LANSING – After three tries on Thursday, House leaders were able to put together a coalition sufficient to pass the main bill creating a regional transit authority for Southeast Michigan, but the rest of the package moved in fits and starts over the duration of session.
On the first two tries to pass the main bill in the package, SB 909 , the House had to stop voting and clear the board, as it had done Wednesday, because the measure was headed for failure.
In the end, most Detroit Democrats opposed the measure in part as a protest against the pending right-to-work legislation. Rep. Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit) and Rep. Lesis Liss (D-Warren) joined Republicans in support in the 57-50 vote. Rep. David Agema (R-Grandville), Rep. Jeff Farington (R-Utica), Rep. Ken Goike (R-Ray Township), Rep. Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth Township), Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R-Richmond), Rep. Pete Lund (R-Shelby Township), Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills and Rep. Patrick Somerville (R-New Boston) joined most Democrats in opposition.
Detroit Democrats Rep. Lisa Howze and Rep. Jimmy Womack (D-Detroit), as well as Rep. Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak), declined to vote.
The remaining bills in the package, SB 445 , SB 911 , SB 912 and SB 967 , were all moved to final passage but then postponed when it was clear there were not enough votes to pass the bills. Two of those, SB 445 (56-52) and SB 911 (57-50), did see final action with the others waiting for next week.
This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com
