Michigan

State House panel set to move forward no-fault overhaul

Jake Neher — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:19:45 +0000

A proposed overhaul of Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system has cleared its first legislative hurdle. A state House panel passed the bill on a party-line vote, with Democrats all voting "no."

Right now, people who are severely injured in an auto accident can get unlimited lifetime medical benefits.

The legislation would cap those benefits at a million dollars.

Many people who testified against the bill said people who are already injured would lose benefits they were promised.

Michigan prisoners may soon be eating ARAMARK meals

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:52:12 +0000

About 400 food service state employees may soon be out of work at Michigan’s prisons.

That’s after Michigan reversed its previous decision NOT to privatize the contract.

The original company bids did not meet the state benchmark of at least 5 percent savings.

Student loan payments may be tax credits

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:31:07 +0000

Student loan payments may be applied as tax credits if a new bill in Lansing becomes law. Democratic State Representative Andy Schor is sponsoring the legislation.

He says “it’s the start of keeping that talent here and reversing the brain drain as we create some of the places where they want to be.”

Michigan Democrats want to cut state pension tax, boost K-12 funding

The Associated Press — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:28:44 +0000

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Minority Democrats in the Michigan House say pension income should no longer be taxed and other Republican-backed tax changes from 2011 should be repealed.

Democrats included the proposals in a list of budget priorities unveiled Monday in Lansing. House Democrats say their plan puts "families first," but it faces an uphill climb because Republicans control the Legislature.

Genessee County shuts down HAZMAT team

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:00:00 +0000

MLive's Ron Fonger is reporting that Genesee County has shut down its hazardous materials response team.

This comes as state officials are investigating potential problems with the unit.

It will be the first time the county has been without a HAZMAT team in over 10 years. Now other counties will be asked to provide assistance when there's a hazardous materials emergency.

Are kids in the state's care safe? Court monitor says not safe enough

Sarah Alvarez — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:16:50 +0000

Almost 14,000 kids in Michigan have been taken out of their own homes by the state because of an abuse or neglect allegation.

Those kids then rely upon the state's Department of Human Services (DHS) to keep them safe and put them in an environment where they have a chance to thrive. Most of those kids end up in foster care.

Six years ago the state was sued by the advocacy group Children's Rights over treatment of kids in its care.

The state was back in court today to see where things stand. Everyone agrees things have gotten better since the lawsuit started six years ago, but the court appointed monitor said too many kids are still unsafe.

Michigan rolls out plan to address autism needs

Rick Pluta — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:53:14 +0000

Last year, Michigan enacted a law that requires insurance companies to cover childhood autism treatments.

Today, the Michigan Department of Community Health will roll out its autism coverage plan.

There are about 50,000 people in Michigan with autism. It’s a disorder that effects communication and social skills.

Companies refuse to pay Flint false alarm bills

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:41:18 +0000

Alarm companies in Flint are refusing to pay nearly $134,000 in bills from the city of Flint related to police response to false alarm calls.

David Harris of the Flint Journal reports:

The Burglar and Fire Alarm Association of Michigan is fighting a policy in Flint that bills the alarm company directly as opposed to the customer, said Karen Majeske, the association's board director.

The one that DIDN’T get away is a world record

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:19:31 +0000

In a press release today, Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources says Joseph Seeberger has both a state record and now a world record-sized Great Lakes muskellunge.

The International Committee of the Modern Day Muskellunge World Record Program (MDMWRP) recognized Seeberger’s catch as the biggest ever. MDMWRP is a committee of muskellunge scientists, industry leaders, anglers and outdoor media personalities that formed in 2006.
Prior to Seeberger's submission, there had not been a MDMWRP world-record entry verified.

Unions seek contracts ahead of new Michigan law

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:14:32 +0000

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Some unions in Michigan are working to get new contracts approved before the state's right-to-work law takes effect next month to delay when they'll be affected by changes.

The Detroit News reports some see it as an effort to keep collecting dues from members until after a new contract expires. Union leaders representing teachers in Utica, Plymouth-Canton, Dearborn and Detroit school districts all are working toward new agreements.

The Lansing State Journal reports unions at Michigan State University and Lansing Community College are exploring the possibility of extending their labor contracts to delay the law's impact on them.

The law, passed last year, takes effect March 27. It prohibits requiring workers to pay union dues or fees, but contracts in place before that date are immune from the new rules.

Where do Michigan's tax dollars go?

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:11:50 +0000

Ever wonder where your Michigan tax dollars go?

MLive’s Jonathan Oosting has an article today that breaks it all out.

He notes that:

Michigan is one of eight states that levies a sales tax on fuel purchases, but it does not devote any of that revenue to road maintenance or repairs.

Michigan Businesses Have 1K Fewer Rules To Follow

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 22:48:23 +0000

Governor Rick Snyder announced today that Michigan businesses now have one thousand fewer rules to live with.

Rob Nederhood is Deputy Director of Michigan’s Office of Regulatory Reinvention.

He says they were challenged to eliminate outdated or obsolete administrative rules.

Legislature stays up late, passes flood of lame-duck bills

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:31:02 +0000

More than a few Michigan legislators are probably feeling a little fuzzy today, asking themselves the all-important question, “What happened last night?”

That’s because lawmakers were up until 4:30 a.m. this morning as part of an all-night legislative binge that saw the passage of a bundle of bills.

And as MLive reports, not everyone is happy about the way it happened:

Commentary: The problem McCotter left behind

Jack Lessenberry — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:10:07 +0000

Political circles across the state remain stunned by the very public self-destruction of former Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, from the white-collar Wayne County suburb of Livonia.

Yet it seems to me that while many people know the basic facts of his decline and fall, most don’t understand the true consequences of what he’s done. I’ll get to that in a moment.

But first consider this. A year ago, McCotter was a man with an essentially safe seat in Congress who had launched a long-shot campaign for President.

Commentary: Fourth of July

Jack Lessenberry — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:00:00 +0000

When the Declaration of Independence was signed two hundred and thirty-six years ago, Michigan was a sparsely populated place which the French considered part of the province of Quebec.