Politics/Government

Survey: Enforceable, Reasonable Licensing More Important To Business Than Tax Code

LANSING - A survey presented at the National Conference of State Legislatures determined that overall, small business owners felt reasonable, well-enforced licensing is a bigger issue than tax code due to the fact that their competitors who are not necessarily playing by the rules would have an unfair advantage. "Licensing is such a big thing

By |2014-08-21T00:00:00-04:00August 21st, 2014|Archive, Politics/Government|

LARA Acting Direction Mike Zimmer Looks To Continue Fine-Tuning Rules, Processes

LANSING - After former Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Director Steve Arwood left the department last week, Acting Director Mike Zimmer is focusing on the program known as Reinventing Performance in Michigan. The program has been active for a handful of months and comes as the administration of Governor Rick Snyder wraps up its first term

By |2014-08-18T00:00:00-04:00August 18th, 2014|Archive, Politics/Government|

State Seeking Federal Assistance On Water Quality

LANSING - Michigan has had various controls in place for decades to reduce the nutrient loading that caused a recent algae bloom in Lake Erie, but is now asking for federal assistance in taking the next steps. The requests, made at a meeting with federal officials Wednesday and announced Thursday, was for a national standard

By |2014-08-15T00:00:00-04:00August 15th, 2014|Archive, Politics/Government|

Arwood Heads To MEDC, Zimmer Takes Over LARA

LANSING - Steve Arwood, the former director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, will now be the chief operating officer for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Governor Rick Snyder announced Monday. LARA Chief Deputy Director Mike Zimmer will serve as acting director for the department. Both appointments are effective immediately. "Steve's track record

By |2014-08-06T00:00:00-04:00August 6th, 2014|Archive, Politics/Government|

Amash, Chatfield, Courser, Glenn Notch Key Wins; Establishment Strong Elsewhere

LANSING - Tea party candidates enjoyed their best performance in Michigan Republican primary elections since the movement launched in 2010 but fell short of a major breakthrough as establishment candidates beat them in most of the head-to-head races. The muddled verdict on the showdown between the tea party and establishment wings of the Republican Party

By |2014-08-06T00:00:00-04:00August 6th, 2014|Archive, Politics/Government|

Snyder, Canadian Official Name Bridge Authority

LANSING - Governor Rick Snyder and the top transportation official from Canada together announced creation of a new authority to oversee the construction of a new bridge from Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit. While there remains a question of federal funding to construct a customs plaza in Detroit, Snyder and Canadian Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said

By |2014-07-30T00:00:00-04:00July 30th, 2014|Archive, Politics/Government|

Poll Shows Dismal Outlook On Affordable Care Act, Urgency On Transportation

LANSING - The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was viewed by 600 likely voters in statistically equal proportions of "mostly negative" or "neutral," and more than three-quarters of respondents said they were either "very concerned" or "somewhat concerned" about the discrepancy between what the state is providing for road funding and what it

By |2014-07-23T00:00:00-04:00July 23rd, 2014|Archive, Politics/Government|