News
Snyder to decide whether to adopt puppy mill bills
Bills regulating so-called “puppy mills” that have angered animal rights activists cleared the Michigan Senate tonight and await action by Gov. Rick Snyder. House Bill 5916 and House Bill 5917, both sponsored by Rep. Hank Vaupel (R-Fowlerville), would “act to regulate pet shops, animal control shelters, and animal protection shelters” and seeks to “establish uniform procedures […]
Anti-abortion telemedicine legislation moves to governor’s desk
Gov. Rick Snyder has often said that he’s focused on economics, not social issues, but that hasn’t stopped his fellow Republicans from sending anti-abortion legislation to his desk. This time it’s a permanent ban on telemedicine exams for abortion backed by Right to Life of Michigan and the Michigan Catholic Conference. In 2012, Michigan enacted […]
Michigan House approves limits to voter proposals
Late last night, the GOP-controlled Michigan House approved new rules for petition drives. Legislation would limit the number of signatures that could be collected from voters who live in any one part of the state, something a prominent Democratic attorney decried as unconstitutional. In a 60-49 vote around 11 p.m., the lower chamber passed House […]
While you were sleeping: GOP-led House narrowly passes watered-down A-F school grading bill
After scrambling for votes all day, Republicans won a new A-F letter grade bill for public schools, but jettisoned a new education oversight commission that would have weakened Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s power. The GOP-led House approved House Bill 5526, sponsored by Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Twp.), on a mostly party-line 56-53 vote just after 3 […]
Education unions rally at Capitol, Michigan House stays in session past midnight
As the Michigan Legislature considered a slew of Republican-sponsored education and labor bills, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Michigan and the Michigan Education Association rallied on the grounds of the state Capitol Wednesday evening and later lobbied lawmakers inside the building. “It’s a partisan power grab that tells Michigan voters, ‘We don’t care what […]
Peters, up for reelection in 2020, lands key Homeland Security committee post
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Twp.) will serve as the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee next term. That’s the upper chamber’s principal oversight committee. Peters, a freshman who succeeded U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Detroit) when he retired in 2014, is up for re-election in 2020. The GOP is […]
Progressive protestors push back against Lame Duck
Scores of citizens from across the state rallied this chilly afternoon on the state Capitol grounds in Lansing to raise their voices against a host of GOP-sponsored legislation. “We’re tired of them pulling the corporate agenda and doing what their donors want them to do and not doing what the people of Michigan want instead,” said […]
Meekhof pushes bill requiring regular union certification
A bill targeting Michigan’s public sector unions could come up for a vote this week during the frantic year-end Lame Duck session of the Legislature. Sponsored by long-time union foe Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive), Senate Bill 1260 would require union members to vote every two years, beginning in 2022, on whether to re-certify […]
Snyder makes good on promise to sign Great Lakes pipeline legislation
Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday vowed he would sign legislation that will keep Enbridge’s petroleum operation under the Straits of Mackinac up and running. And today, he made good on that promise. The Republican governor announced via press release this morning that he had signed Senate Bill 1197 sponsored by state Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba). The bill […]
Dillon stepping down as Michigan Dem Party chair, Barnes seen as frontrunner
Citing accomplishments in the 2018 mid-term elections, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Brandon Dillon announced today he won’t seek re-election for the position he’s held since 2015. The decision to step aside comes just over a month after the party flipped two congressional seats; elected a Democratic governor, attorney general and secretary of state; re-elected a […]
Snyder says he’ll sign Line 5 bill, but stays mum on other Lame Duck action
Gov. Rick Snyder said today that he plans to sign Enbridge Line 5 legislation, but will not necessarily go along with all GOP-sponsored Lame Duck bills. Snyder and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, who unsuccessfully ran in the GOP primary this year to succeed him, met this afternoon with about three dozen reporters, including some from […]
Updated: Economic development leaders urge Whitmer to stay the course
Updated: 12/12 at 11:15 a.m. As Michigan’s next governor prepares to take office next month, Gretchen Whitmer has met with leaders about keeping the economy moving in areas across the state. Birgit Klohs is the president and CEO of The Right Place Inc., a West Michigan business and economic development organization. She told reporters in […]