Flint Update

With the $30 million supplemental passing late last week providing some financial relief for the citizens of Flint, more action on the crisis in Flint continues.

Governor Rick Snyder previously released all emails he personally sent or received regarding Flint in 2014 and 2015, but has decided to release emails from 2011-2013 as well as emails sent or received by his staff. No timeline on the release has been set. In the meantime, the Governor and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver continue to disagree about the pipeline replacement in the city. According to the Governor, digitizing the records at University of Michigan will ideally overlay and support work that has already been completed; if discrepancies are found anywhere, it shows there is more work to be done to find the proper solution for the pipelines.

Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) wrote a letter spelling out several questions to the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) last year in response to the crisis, and the OAG has released its responses. The answers to the Senator’s questions prove more legislative action is necessary, according to Mr. Ananich. The letter supports the Department of Environmental Quality’s decision to drop the two samples of highest lead content in it’s six month sample, and how the Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance ensures the data it receives is accurate, among other findings.

Tuesday, House Speaker Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) and Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive) announced the Joint Committee on the Flint Public Health Emergency, which will take testimony on missteps from all levels of government regarding the crisis. The committee is chaired by Senator Jim Stamas (R-Midland) with Representative Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) and Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich serving as co-vice chairs. Representative Edward Canfield (R-Sebewaing), Representative Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) and Senator Joe Hune (R-Whitmore Lake) will also serve on the committee. The committee has been referred to as an oversight committee, despite objections from Senator Ananich, the sole Flint representative member.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, February 26, 2016 10:37 AM
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Veteran Affairs Agency Director Steps Down

Jeff Barnes, director of the Veteran Affairs Agency, has stepped down from his position after an audit of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans was released earlier this week. Jim Redford, Governor Rick Snyder’s legal counsel, has assumed the position of interim director. Mr. Barnes will be reassigned within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

In the full audit of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, the treatment of the residents was deemed “not sufficient” for a variety of factors. The audit found the home understaffed, with staff only checking on patients 47 percent of the time they are required by contract. 38 total complaints dealing with abuse or neglect were made with only 10 receiving a follow-up by the manager. No filing system was found, but upon receipt of complaints a response was received, on average, seven days late, as opposed to within 72 to 24 hours, which is the standard.

As for prescriptions, 39 percent of non-narcotic prescriptions were filed more than five days early, which most members’ insurance companies do not allow. These prescriptions are valued at $186,000. Total worth of non-narcotic pharmaceuticals found is $2.7 million. The home is at risk of losing $883,700 for the 23-month period it did not bill members’ insurance companies for eligible prescriptions. Evidence of tampering with prescriptions was also found.

posted by PAA Online , 10:37 AM
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January Revenue Higher Than Expected

For the month of January, Michigan received $67.2 million more in revenue than previously expected, according to figures from the Senate Fiscal Agency. Large increases in personal income tax and use tax helped contribute to the gain.

In total, Michigan collected $2.3 billion in revenues from the General Fund and School Aid Fund taxes, a 3.4 percent increase from January 2015. The Michigan Business Tax saved $52.4 million because refunds were off by 177.1 percent. The oil and gas severance tax was down 53.5 percent. Personal income tax collections were up 8.1 percent and gross collections up 6.2 percent, slightly below expectations. For the year so far, the tax is netting approximately $2.75 billion.

Use tax collections were around $128.3 million with $356.4 million total for the year. The tobacco tax also increased by 1.2 percent to $78.2 million collected with $233 million in total for the year. The sales tax has seen a drop of about 6.1 percent with total collections at $601.4 million. The corporate income tax was also down for the month by 6.5 percent, with collections netting $133.4 million. Insurance tax was down 2.7 percent with $78.2 million collected. Finally, the real estate transfer tax was off by 9.6 percent with $21.2 million total.

$5.6 billion in revenue has been collected so far for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. In total, the state is expecting $22.1 billion overall for the fiscal year.

posted by PAA Online , 10:36 AM
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10th U.S. House Race Adds Forlini

The 10^th U.S. House Seat already has three registered Republican candidates running, but now may have to welcome a fourth. Representative Anthony Forlini (R-Harrison Township) filed the proper paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to begin a committee, and plans on formally announcing the bid soon.

Initially, Representative Forlini backed off the campaign while Senator Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Township) was considering a run. Once the Senator decided against running, Representative Forlini then made his decision. Already registered for the GOP nomination are Senator Phil Pavlov (R-Saint Clair), former Senator Alan Sanborn, and businessman Paul Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Pavlov lead in fundraising, and popularity for the seat, but Representative Forlini is well known across the district and commented he has support from three townships entering this race, Clinton, Harrison and Macomb.

Speculation about who is currently leading the pack changes from person to person. It is likely the 10^th U.S. House Seat will join the list of fiercely contested Michigan districts in this upcoming election.

posted by PAA Online , 10:35 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

HICA Sunset to Snyder

On Wednesday the House and Senate passed a bill to produce nearly $250 million a year to match federal Medicaid dollars and included an amendment that cuts the Health Insurance Claims Assessment sunset from initially proposed 2025 to 2020. Several business organizations, including the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Association of Michigan, have spoken against the legislation. The bill awaits Governor Snyder’s approval.

Recall Snyder Petition Approved

On Monday, the Board of State Canvasser approved a petition written by David Bullock to recall Governor Rick Snyder for his actions regarding Flint and the state of emergency. This is the second petition to be approved, the first addressing the Governor’s actions in regards to Detroit Schools. The petition is active for 6 months or 180 days, but in order to get on the ballot, signatures are needed from 789,133 registered voters in a 60-day period.

posted by PAA Online , 10:30 AM
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