Plawecki Seat

Inkster City Councilmember Jewell Jones has been selected by local Democrats in the 11^th House District to replace the late Representative Julie Plawecki on the upcoming ballot.

Democratic precinct delegates within the 11^th District met and nominated three delegates to choose the replacement candidate, with each candidate given five minutes to speak. Mr. Jones was absent from the meeting, as he is currently training with the U.S. Army in Kentucky. Instead, his chief of staff Javion Johnson spoke on his behalf. He spoke of his hard work and dedication, specifically his focus on the Inkster council of assisting youth and expanding economic development.

Given the political makeup of the district, it is highly likely that Jewell Jones will be elected to the Legislature. At 21 years old, he would be the youngest legislator ever elected in Michigan’s history. The Constitution holds the minimum age to serve in the Legislature is 21.

It is currently unclear if Mr. Jones will file to run in the special election primary for the remainder of the current term.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, July 8, 2016 10:23 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

11 Confirmed Cases of Zika Virus

Michigan’s chief medical executive announced 11 cases of individuals with Zika Virus have been confirmed so far in Michigan, although none have been pregnant women.

Michigan weekly disease reporting shows 72 cases of the virus, although, according to Eden Wells, only 11 have been confirmed. All those who have contracted the virus are travellers, according to Ms. Wells. The destinations include the Caribbean, Puerto Rico or South America. No cases of sexual transmission have been found, and there is no evidence that the mosquito carrying the virus has arrived in Michigan.

Michigan may see more cases of the West Nile Virus, however. Due to the hot and dry conditions this summer, it is possible the mosquito that carries the disease could see higher activity, similar to the summer of 2012 where 205 cases of the West Nile Virus were recorded. West Nile activity has been found in birds in the state, occurring earlier than usual.

posted by PAA Online , 10:22 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

21st Century Jobs Trust Fund Grows

The 21^st Century Jobs Trust Fund’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program has diversified the economy and created jobs during the past decade according to a study commissioned by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

The report was commissioned to examine the effectiveness of the program over 10 years. It found the state has made large strides since 2005, and the majority of the funding that did exist in the state was left to be invested elsewhere. Since its creation, the program has seen $261.6 million in investments towards innovation and entrepreneurship efforts in assisting roughly 1,400 companies and start-ups. 1,073 companies were active as of 2014, employing 11,000 people with wages and benefits amounting to nearly $879 million.

The report recommended developing an executive connect program aimed at creating cluster specific entrepreneur in residence programs. The state can also provide additional funding for the executive attraction program as well as streamline entrepreneurial service providers to ensure consistent value-added assistance statewide.

posted by PAA Online , 10:22 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

PAAdvisory Briefs

Eubanks to PSC

Governor Rick Snyder has named Rachael Eubanks to serve on the Public Service Commission, replacing John Quackenbush, who has returned to work in the private sector. Ms. Eubanks was previously a director of public finance for Robert W. Baird & Company in Lansing. She will serve the remainder of his six-year term, ending July 2, 2017.

Judge Thomas Seeking Supreme Court Seat

Wayne Circuit Judge Deborah Thomas is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for the Supreme Court. Currently, Judge Thomas is the only Democrat to show interest in running for the Supreme Court. The court now seats five Republican and two Democratic justices.

Tax Expenditures Expected to Increase

Total tax expenditures could reach $36.5 billion in the fiscal year 2016-17, according to an annual report from the Department of Treasury. The biggest portion of that total will stem from sales and use tax expenditures, such as health services, food and other services. This portion is expected to increase to $17.84 billion. Business taxes are the only category to expect a tax expenditures decline. They are expected to decline to $1.1 billion.

Lawsuit Filed Against Vaccine Rule

Tara Nikolao, a woman from Wyandotte, filed a federal lawsuit at the U.S. District Court in Detroit stating Michigan’s law requiring parents seeking a non-medical waiver from vaccination for their children before they enter public schools to receive in-person education is unconstitutional. Ms. Nikolao is a devout Catholic and objects to vaccinations from aborted fetal cells. The case has been assigned to Judge Linda Parker.

posted by PAA Online , 10:21 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

This Week's Newsletter

Past Newsletters