Tim Skubick: Blown Away : Governor's rose-colored speech line keeps coming back to haunt her.

Gongwer Weekly Update: Inaction Fuels Frustration : Plenty of ideas for turning around Michigan's collapsing fortunes, but state government appears unable to act.

NATION TO SEE PAINFULLY SLOW RECOVERY

ANN ARBOR ­- The national recession has ended, but a financial system still in turmoil, anemic consumer spending and a housing market that remains in the dumps means the country will endure a recovery that only slowly produces new jobs, according to the annual economic forecast released Thursday by the University of Michigan.

WARY CONSUMERS MAJOR FACTOR IN SLOW UPTURN

ANN ARBOR - Worried about their jobs, if they still have them, failing to see their incomes grow and battered by the turmoil in home mortgages, the once resilient U.S. consumer has put away his or her wallet, hindering the nation's economic recovery.

MORE 'RACE TO THE TOP' BILLS ADDED TO PACKAGE

With federal guidelines for the U.S. Department of Education's "Race to the Top" program in their hands, lawmakers in the House continued discussion Thursday as to what reforms the state should pass to improve schools and qualify for the federal funding.

DILLON PLAN A MANDATE TO POOL, NOT TO COVER, SAYS UNION

House Speaker Andy Dillon says his public employee health care pooling plan will save jobs, but the head of the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union said Thursday the plan could lead to governmental units dropping health care coverage altogether.

REGIONAL TRANSIT BILLS GIVEN MORE TIME FOR AGREEMENT

Those involved in discussions on bills providing grants to drive more regional transit planning earned the ire of the House Transportation Committee chair, but also another two weeks to work out an agreement.

DESHAZOR JUMPS IN 20TH SENATE RACE

An all-star Republican primary is shaping up in the 20th Senate District in 2010 with Rep. Larry DeShazor of Portage announcing Thursday he will run, joining Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker of Lawton and former Rep. Lorence Wenke of Richland in the field.

FRESHMEN CAUCUS NAMES WORKGROUP MEMBERS

The members of the four education reform workgroups assembled by the bipartisan freshman caucus were announced Thursday.

GOVERNORS: TRASH REAL I.D., GO WITH CHEAPER PASS I.D.

Because so many states will likely fail to meet the deadline for upgrading their drivers licenses and state identification cards to a REAL ID, the National Governors Association issued a plea to Congress this week asking lawmakers to accept an alternative identification system that the group says would be easier for states to adopt.

EARLY REPORTS SAY DEER SEASON IS TYPICAL

In the first week of the state's firearm deer season, officials report roughly the same number of hunters as past years and the deer appear to be in good condition, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

U.P. GUARANTEED TO SHOW UP ON STATE DEPICTIONS NOW

The Upper Peninsula will no longer be missing from state depictions under legislation signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm. Ms. Granholm on Thursday signed HB 4995, PA 147, requiring that any maps or depictions of Michigan created by the state must include the U.P. in that depiction.

PRISONER PAROLE

After receiving a list of prisoners up for consideration before the Parole Board, Rep. Paul Scott (R-Grand Blanc) is calling on the Department of Corrections to be transparent about the process, including providing prosecutors information upfront and creating a website.

ANTI-COAL PETITION

Environmental groups launched a petition drive Thursday urging Consumers Energy to drop its plans for a new coal-fired power plant in favor of renewable energy to replace potential demand increases and aging power plants slated for closure. The groups, led by Progress Michigan, argued the coal plant would actually cost the state jobs and would end up a poor investment for shareholders.

Source : Gongwer News Service : Michigan Report, Volume #48, Report 225, November 19, 2009. Full access requires a subscription or a visit to a subscribing library such as the Michigan State University Main Library.

HOUSE PANEL DELAYS TRANSFER TO FUND SCHOOL BUS INSPECTIONS

A proposal to fund school bus inspections by transferring money from the State Police crime labs was held up Wednesday when the House Appropriations Committee abruptly adjourned.

DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY FEES REDUCED UNDER BILL PACKAGE

Lawmakers took a step toward reducing the monetary burden on misbehaving drivers as the House Judiciary Committee reported a bill package on Wednesday.

FILM INDUSTRY: HANDS OFF OUR CREDITS

Studio owners, laborers and producers flooded a committee hearing Wednesday on the future of the state's film credits, telling lawmakers that Michigan's on-again, off-again love affair with providing incentives to the industry is a bad way to do business.

UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS TO 15.1%

Modest job gains in the construction and health care sectors lifted the job situation in Michigan for October as the state's unemployment rate fell slightly to 15.1 percent from 15.3 percent in September.

GRANHOLM LAMENTS HER LACK OF LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE

Serving in the Legislature prior to becoming governor would have greatly helped her, Governor Jennifer Granholm said Wednesday.

NEW U.S. HOUSE DISTRICTS IN STIMULUS REPORT DRAW JEERS

Michigan state and local governments have so far spent $5.2 billion in federal stimulus money and created or preserved 22,522 jobs across its 83 U.S. House districts.

GRANHOLM, STUDENTS URGE PROMISE GRANT RESTORATION

At one of a series of rallies planned for universities across the state, Governor Jennifer Granholm urged Michigan State University students to push legislators to provide funding for the Michigan Promise Scholarship.

M.E.D.C. PROPOSING NEW VENTURE FUND

Businesses would potentially be able to get venture capital funding earlier in their development process and the state could see more venture capitalists under a proposal unveiled Wednesday to the Strategic Fund Board.

M.S.U. TO USE STIMULUS FUNDS TO FILL PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP

Michigan State University will direct nearly $8 million in federal stimulus funds designated for operations toward providing financial aid to more than 8,000 students who had expected to receive money from the Michigan Promise Scholarship until the state killed the program.

STUDY: STATE TAXES THE POOREST, GIVES BREAKS TO RICH

Most of Michigan's income and local taxes come from the state's poorest residents, resulting in a regressive tax that "no one" would intentionally design, according to a report released Wednesday by the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy. While non-elderly residents who make less than $15,000 per year typically pay about 9 percent of their income toward taxes and those who make between $32,000 and $54,000 pay nearly 10 percent, the very rich pay about a third less, said the study, titled: Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All 50 States. The rich, defined as those with average annual incomes of $1.1 million, typically pay about 6.4 percent toward taxes, the study said.

D.E.Q. SETS SUCCESS MEASURES FOR WATER PROGRAM

Those following the Department of Environmental Quality's Water Program will know whether it is working under Measures of Success released Wednesday. The measures set out five goals for the division: providing safe drinking water; protecting groundwater; enhancing recreational waters; ensuring safe, consumable fish; and protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems.

STATE RANKS 30TH IN TERMS OF OVERALL HEALTH

According to a variety of health measurements, Michigan is the 30th healthiest state in the United States, according to a America's Health Rankings : A Call for Action by Individuals and Their Communities issued by the a joint effort of United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association, and the Partnership for Prevention. In terms of obesity, the state ranked 41st, with 29.5 percent of the population considered obese. It also ranked 41st in terms of cardiovascular deaths. Michigan ranked 43rd in terms of binge drinking.

SECOND ISRAELI FIRM MAKES COMMITMENT TO STATE

A second Israeli firm that uses wastewater as part of its business process has made a commitment to Lt. Governor John Cherry Jr. that it will undertake a pilot project in Michigan.

Source : Gongwer News Service : Michigan Report, Volume #48, Report 224, November 18, 2009. Full access requires a subscription or a visit to a subscribing library such as the Michigan State University Main Library.

One frustrated client hurled a piece of concrete through the window of a welfare agency. Another threw her car keys at a welfare worker before being escorted away. At one point, a woman on public assistance even took a swing at a worker.

As Michigan struggles with the highest-in-the-nation jobless rate, state workers who deal with unemployment, welfare and other aid programs say they have never been so overwhelmed - or so worried about their safety. Some clients have begun taking their anger out on the very people who are offering help. And caseworkers are seeking extra protection.

For the full article, see David Eggert, "State caseworkers worry about threats from clients; Growing case loads, frustrated clients may be recipe for trouble", Lansing State Journal, November 18, 2009.

SESSION CANCELLATION MEANS PRORATION GOES THROUGH

Any hopes the two legislative chambers would unite in halting the $127 per-pupil proration cut to K-12 schools were dashed when the Legislature cancelled any voting for Wednesday's session.

GRANHOLM ANNOUNCES D.M.B, D.I.T. MERGER

Governor Jennifer Granholm announced Tuesday the next step in her efforts to consolidate state government with the merger of the departments of Management and Budget and Information Technology.

GRANHOLM: MICHIGAN CANNOT BE CHEAPEST STATE

Michigan can never be the cheapest state to do business, Governor Jennifer Granholm said Tuesday, which is why it is critical for the state to invest in education and for the Legislature to pass revenue changes that would allow for restoration of cuts made to schools.

PRISONER 'GOOD TIME' REINSTATEMENT EXAMINED

Reinstating "good time" credits for prisoners could save the Department of Corrections more than $100 million annually, but crime victims and their advocates say going back on a promise made to them under the state's truth in sentencing law isn't worth it.

LICENSE REVOCATION FOR SEX CRIMES DEBATED

Health care workers convicted of certain sex crimes would have their licenses revoked under a legislative package weighed by the House Health Policy Committee on Tuesday. The package (HB 4468, HB 4469, HB 4195 and HB 5043) would require action by a disciplinary committee including license revocation or state registration rejection for convictions for first, second and third degree criminal sexual conduct.

JUDGE: GRANHOLM NEED NOT TESTIFY IN BLACKWELL CASE

A judge ruled Tuesday that Governor Jennifer Granholm does not have to testify in the felony case against Art Blackwell, the former state appointed emergency financial manager for Highland Park, despite Mr. Blackwell's insistence that she do so.

LATEST M.E.G.A. GRANTS SHOWS AUTO RESURGENCE, OFFICIAL SAYS

With a total of eight auto-related projects out of the 12 new economic development projects announced for the state on Tuesday, the head of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation said there was strong evidence of the resurgence of the automotive sector.

ELSENHEIMER: STATE NEEDS CHINA PRESENCE

Still jet-lagged from his trip, House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer said traveling to China to meet with government officials and academics taught him Michigan should have a stronger presence in pursuing economic development.

CHERRY GETS COMMITMENT FROM ISRAELI COMPANY

An Israeli wastewater management company has committed to develop some pilot projects in Oakland County, Lt. Governor John Cherry Jr. said Tuesday while on trade mission to that Middle Eastern country.

COURT HEARS BAN ON USING RACE, GENDER IN U. ADMISSIONS, HIRING

The Department of Attorney General argued the federal Constitution does not bar Michigan's current ban on affirmative action programs in state and local government at a hearing Tuesday before the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati. Two groups of plaintiffs, the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action By Any Means Necessary and (Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action v. Granholm) and the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP (Cantrell v. Granholm) are challenging the constitutional amendment adopted in 2006. The U.S. District Court has already rejected the challenges and both plaintiffs appealed.

Source : Gongwer News Service : Michigan Report, Volume #48, Report 223, November 17, 2009. Full access requires a subscription or a visit to a subscribing library such as the Michigan State University Main Library.