Politics

LANSING - Most of the Senate Democratic caucus was firing on all cylinders Thursday in the wake of the decision by the Republican majority to pass a three-bill package that would repeal the state's prevailing wage law. But they were not alone. The debate was actually sparked by Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), who would be

NOVI - ITC Transmission, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the nation's largest independent electricity transmission company, Wednesday announced its Thumb Loop high-voltage transmission project is complete with the energization of the third and final phase of the project. ITC invested an estimated $510 million to build the 345,000 volt (345 kV) line, which

LANSING - Voting on a party-line basis, the Senate Michigan Competitiveness Committee on Wednesday reported a controversial three-bill package repealing the state's prevailing wage laws which dictate wage and fringe benefit rates to be paid to construction workers on state projects. Although Governor Rick Snyder has previously stated that he has no interest in signing

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