Snyder Names Corrigan to DHS, Will Appoint New Justice by Next Week
As expected,Governor Rick Snyder yesterday named state Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan to head the state Department of Human Services. The appointment means there will be a vacancy left on the state’s highest court. Snyder said he plans to appoint a new justice by January 14th, the day that Corrigan will resign to begin her new job. Corrigan is one of four Republican justices on the seven-member state Supreme Court.
Republican Leaders Target State Employee Pay
The state’s four new legislative leaders sat down yesterday for an interview. The four, also known as ‘The Quadrant,’ talked about the upcoming legislative session and what they hope to get done. During the conversation, Republican Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville and Republican Speaker of the House Jase Bolger said public employees and local governments will have to share in the pain of budget cuts to help address Michigan’s fiscal problems. The two Democratic leaders, Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer and House Minority Leader Rich Hammel, said they want to work with their Republican counterparts but that they would fight efforts to cut state employee pay and benefits. The state currently faces an estimated $1.8 billion dollar budget shortfall for the next fiscal year.
Cut in Defense Department Spending Could Mean Michigan Job Losses
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he wants to cancel a defense contract for an amphibious vehicle for the U.S. Marine Corps. That could mean a loss of potential jobs here in the state, Steve Carmody reports. That’s because a Sterling Heights based division of General Dynamics is the contractor that has been developing the 40 ton vehicle. The marine vehicle has been plagued with budget costs and other problems since the Reagan administration.
Forecast: Snow to Continue
Forecasters are predicting thesnow will continue through much of the state through early tomorrow morning. A Lake Effect Snow Warning is in effect for West Michigan and a Lake Effect Snow Advisory is in effect for Mid Michigan. Both the warning and advisory will remain until Saturday morning. For today: West Michigan could see 2-4 inches; Mid Michigan 1-3 inches and just an inch or two is expected in the Southeast. Temperatures are expected to reach the low 20s.
