[log in to unmask]" alt="Gongwer News Service">
[log in to unmask]">
Volume #50, Report #27 -- Tuesday,
February 8, 2011
Snyder Set To Break Up D.E.L.E.G.
Governor
Rick Snyder will soon announce the break-up of the Department of Energy, Labor
and Economic Growth and movement of economic development functions to the
Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Gongwer News Service has learned.
Multiple sources told Gongwer of the impending changes to one of the
state's largest and most critical departments. Snyder communications director
Geralyn Lasher confirmed late Tuesday night that Mr. Snyder would issue the
executive order within a week. Asked about the transfer of economic development
functions to MEDC, Ms. Lasher said, "I think that'd be fair to say."
|
Governor
Rick Snyder is expected to break up the Department of Energy, Labor and
Economic Growth. |
According to the sources, what remains of DELEG, which will be renamed,
will focus on licensing and regulation. Mr. Snyder also will announce a new
director for that department in tandem with the executive order.
Sources said that during the transition period, officials urged Mr.
Snyder to split up DELEG and centralize the state's economic development focus.
"If you look at the org chart of DELEG, it is a very large agency,
and that's why we wanted to take some time to look at the details," Ms.
Lasher said of the process to reorganize the functions within the department.
If the MEDC does take over all economic development functions, it would
mean the new MEDC President and CEO, Michael Finney, will have the same degree
of oversight on economic development that Doug Rothwell had under the
administration of former Governor John Engler. Mr. Rothwell, executive director
of Business Leaders of Michigan, is also chair of the MEDC's executive
committee.
DELEG is currently being
administered by Acting Director Andy Levin, an appointee of former Governor
Jennifer Granholm. It is one only two departments where the governor appoints
the director that Mr. Snyder has not made major changes to or named a permanent
director since his election in November.
The Department of Corrections is the only other department without a
new permanent director and is now under the direction of Acting Director Dick
McKeon.
Under Ms. Granholm, DELEG was initially given a major focus to deal
both with concerns labor had with Mr. Engler's regulation of their issues as
well as promote economic development. She had combined the department from the
old departments of Career Development and Consumer and Industry Services while
also placing a number of autonomous agencies under its watch.
She also eventually gave the department the primary emphasis to promote
alternative energy development.
The Board of Education adopted a new accreditation system Tuesday, but
it was unclear whether the system would actually be implemented or would be
blocked by courts.
Middle Cities Education Association, which represents some of the
state's larger school districts, filed a preemptive action to block the
Michigan School Accreditation and Accountability System late Monday.
|
Superintendent Mike
Flanagan accused opponents of delay tactics. |
Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said during
Tuesday's board meeting that he was not clear why Middle Cities was seeking to
block MI-SAAS, which was altered Tuesday to more closely comply with recent
education reform legislation.
"There are interests at play here that say let's find another
delay," Mr. Flanagan said. "If the injunction prevails, it would be
another delay, we wouldn't be able to implement it."
He said the current system is in the interest of particularly some of
the lower-performing schools and districts because it essentially grants all
school accreditation.
Officials said in recent years the current accreditation system,
Education YES! has left some three schools unaccredited, and never for more
than a year at a time. Schools that remain unaccredited for more than three
years under current law can face takeover by the state.
Mr. Flanagan said the department, now that it had approval of the
board, was planning to take the measure to the House and Senate Education
committees as the current law requires. He did acknowledge there is some
question whether constitutionally the approval of the two committees is needed
to implement the new system.
Kacie Kefgen, spokesperson for Middle Cities, said after the meeting
that either the committees have to approve the change, as current law requires,
or it must be adopted as administrative rules through the Administrative
Procedures Act.
Ms. Kefgen said the group filed the legal challenge because, while Mr.
Flanagan said the department would not be implementing the program until it was
approved by the legislative committees, officials had already instructed
districts to begin collecting the data needed under the proposal.
A memo to schools indicated they could begin providing some data as
early as December 13, 2010, and school improvement plans beginning February 14,
2011. School process rubrics are due March 11 and all other data is due
September 1.
As adopted, the system would preliminarily label the lowest-performing
5 percent of schools as unaccredited, those in the lowest 20 percent as interim
accredited, and the remainder as accredited based on the annual ranking the
department creates.
Those initial labels would then be adjusted based on the percentage of
students taking statewide assessments (less than 95 percent would move a school
down) and on the school's compliance with other requirements such as having a
school improvement plan and using the state core content standards to develop
curriculum.
The plan proposes to remove federal adequate yearly progress measures
in determining where a school falls in the statewide ranking, and instead look
at the achievement gap between the lowest-performing and highest-performing subgroups
within the school. The greater that gap, the more the school could move down
that ranking.
The plan as adopted also would use graduation rate, and change in
graduation rate, to move a school up or down the list.
Board member Marianne McGuire (D-Detroit) was the only vote against the
plan. She argued there were still groups that should have input on the proposal
before it is enacted.
CUT SCORES: One of
the reasons for axing Adequate Yearly Progress from the MI-SAAS was a proposal
to change the cut scores on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program and the
Michigan Merit Exam to fall more in line with college readiness.
The board did not approve the specific cut scores Tuesday, but did
approve, with only Ms. McGuire in opposition, a call for the department to
determine what those scores should be.
The goal is to have proficiency ratings on the test fall more in line
with the college readiness rating on the ACT, which is part of the Merit Exam.
Officials have said the change would substantially reduce the number of
students scoring proficient on the tests, which would leave many schools not
meeting AYP until they can bring those scores back up.
Removing AYP from the accreditation system would avoid having an
excessive number of schools become unaccredited due solely to the cut score
change.
WRITING SCORES: The
board got a bit of a taste of what the change would mean in setting cut scores
for writing for the 2010 MEAP test.
The board, at the recommendation of the department, rejected a review
panel's recommendation on the proficient cut score for the test to bring the
results for the fourth and seventh grades more in line with the Merit Exam (11th
grade) scores.
Officials said the Merit Exam scores are in line with the ACT college
readiness scores, and provided 40 percent of students with proficient ranking
and 4 percent with advanced.
The cut scores initially recommended by the MEAP panel would have provided
9 percent of fourth-graders and 7 percent of seventh-graders with advanced
rankings, not out of line with the high school scores. But they would have set
63 percent in each grade as proficient, which is out of line.
The scores adopted by the board would result in 34 percent of fourth
graders and 36 percent of seventh graders being proficient, scores that
officials said were more appropriate considering the high school outcomes.
ARTS REQUIREMENTS:
The board also gave initial approval to grade level expectations for arts
education. The standards now go out for public comment with final approval by
the board expected in April.
Among the requirements, kindergarteners would be required to identify
various body parts by touching and walk with a partner for dance; high
schoolers would be expected to choreograph a duet.
The standards would expect similar ranges of growth in music, theater
and visual arts.
The arts standards are the final of the content expectations to be set
by the department and the board.
House Emergency Manager Bill Removes
Local's Power
Local officials who oversaw their government's plunge into financial
ruin would have no authority unless the emergency financial manager appointed
to oversee reconstruction approves such duties under legislation to be
introduced in the House.
Rep.
Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville) is sponsoring the legislation backed by Governor
Rick Snyder, who called for reforms to the state's emergency financial
manager law last month. Mr. Pscholka's district includes
Under the bill, managers be would able to renegotiate contracts, sell
government assets, set staffing levels and enter into service consolidation
agreements without interference from local officials.
"We are appointing people to be protectors of the public interest
and they need to have the tools to fulfill that role. At present, we are
sending them into these situations just to end up obstructed by local
individuals or structural barriers. We need to be clear about the extent of
their oversight," Mr. Pscholka said.
The bill also will set up a process for the state to help financially
distressed local governments before bankruptcy.
Additional 'Pure
The state is on its way to spending $25 million a year on the popular
"Pure Michigan" advertising campaign after a bill using 21st
Century Jobs Fund money passed a House committee unanimously on Tuesday.
Clean Water Action reacted to the vote by saying lawmakers should be
just as dedicated financially to cleaning up the state's waterways as they are
to highlighting them in the ads.
"If lawmakers can set aside the money to market our Great Lakes
way of life, they should also set aside the money to protect our water and
other natural treasures from pollution so our citizens and tourists can enjoy
our lakes and rivers for years to come," said Cyndi Roper, Clean Water
Action's
The group noted funding for the state's pollution monitoring and
enforcement has dropped to $25 million from $100 million 10 years ago.
The legislation (HB
4160[log in to unmask]" alt="*">), reported
from House Natural Resources, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation, adds tourism
promotion as a permanent eligible activity for jobs fund money, and Governor
Rick Snyder will make good on his call for Pure Michigan ads to receive $25
million annually in his February 17 budget presentation, Jim McBryde with the
Michigan Economic Development Corporation told the panel.
Mr. Snyder is expected to present is 2011-12 fiscal year budget, as
well as recommendation for spending in the 2012-13 fiscal year.
The committee amended the bill to require the MEDC provide a report to
legislators on where the $25 million goes each year. The MEDC produces several
reports each year, some of which already go to Appropriations Committee
members, but this would extend the distribution of information.
"I think it's important to be able to go back to our constituents
and show we've been prudent with their money," said Rep.
Matt Huuki (R-Atlantic Mine), the amendment's sponsor.
The Legislature and governor first created the jobs fund in 2006 by
securitizing some of the state's future tobacco settlement revenue.
NATIONAL FOREST:
The committee also reported two measures (HCR
2[log in to unmask]" alt="*"> and HR
17
[log in to unmask]" alt="*">) expressing
lawmakers' opposition to a lawsuit aimed at stopping firearm hunting and
snowmobiling in part of the Huron-Manistee National Forest.
The U.S. Forest Service, while reviewing its Land and Resource
Management plan of the forest after a U.S. 6th Circuit Court of
Appeals ruling, has been sued to halt hunting and snowmobiling in all primitive
areas and semi-primitive non-motorized management areas, which is about 70,000
acres.
But supporters of the resolutions said stopping those recreational
activities would have a negative effect on the economy of northern
"They eat in our restaurants, and they enjoy the great north as
they should," said Rep.
Peter Pettalia (R-Presque Isle).
The resolutions were reported on nearly unanimous votes with Rep.
Tim Bledsoe (D-Grosse Pointe) abstaining. Mr. Bledsoe pointed out the
lawsuit relates to 7 percent of the forest's total acreage.
The Michigan Snowmobiling Association, Michigan Lodging and Tourism
Association and Michigan United Conservation Clubs support the resolutions.
There was no testimony in opposition.
Scott Expecting Child With Former
Legislative Aide
Rep.
Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc) confirmed Tuesday he is having a baby with his
former legislative aide and campaign manager.
Mr. Scott, a 28-year-old single lawmaker serving in his second term,
said he met Amanda Grove when he first took office in 2009 and was interviewing
staff for his legislative office.
The two developed a romantic relationship over time and she left his
staff in May of last year to manage his campaign for secretary of state. He
eventually lost the Republican nomination for that office.
Mr. Scott has been one of the most socially conservative lawmakers,
opposing abortion and same-sex marriage and saying during his secretary of
state race that he would prohibit transgendered residents from changing the sex
listed on their driver's license.
Asked about how conservatives may react to the news, Mr. Scott said
there are many members of the Republican Party who are anti-abortion and his
child is a "blessing."
"The Lord works in mysterious ways," he said.
Ms. Grove, who did not return to work in the Legislature, is due in a
few weeks. Mr. Scott said the two have a close relationship and are focusing on
the healthy birth of their son.
Road Groups Urge Senators To Fund
Transportation
The state lacks sufficient money to run even a moderately serviceable
road construction, repair and maintenance program, and officials must find a
way to pump more money into the system as conditions continue to worsen,
leaders of road organizations said Tuesday.
|
Sen.
Tom Casperson said a road funding solution is needed. |
Officials representing the County Road Association of Michigan, the
Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association and the Michigan
Municipal League made their pitch for more road funding to the Senate
Transportation Committee. None advocated a specific solution, but noted
previous proposals such as exempting fuel from the sales tax - which at today's
gasoline prices amounts to an 18 cents per gallon levy - and then raising the
gasoline tax by an equivalent amount.
Michael Nystrom, executive vice president of MITA, sought to address the
sentiment prevalent in the Legislature not to raise taxes. He said, in general,
he agreed with keeping taxes low. But when it comes to roads, "The
equivalent of having the lowest gas tax in the nation is the equivalent of
having the worst roads in the nation."
And Ed Noyola, deputy director for the County Road Association of
Michigan, voiced frustration that a wide spectrum of groups made the case for
more money in previous legislative terms only to see no action.
"Here we are again, back in front of a legislative body to plead
our case," he said.
Mr. Nystrom ran through a series of disturbing statistics, such as the
state having 28,700 miles of state and local roads in poor condition, 38
counties having pulverized paved roads back to dirt or gravel because they
could no longer maintain them and having 3,052 structurally deficient and
functionally obsolete state and local bridges. Available funding for the
state's roads has fallen by hundreds of millions in recent years.
Mr. Nystrom mentioned the idea of exempting gasoline from the sales tax
and raising the gasoline tax as a possibility, but also characterized it as
"off the wall" idea. He noted though that the 6 percent sales tax
raised $718 million from gasoline sales in 2009.
"We have a collision course, a train wreck, that's waiting to
happen," Mr. Nystrom said of the situation with road funding.
Sen.
Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), the committee chair, said afterward that he
wants to talk with Senate leadership and the administration of Governor
Rick Snyder about what to do.
"Clearly, there's a problem," he said. "I can sense
frustration, and I can completely understand it."
Still, there's no appetite to raise taxes, Mr. Casperson said, and that
creates a jam.
"I don't have the answer," he said. "I just know there's
a problem."
Senate Skirmish On E.I.T.C. As Bill
Introduced
Seldom has the introduction of a bill generated as much of a furor as Sen.
Roger Kahn's submission of legislation Tuesday to repeal the Earned Income
Tax Credit, but it only further confirmed the EITC as an early flashpoint in
what is expected to be a difficult budget this year.
Mr. Kahn - with six Republican co-sponsors - introduced SB
103[log in to unmask]" alt="*">, which
would end the ability of the working poor to claim a state income tax credit
equal to 20 percent of the credit they receive on their federal taxes. The bill
was referred, as expected, to the Senate Finance Committee.
|
Bill
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[log in to unmask]"The EITC will cost $340 million this year and is estimated to
cost $370 million in FY 2012," Mr. Kahn said in remarks on the Senate
floor. "$370 million. Let me put that in perspective. All in, the budgets
of agriculture, the attorney general, civil rights, education, DELEG, the
executive office, judiciary, auditor general, military affairs and the
secretary of state would only total $357 million. ... We don't need it and it
is certainly not worth the equivalent of the entire budgets of 10 state
departments."
Co-sponsoring the bill were Sen.
Mike Nofs of Battle Creek, Sen.
Phil Pavlov of St. Clair, Sen. Arlan Meekhof of West Olive, Sen.
Rick Jones of Grand Ledge, Sen.
Jack Brandenburg of Harrison Twp. and Sen.
Darwin Booher of Evart.
But Democrats and a variety of organizations denounced the bill.
"My colleague has said that there are over $300 million in
savings, but let's be straight with the voters. It represents a tax increase on
those who can least afford it if you get rid of the earned income tax
policy," said Senate Minority
Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D-East Lansing). "Now there are many people
in state government who, frankly, I don't think understand what this earned
income tax credit is. I have heard comments from people in the Executive Office
to people who hold gavels in this body saying that it is a handout for people
who are not working. Let's really talk about the facts. This is about helping
people who are working and doing the best they can."
The Michigan Catholic Conference called the bill alarming and
unfortunate.
"The legislative majority has stated since it took control this
legislative session there would not be a tax increase to resolve the budget
deficit - yet the first piece of legislation designed to address that shortfall
represents nothing but a tax increase on the working poor," said Paul
Long, president and CEO of the Catholic Conference. "
Senate OKs 'I'm Sorry' Bill For
Med-Mal Cases
Health care professionals who express sympathy to the family of someone
who died or experienced pain and suffering while receiving care could not have
those statements used against them in a medical malpractice lawsuit under a
bill that unanimously passed the Senate on Tuesday.
Known as the "I'm sorry" law, SB
53[log in to unmask]" alt="*"> is designed
to allow health care workers to offer condolences or sympathy to an
individual's family without putting them at risk of having such statements used
as evidence of admitting liability should they be sued.
Sen.
James Marleau (R-Lake Orion), the bill sponsor, recalled in his family he
was taught the magic words of "please," "thank you" and
"I'm sorry." Allowing health care professionals to offer expressions
of sympathy without fear of putting themselves at risk of liability is common
sense, he said.
"It's the right thing to do," he said.
Governor
Rick Snyder made an impromptu appearance on the House floor Tuesday as
members were gathered for session.
Mr. Snyder was already in the Capitol for several meetings, according
to spokesperson Sara Wurfel, and the timing worked out where he could pop in
and briefly chat with legislators.
Ms. Wurfel said the conversations were casual and not specifically
related to any one issue. She said the opportunity allowed the governor to
continue building his relationships with legislators.
Mr. Snyder made it up and down both the Republican and Democratic sides
of the chamber. He also abided by the dress code of the House by wearing a
bright green tie.
U-M Study: Local Officials React To
Workers Pay, Benefits
Most local officials do not think their workers are overpaid in terms
of salary and wages, a study by the
The survey is the latest salvo fired in the current fight over public
employee pay and benefits. The study was done of local government officials,
and came out about a week after Governor
Rick Snyder issued his plain language balance sheet that triggered
controversy in saying that public workers are compensated nearly twice as much
as the average worker in the private sector.
The survey was completed by officials in more than 1,000 localities in
the state. However, the data is almost a year old, since the survey was
completed in the spring of 2010.
The officials were asked about pay to their workers and 65 percent of
those responding said they thought the pay rates were about right. Some 25
percent said they thought the pay rates were too low. Just 6 percent thought
the pay was too high.
Nearly one-third of the localities do not offer fringe benefits to
their workers, according to the survey.
Of those that do offer fringe benefits, such as health insurance, 62
percent said they thought the benefits are at the right levels.
But the response was different from officials in the state's largest
communities, where 53 percent of the respondents said they thought the benefits
paid their workers were too generous. In the smaller communities, just 18
percent of the respondents thought the benefits were too generous.
Report: Obama Will Not Call For
Interest On U.I. Debt
President Barack Obama may be preparing to give
A report in a New York Times blog says that Mr. Obama's budget proposal
for the 2011-12 fiscal year will defer collecting taxes for the debt
That could affect an estimated 54,000 companies in Michigan that have
to pay $67.50 per worker this year to help the state pay the interest on the
more than $3 billion it has borrowed to make benefit payments to unemployed
workers.
Officials had hoped an agreement to delay the payments could be reached
in December when Congress and Mr. Obama reached an agreement on the personal
income tax and on unemployment benefits. It was not to be, however.
The only companies required to pay the interest are those with negative
balances, those that have actually laid off workers. That still amounts to some
54,000 businesses. While the interest payment of $67.50 per worker only has to
be made once a year, how many have made the payments has not been released.
Mr. Obama's proposal would have to be approved by Congress. While the
now Republican-controlled U.S. House may put up some resistance to the idea, a
number of Republican governors, including Governor
Rick Snyder, have called for the federal government to give the states a
break on the unemployment tax interest payments.
Along with
According to the report, the administration is looking at having
payments begin again in 2014, but would also increase the base pay rate from
$7,000 a year to $15,000, which theoretically would help the state's pay the
debt as well as rebuild their trust funds.
Republicans Press M.E.D.C. For
Improvements
More responsiveness to the needs of struggling
With the state struggling economically over the past 10 years, Rep.
Jeff Farrington (R-Utica) put it straight to the new CEO Michael Finney by
asking what the MEDC is going to do differently than it has in the past four to
eight years (when Democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm was in charge).
Testifying before the House Commerce Committee, Mr. Finney said the
MEDC does intend to operate at a higher level of transparency and allow
stakeholders to engage in what's going on at the MEDC more.
Engaging local economic development partners, as Governor
Rick Snyder discussed last month, will also be new. Mr. Finney, the former
head of Ann Arbor SPARK, said in his prior role he often felt the MEDC didn't
get input from local partners in developing its strategies.
"I really didn't feel connected. Not that they were bad
strategies, it (just) would have been nice to understand them upfront),"
Mr. Finney said.
Rep.
Sharon Tyler (R-Niles) said improving the retention call system is
desperately needed. Often a local company participates in the MEDC's retention
call as a favor to local economic development groups, but the state doesn't
really use that time as an opportunity to learn what a company needs or ask how
it could help bring some of its subcontractors to
Mr. Finney said he often found multiple state agencies, as well as the
locals, are making retention calls to businesses and that's a duplication of
efforts. He said the MEDC wants to use the retention calls as an economic
gardening tool to understand what assistance companies may need to grow, so
those efforts are being refined.
Rep.
Mike Shirkey (R-Clark Lake) and Mr. Farrington both called on the MEDC to
be more transparent with its economic development figures and use a more
effective system of measuring results since it often seems like the focus is
simply on retained or new jobs and how much investment the company is making in
Michigan.
Mr. Farrington said he encountered a situation where a business seeking
assistance from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority was told it could only
have state aid if company officials told their employees they were going out of
business. That way, the state could swoop in and help and count that as
"retained jobs," Mr. Farrington said.
Those kinds of interactions with businesses have discredited the MEDC's
reputation, he said.
Board Recommends Teacher Prep, School
Funding Changes
The Board of Education on Tuesday recommended that the governor and
Legislature adopt policies that would gear the state's education system toward
life-long learning, including career-long improvements for teachers, and would change
how schools receive aid as well as how much.
Among its recommendations approved unanimously, the board echoed Governor
Rick Snyder's call for an education system that ranges from preschool
through college, including providing universal preschool for all children and
mandating kindergarten.
The board also called for incentives to ensure that schools are helping
students progress through the system. Part of that effort is improving teachers
through a tiered licensure system to encourage teachers to move up as well as
changes to allow easier removal of ineffective teachers.
To ensure the reforms move forward, the board called for equitable
funding for all schools. The board recommended ways the state could reduce the
cost of education, including combining the more than 80 early childhood initiatives
around the state, was well as potentially increasing state funding for
districts.
One of the end goals of the proposal would be having 90 percent of
students graduate high school ready to enter college or work training without
having to take remedial courses.
In addition to it being the start of a new term on the board, members
said now was the time to propose the reforms because of the push for change by
Mr. Snyder.
"This is a kind of opportunity on a wave of political momentum to
make education reform happen," Board President John Austin (D-Ann Arbor)
said. "It's a chance for us to accelerate pieces of reform and policy that
we've been working on and bring those forward in real time."
While the board did talk about the need for additional, and better use
of, funding for schools, it avoided calling for any particular types of new
revenue as it did in prior recommendations. Instead, it called for
"re-allocating budget priorities within state government" to provide
additional funds for schools.
Republican members of the board particularly warned against
recommendations that fall outside the board's area of influence.
"I would encourage the board to recommend something that we have
purview over," said board Secretary Nancy Danhof (R-East Lansing).
"We don't have the authority to determine what kind of revenue we
have."
But she and others said the board did have a constitutional
responsibility to indicate how much revenue schools need to operate.
"When we start talking about raising taxes, we don't have that right,"
said board member Eileen Weiser (R-Ann Arbor). "We can talk about funding
needed."
The board also called for tying some of that funding to student
achievement. In addition to the base foundation grant, the recommendations
would have a portion of the grant based on student performance and progress.
And the board called for schools to have even more flexibility in how
they spend that foundation grant, as long as that spending is improving student
achievement.
For schools that are struggling financially, the board called for
review of the financial manager law to clarify the roles of the emergency
financial manager and the elected board.
The recommendations focus on improving achievement with particular
emphasis on programs for the lowest-performing schools, including highlighting
programs that are proven to work. It also calls for ensuring choices for
students in those struggling schools.
But it also calls for ensuring access to accelerated programs for those
students who qualify, including eliminating financial disincentives to allowing
students to participate in dual enrollment programs.
Part of the school improvement effort was also calling for universal
preschool programs.
"All of the evidence is that investments in children at that age
pay huge dividends down the road," said board member Dan Varner
(D-Detroit).
But the board ensured that the recommendation was to have the programs
available, not that children be required to attend them.
"There are some families where preschool would be a benefit, and
for some families it will not," said board member Richard Zeile
(R-Detroit). "We don't want to be institutional enablers of parental
neglect." He said some homeschooled children will receive more adult
attention than they would in preschool programs.
For teachers, the board recommended a three-tiered licensing system,
with concurrent compensation changes, for new teachers, proficient teachers and
master teachers.
Board member Marianne McGuire (D-Detroit) raised concerns that the
proposal would remove the current incentive most districts provide for teachers
earning master's degrees.
The recommendation also would call for a review system that includes
student achievement as a measure of teacher quality and that allows easier
removal of ineffective teachers.
Districts would also have use of a variety of partners, including
private organizations, to implement programs to help teachers improve under the
proposals.
"Why not work with our local districts, with our ISDs, with local
groups and private investment to do the job we know needs to be done?" Ms.
Danhof said in requesting to add the provision.
Vote On Item Pricing Bill Postponed
A vote to repeal the state requirement that nearly every item in a
store come with an individual price sticker will wait at least another week as
the House Commerce Committee postponed action on HB
4158[log in to unmask]" alt="*"> during its
meeting Tuesday.
Chair Rep.
Wayne Schmidt (
Gongwer News Service previously reported how the legislation removes
any authority the Department of Agriculture has with the remaining item-pricing
law and gives sole responsibility to the attorney general.
Meanwhile, Marketing Resource Group released a poll showing
Of the group who supports repeal, 28 percent strongly support it and 17
percent somewhat support it. Of the group who opposes repeal, 31 percent
strongly oppose it and 14 percent somewhat oppose it. Another 10 percent of
respondents were undecided.
The legislation still keeps penalties in place for retailers who
overcharge customers.
The MRG poll of 600 likely voters was taken January 24-27 and has a
margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. The arguments for and
against the bill were rotated between calls. MRG noted a poll it conducted on
the topic in 1992 showed 50 percent opposing item pricing repeal and 43 percent
supporting repeal.
Steudle: M.D.O.T. Reorganizing Itself
With a total vacancy of nearly 20 percent of its workforce, the Department
of Transportation is in the process of developing a reorganization plan, the
department director told the House Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee
on Tuesday.
Kirk Steudle also warned the subcommittee that rule changes enacted by
the U.S. House could mean the state would lose as much as $190 million in
federal transportation funding.
The presentation before the subcommittee was designed to help the
legislators get familiar with an administrative overview of the department. The
chair, Rep.
David Agema (R-Grandville), said there would be no questions on the
controversial Detroit River International Crossing proposal.
While going through the various elements of funding, organizational
structure and required planning processes (as well as the department's
increasing use of social media to help inform motorists of construction
updates), Mr. Steudle said that with the recent state worker retirements, the
department was about 20 percent down from its authorized level of personnel.
While the department is authorized to have 3,000 workers, it has not
had that many in years, Mr. Steudle said. The department was holding 244
vacancies before the latest early retirement plan went into effect.
Another 328 workers, representing more than 12,000 years of experience,
left the state by January 1, Mr. Steudle said.
That means the department has roughly 20 percent fewer workers than it
is authorized, he said.
The department is now in the process of developing a reorganization
plan that Mr. Steudle said should be completed before the start of the 2011-12
fiscal year.
But he said any changes the department implements will not affect the
department's customer service mission.
Because the largest share of the department's budget comes from federal
funds, Mr. Steudle said the new rules adopted by the U.S. House could cut the
state's funds significantly. The rules are aimed largely at granting less
authority on funding to trust funds. Other transportation related organizations
warned the rules could hurt state funding by making it less likely all the
states could get funds for planning and future work.
Mr. Steudle said he was also concerned about talk in Congress on doing
away with the federal highway trust fund altogether which means
Binding Arbitration Repeal Introduced
In House
Local governments have long sought for a repeal, or at least changes,
to the state's binding arbitration law commonly referred to as PA 312 and on
Tuesday a House Republican introduced such a measure.
Rep.
Joseph Haveman (R-Holland) is sponsoring HB
4205[log in to unmask]" alt="*"> and HB
4206
[log in to unmask]" alt="*">, which
repeal binding arbitration.
"At a time of fiscal crisis in our state with many communities
close to receivership, we must find ways to free the hands of local elected
officials from outdated and costly statutes and regulation such as this,"
Mr. Haveman said. "Binding arbitration results in incremental increases to
benefits and pay that are leading many of our municipalities toward bankruptcy.
It is just not appropriate to continue using a system that damages a city's
finances and compounds the tax burden on residents."
The bills were referred to the Government Operations Committee, which
is chaired by House Majority
Floor Leader Jim Stamas (R-Midland).
Homebuilders Expect Business Bump
Homebuilders in the state began to see business come back at the end of
last year, and are expecting double-digit growth for 2011, the Michigan
Association of Home Builders said in a report Tuesday.
The group is predicting 16.5 percent growth in building permits for
2011, and saw a 17.8 percent increase in the Michigan Housing Index, the
association's measure of housing activity in the state.
The remodeling index, however, was down in December to 34 from 38 in
November.
The December housing index returned to about the May 2010 level, which
had been boosted by federal tax credits for new construction that expired
mid-year.
The group also noted that, while 2011 is projected to see increases,
that is still from a 2010 year that was 72 percent below the 30-year average
for single-family home permits. And the first half of 2011 is still expected to
be below the first half of 2010.
P.S.C. Rejects Renewable Credit
Double Counting Charge
Harvest Wind Farm sold only one renewable power credit for each unit of
power it generated, the Public Service Commission reported Tuesday.
The
But PSC officials said the
P.S.C. Investigating
The battles between the companies providing ferry service to
The city of
The commission entered the discussions last week with a filing February
4 by Shepler's Incorporated (case No. T-1862). The commission has set a hearing
for February 22 for the ferry companies to begin scheduling hearings on the
issue. In addition to the usual contested case hearings, the commission will be
scheduling hearings in the area, potentially one each in St. Ignace,
L.I.H.E.A.P. HEARING:
The commission has also scheduled a hearing for March 10 at 10 a.m. at the
commission offices,
State law requires the hearing whenever the funds are reduced, and the
commission will compile the comments at the hearing for a report to the
governor and the Legislature.
Comments can also be sent to [log in to unmask] or on the commission's edockets website (case No. U-16541)
DTE Companies Allowed Optimization
Charges
DTE's two utilities were able to achieve the savings they projected
under their energy optimization plans, so customers of the two utilities will
see additional charges to recover the costs of those savings, the Public
Service Commission ordered Tuesday.
Michigan Consolidated Gas Company was able to reduce energy use by 0.14
percent in 2007 through its plan, so the commission approved increasing its
energy optimization surcharge to cover the $913,374 cost of the program (case No. U-16289). The increase will cost the average
residential customer about 8 cents per month beginning in March.
Detroit Edison customers will pay about 5 cents more per month because
the utility saw 0.42 percent savings under its plan (case No. U-16358). The power use reduction cost the utility
about $3 million.
P.S.C. Delays Consumers Increase
The Public Service Commission for the first time used its power to
delay utility increases to head off a proposed $29.5 million increase by
Consumers Energy.
The commission, on a 2-1 vote Tuesday, found it had good cause to
prevent Consumers from implementing the proposed natural gas rate increase on
Thursday.
Commissioner Monica Martinez dissented from the commission vote (case No. U-16418).
Consumers had initially requested a $55.3 million annual increase and
had filed testimony to support a $48 million increase.
DETROIT PENSION BOARD:
The method of selecting a member to the Detroit Police and Firefighters
Retirement System Board would be prohibited from the collective bargaining
process under HB
4135[log in to unmask]" alt="*"> reported
Tuesday by the House Oversight, Ethics and Reform Committee.
The issue is currently in arbitration and lawmakers were asked to hold
off on voting by those opposed to the legislation, but it was reported on a 5-1
vote with Rep.
Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield) the sole dissenting vote. Governor Jennifer
Granholm vetoed similar legislation late last year.
SYNTHETIC DRUGS BILL:
A bill to again criminalize synthetic marijuana (SB
99[log in to unmask]" alt="*">) cleared
the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Those substances were inadvertently
legalized through the adoption of a new act late last year.
TOWNSHIPS ASSOCITION EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE: The Michigan Townships Association announced its
executive committee for 2011. Serving on the committee are Jack Randolph,
supervisor of East China Charter Township (St. Clair Co.) who will be president
of the association's board of directors; Bill Renn, Chandler Township (Huron
Co.) supervisor; Denny Olson, Breitung Charter Township (Dickinson Co.)
supervisor; Eugene Jorissen, Pere Marquette Charter Township (Mason Co.)
supervisor; Linda Preston, Pokagon Township (Cass Co.) supervisor; Doug
Merchant, Arcada Township (Gratiot Co.) supervisor; and Linda Towsley, Windsor
Charter Township (Eaton Co.) clerk.
POLL SUGGESTS VOTERS WANT MEDICAID
PROTECTED: A new survey shows state voters favor keeping
Medicaid funding at current levels as opposed to cutting it. The survey, conducted
by EPIC/MRA and commissioned by the Michigan Health and Hospital Association,
showed 61 percent of voters want Medicaid funding kept intact while just 18
percent agreed "that the level the state pays for Medicaid reimbursement
to health care providers should not be any different from any other state
program or service that is being cut."
Bruce Rasher of
Supplemental Notice Of Legislative
Committees
Wednesday,
February 9
Senate
Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing, (Chr. Jansen,
373-5314), Rooms 402/403,
- Presentation by Ken Braun, budget policy
analyst for the
House
Banking and Financial Services, (Chr. Knollenberg,
373-7256), Room 326,
- Presentations by Jeff Weisserman from
Trott and Trott and John Llewellyn from the
|
HR
21 |
WALL
STREET REFORM (Knollenberg)
Memorializes Congress to take steps to insure that the Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act does not result in increased fees on consumers at
exempted institutions. Full Text
|
House
Commerce, House
Tax Policy, (Chr. Schmidt,
W., 373-7256, Chr. Gilbert,
373-2013), Room 352, House Appropriations Room, Capitol, 10:30 a.m., Webcast
- Overview of MBT and MBT surcharge and
MBT credits Presentation by Treasury and Presentation by Anderson Economic
Group on effectiveness of credits
- Presentation by the Department of
Treasury and Anderson Economic Group on the Michigan Business Tax and MBT
credits.
House
Transportation, (Chr. Opsommer,
373-1260), Room 307,
- Presentation by Kirk Steudle, Director
of the Michigan Department of Transportation
|
HB
4004 |
RAILROADS (Kurtz)
Exempts certain segment of property formerly used for railway from
divestiture provision. Full Text
|
|
HB
4129 |
HIGHWAY
RENAME (Knollenberg)
Designates a portion of M-24 as the William Davidson memorial highway.
(Testimony only) Full Text |
Senate
Finance, (Chr. Brandenburg,
373-5307), Room 210,
|
SB
1 |
M.B.T.
REPEAL (Hildenbrand)
Repeals |
|
SB
34 |
PERSONAL
PROPERTY (Nofs)
Repeals personal property tax. Full Text
|
House
Appropriations (Human Services Subcommittee), House
Families and Children's Services, (Chr. Agema,
373-8080, Chr. Kurtz,
373-5795), Room 352, House Appropriations Room, Capitol, 3 p.m. or after
session, Webcast
- Presentation by Department of Human
Services Children's Services Administration
Senate
Education, Senate
Local Government and Elections, (Chr. Pavlov,
373-5344, Chr. Robertson,
373-5323), Senate Hearing Room,
- Discussion of 1990 Public Act 72
Thursday,
February 10
Senate
Agriculture, (Chr. Hune,
373-5344), Room 110,
- Pending introduction and referral, bills
on the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program
Senate
Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes, (Chr. Casperson,
373-5323), Room 210,
- Department of Environmental Quality
overview by Director Dan Wyant
- Testimony from Peter Glaser, an attorney
specializing in energy and environmental law in
|
SR
10 |
FEDERAL
REGULATIONS (Casperson)
Urges the Congress to place a moratorium on any greenhouse gas regulations
issued by the Environmental Protection Agency Full Text
|
|
SCR
6 |
FEDERAL
REGULATIONS (Green)
Urges the Congress to place a moratorium on any new greenhouse gas
regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. Full
Text |
House
Health Policy, (Chr. Haines,
373-7256), Room 519,
- Presentations by: David
House
Judiciary, (Chr. Walsh,
373-5795), Room 521,
- Presentations by The State Court
Administrative Office on the
Senate
Appropriations (Human Services Subcommittee), (Chr. Caswell,
373-2768), Senate Hearing Room, Ground Floor,
- Presentation by the Department of Human
Services and discussion of the juvenile justice system
Senate
Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, (Chr. Hansen,
373-5323), Room 210,
- Organizational meeting
- Presentation by the Department of
Natural Resources on the
The following was
added to the agenda:
|
SB
110 |
PURE
|
Remaining previous
agenda:
|
SR
6 |
FIREARM
HUNTING (Hansen)
Expresses opposition to the ban on firearm hunting and snowmobiling in
certain areas of the |
Senate
Banking and Financial Institutions, (Chr. Booher,
373-5314), Room 100,
- Presentations by Michigan Bankers
Association and the Michigan Credit Union League on the current conditions
of banking in Michigan, as well as the effects of federal regulations on
financial institutions around the state
[log in to unmask]">
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Phone:
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[log in to unmask]">
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