Health Care
Susan J. Demas: Nice girls don’t say ‘vagina’ … or ‘motherfucker’
As exhilarating at 2018’s pink wave election was for feminists — those who believe in the radical notion that women are people — we just got a 12-letter reminder that some things haven’t changed. After being sworn in, new U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) declared of President Trump at an event: “We’re gonna impeach the […]
Nessel asks Wayne Co. prosecutor to take over Flint water case
Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Friday plans to replace the current prosecutor in charge of ongoing criminal lawsuits filed against high level state officials in the office’s Flint water crisis case. Nessel’s office said she will replace Flint Special Prosecutor Todd Flood with Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, who was a member of Nessel’s transition […]
Snyder riles up Right to Life, environmentalists with Lame Duck decisions
Updated, 12/28, 11:30 p.m. Gov. Rick Snyder today vetoed legislation backed by Right to Life of Michigan that would have permanently banned doctors from prescribing abortion pills over the phone. The term-limited Republican has butted heads with anti-abortion forces before, as he’s often said he’s not focused on social issues, instead prioritizing business and economic […]
Whitmer announces last appointments before inauguration
Incoming Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today announced her final round of appointments to state-level agencies. Clare Liening, a spokeswoman for the Whitmer transition, told the Advance that there would be no further appointment announcements before the inauguration on Tuesday. Whitmer has tapped Tricia Foster, who served as treasurer for the Whitmer campaign, to direct the […]
Snyder vetoes ‘baby box’, downtown development bills
Updated 12/28/18 at 10:50 a.m. Gov. Rick Snyder today vetoed 11 bills, including GOP-sponsored legislation that would have permitted altering downtown development areas and allowed parents to give up children in “baby boxes” in designated spots. The term-limited Republican is down to his final days in office after a hectic Lame Duck session that resulted […]
Snyder signs almost 50 more bills into law
As term-limited Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder prepares to leave office next week, he signed several dozen bills today that arrived on his desk during the frenzied legislative Lame Duck session. One of the bills makes cyberbullying a crime, House Bill 5017, sponsored by state Rep. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Twp.). The bill is now Public Act […]
Whitmer looking at many options in Flint
Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s team today said she will work with Flint Mayor Karen Weaver’s office to continue ensuring that Flint residents have access to safe drinking water. “We’re working with the mayor of Flint,” the Democrat said when asked by a reporter during a media call this morning whether she’ll be involved in offering bottled […]
On this day: Moderate Republican vetoes Democratic-led abortion bill
It was a different time, to be sure. On this day in 1978, Michigan Gov. William Milliken vetoed a bill to ban state-funded abortions. “This bill effectively would deny poor women of this state the same opportunity to exercise the same legal rights as other members of society,” the Traverse City Republican said at […]
Calley doesn’t rule out running for governor again
Lt. Gov. Brian Calley isn’t announcing yet what he’s doing next — and he’s also not closing the door on seeking the governor’s mansion again. “I wouldn’t rule it out,” Calley, who unsuccessfully ran for the 2018 GOP gubernatorial nomination, said in an interview with the Advance last week. “Governor’s really the only office that […]
Feds approve ‘Healthy Michigan’ plan with new work requirements
The federal government has approved an amended Medicaid plan in Michigan that puts in place new work requirements for coverage. In a tweet on Friday afternoon, Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it had approved the amendment to the “Healthy Michigan” plan that expanded healthcare coverage under […]
Leonard touts improved mental health access in farewell speech
During a marathon session Thursday night, outgoing state House Speaker Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) delivered his farewell speech, touting improved mental health care access and elimination of driver responsibility fees as his top accomplishments. The term-limited speaker mounted an unsuccessful run for Attorney General in 2018. Gov. Rick Snyder was there for his speech Thursday. Leonard […]
Gilda Z. Jacobs: Bipartisan compromise on Farm Bill yields big results for Michigan
Staff for the Michigan League for Public Policy, a Lansing-based organization advocating for health, racial equity and economic security issues, contribute a biweekly column to the Michigan Advance, “Human Capital.” With the Michigan Legislature’s contentious Lame Duck session, Congress’ stalemate on the federal budget, and a looming government shutdown, it’s hard to remember that government […]