Politics

LANSING - Michigan Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kowall on Wednesday said the Senate is in the process of developing a road funding solution and he is hopeful it can be introduced in the next couple of weeks. "It won't be anything rash, believe me. It's going to be well thought-out," Kowall (R-White Lake Township)

LANSING - Michigan House Speaker Kevin Cotter, joined by much of his caucus, announced a plan on Wednesday generating $1.05 billion for roads with only $45 million coming from new revenue. His plan would instead eliminate the Earned Income Tax Credit, reprioritize statutorily restricted funds and dedicate more General Fund dollars. The full $1.05 billion

LANSING - The Court of Appeals upheld a plan by Detroit Edison to use treated coal as a way to reduce emissions and to include the costs of the coal in its power supply cost recovery plan. The Michigan Environmental Council (In Re Application Of Detroit Edison Company For 2012 Cost Recovery Plan, COA docket

OKEMOS - This has been a busy few months inside the Washington, D.C., Beltway for policy topics related to cybersecurity. President Obama signed an executive order in February regarding the promotion of private-sector information sharing. The U.S. Congress is now debating several bills, as both sides of the political aisle agree that addressing cybersecurity is

LANSING - As the Michigan House Energy Committee continues to consider legislation modifying the state's energy policy, the committee heard testimony on Thursday about the renewable portfolio standard and how in current form, the bills would not increase the renewable mandate. Those supporting an increase in how much power utilities must generate from renewable sources

LANSING - Governor Rick Snyder formally put an end Thursday to the possibility, though it was always seen as unlikely, that he would run for president. "When I ran for re-election, I promised my fellow Michiganders that the job was not done, that we could not be complacent, that it was time to accelerate and

LANSING - The biggest issue facing Michigan's continued growth is a glaring lack of talent in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math to fill the rapidly growing job openings for these skills, Steve Arwood, President of the Michigan Economic Development Corp., said in an interview. Michigan weathered the four-year recession that drove General Motors and Chrysler

DETROIT - Energy efficiency in Michigan recently grabbed headlines. In his March 13 speech, Governor Snyder stressed the elimination of energy waste as a cornerstone to moving toward a more renewable future. This speech stems from the fact that Michigan is on the verge of meeting the Renewable Portfolio Standard targets that were set in

LANSING - While it is always tough for teens to find summer work, a forecast released Wednesday by the Department of Technology, Management and Budget said 2015 should be the best summer season in a decade for young people to find jobs. The department said it anticipates a teen unemployment rate of 17.2 percent during

LANSING - Re-evaluation of certain tax credits, most notably housing credits, as well as a review of some $20 billion in restricted revenue, are among the key pieces of House Speaker Kevin Cotter's plan for road funding after voters on Tuesday soundly rejected a ballot proposal aimed at raising new revenue for roads. "We have