PANEL AIMS TO HALT K-12 PRORATION - FOR NOW

Tapping into $184 million in federal stimulus money legislators had set aside for a 2010-11 budget likely to be in the red, the House Appropriations Committee voted Wednesday on a K-12 supplemental that would reduce the governor's $127 per-pupil proration to $10.

FEWER THAN 55 TROOPERS TO BE RECALLED

Fifty-five of the 100 state troopers laid off earlier this year were supposed to be put back to work under the budget signed into law last week by Governor Jennifer Granholm, but fewer troopers will likely return to work.

EMERSON RULES OUT E.I.T.C. TO FUND K-12, BIZ TAX RELIEF

Delaying the scheduled increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit as a way of reducing cuts to K-12 schools and phasing out the Michigan Business Tax surcharge, as Senate Republicans have proposed, would run afoul of federal rules on the use of welfare money, Budget Director Bob Emerson says.

FRONTLINE D.H.S. WORKERS FACE THREATS, CASE OVERLOAD

Seven frontline workers for the Department of Human Services told lawmakers Wednesday that the state's economic conditions have flooded local offices with more and more residents, some of whom have verbally or physically threatened workers struggling to keep up with higher caseloads and lackluster technical support.

REPUBLICANS: SIZE OF WIN SHOWS PUBLIC DISCONTENT

The landslide nature of the wins Republicans enjoyed in the 19th Senate District, and in other high profile races across the country, shows that the party is in a good position to win more races in 2010, Michigan Republican Chair Ron Weiser said Wednesday.

BYRUM RESIGNS FROM AG. COMMISSION

James Byrum, the Democratic chair of the Commission of Agriculture who has criticized Governor Jennifer Granholm's recent weakening of the commission's powers, resigned Wednesday.

CASINOS SEE LITTLE CAUSE FOR CONCERN FROM OHIO COMPETITION

The casinos now slated for Ohio, particularly the one in Toledo, will have little effect on the three commercial casinos in Detroit, officials told Gongwer News Service on Wednesday.

BISHOP: TRYING TO FIND WAY TO REDUCE K-12 CUT

Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop said Wednesday that Senate Republicans are trying to come up with a plan that will reduce the cuts facing public schools.

DISCRIMINATION BILL CLEARS HOUSE COMMITTEE

A day after Kalamazoo voters approved an ordinance banning employment and housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the House Judiciary Committee reported out legislation expanding the state's anti-discrimination protections.

TENSION REMAINS HIGH IN SENATE

Apparently five days apart wasn't enough to cool the partisan tempers that flared last week.

BIDEN TO HEADLINE DEM FUNDRAISER

The Michigan Democratic Party is betting the chance for a photo with Vice President Joe Biden will attract some donations.

CUSHINGBERRY CALLS FOR SET DATES FOR TARGETS

As lawmakers start preparing for yet another round of budget negotiations, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee is looking to set a date in stone that leadership would have to come up with targets for the 2010-11 budget.

COURT: LISTING SOME TEEN SEX OFFENDERS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL

Requiring a teen who broke the law by having consensual sex with an underage minor, but who was not convicted to register on the public sex offender list is tantamount to cruel and unusual punishment, the Court of Appeals said in a published opinion released on Wednesday.

HOUSE PANEL OKS BILLS AIMED AT COLLECTING CHILD SUPPORT

A House committee on Wednesday reported a series of bills that change operations at the Friend of Court, most notably streamlining the process for taking away a person's driver's license for failing to pay past due child support. HB 5503 garnered most of the controversy during the House Families and Children's Services meeting because of solo opposition from Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills).

PANEL EXPLORING EXPANDED DAILY FISHING LICENSE

Supporters are hoping that allowing the sale of a three-day license will encourage more visitors to spend weekends in the state. The House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee began work Wednesday on bills (HB 5481 and HB 5564) that would create 72-hour licenses. The bills also would allow anglers to have more than one day's catch in their possession as long as a prior day's catch has been frozen, smoked or canned.

COX FILES CHARGES OVER FRAUDULENT M.S.H.D.A. MORTGAGE

Maria Antonia Franks Hernandez used her sister's identity to obtain a mortgage backed by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and then defaulted on the loan, Attorney General Mike Cox alleged in charges announced Wednesday.

SENATE OKS ROAD PATROLS MEASURE

Cities and villages that have reduced the number of their police officers could continue to receive secondary road patrol services from their county sheriff under a measure adopted Wednesday by the Senate.

SPENDING ON NEW CROSSING TOTALED $4.2M FOR F.Y. 2008-09

The state spent $4.2 million during the 2008-09 fiscal year on its continuing study of whether to build a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, according to a report from the Department of Transportation submitted to the Legislature. About 75 percent of the money went toward consulting services. Since the study began in the 2001-02 fiscal year, the state has spent $36.1 million.

A.G.: OFFICIAL'S OATH NOT ENOUGH TO ASSUME DUTIES

Even if a municipality's chief elected official has appointed someone to the local planning commission and that individual has taken their oath of office, that is not enough to assume the duties of that office, said an opinion by Attorney General Mike Cox.

CHARTER RETROSPECTIVE

The Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University has published a retrospective on the 15 years since charter schools were first allowed to open in the state. CMU was the first to authorize a charter under the current laws (Wayne State University had an earlier pilot school) and currently oversees the most charters among the state universities. The book, posted at http://www.thecenterforcharters.org/15years , includes discussions with such policy leaders of the time as former Governor John Engler; Justin King, former president of the Michigan Association of School Boards; Margaret Trimmer Hartley, then spokesperson for the Michigan Education Association and now superintendent of a charter high school; and founders of several charter schools.

Source : Gongwer News Service : Michigan Report, Volume #48, Report 215, November 4, 2009. Full access requires a subscription or a visit to a subscribing library such as the Michigan State University Main Library.