering of the roads to determine if the speed limit needs to be adjusted.

HB 4423 was reported 11-1 with Representative Michael McCready (R-Bloomfield Hills) voting no and Representatives Marilyn Lane (D-Fraser), David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti), Tom Cochran (D-Mason) and Scott Dianda (D-Calumet) abstaining. HB 4424 passed with a vote of 11-2 with Representatives Cochran and McCready voting no and Representatives Lane, Rutledge and Dianda abstaining. HB 4425 was reported 11-3 with Representatives McCready, Cochran and DIanda voting no, and Representatives Lane and Rutledge abstaining. HB 4426 passed 12-2 with Representatives McCready and Dianda voting no, and Representatives Lane and Cochran abstaining. And finally HB 4427 reported 12-1 with Representative McCready voting no and Representatives Lane, Cochran, and Dianda abstaining.

The package is aimed mostly at rural highways, with some provisions regarding gravel roads and school zones. Gravel roads would be reduced to 45 miles per hour mostly in counties with populations of 1 million or less. Communities would be able to request an additional decrease if studies reflect the need. School zones speed limits will be put in effect a half hour before school and a half hour after, and during lunch hours if the school has free lunch periods.

Traffic violations under this package would be reduced to one point on a license if above 5 miles per hour over the limit instead of two points. The Department of Transportation and the Department of State Police would also have authority to increase speeds.

posted by PAA Online , 10:16 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Derek Miller Resigns from House

Former Representative Derek Miller (D-Warren) officially resigned from his position in the Legislature following his appointment as the new Macomb County treasurer. Former Macomb County treasurer Ted Wahby passed away in December.

Democratic Presidential Debate in Flint

Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have agreed to hold a debate in Flint on March 6, two days before the Michigan presidential primary. Details regarding the event are still to be determined.

Albion/Marshall Merger

Marshall Public Schools received the majority of a $5 million in school consolidation grants by the Department of Education to cover the annexation of Albion Public Schools. Included in the 2016-2017 fiscal year budget, the grants will also provide Galien Township School District $647,135 to dissolve and $150,000 to South Redford School District to annex Redford Union School District.

posted by PAA Online , 10:15 AM
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