Politics/Government

Michigan Joins Federal Lifeline Program For Low-Income Telephone, Broadband Services

 LANSING - Michiganders who apply for telephone or broadband services under the federal Lifeline program and the companies that participate in the program have begun using the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier database to determine an applicant’s qualifications, the Michigan Public Service Commission announced. Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky began mandatory participation in the roll-out of the

By |2019-06-14T10:24:32-04:00June 14th, 2019|Politics, Politics/Government|

Whitmer Renames, Reshuffles Economic Agencies; Names New Director

LANSING - A dramatic reorganization of the state's economic development and worker protection functions ordered Thursday by Governor Gretchen Whitmer puts a new person in charge of those duties, renames the Department of Talent and Economic Development as the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity and upends some key boards and commissions. The actions concentrate essentially

By |2019-06-07T18:52:40-04:00June 7th, 2019|Politics, Politics/Government|

House GOP Planning Revenue-Neutral Gas Tax Hike

LANSING - A Michigan House subcommittee on Thursday moved a budget assuming $542.5 million from a forthcoming, dedicated transportation fuel tax that would eventually replace the 6 percent sales tax currently collected on fuel purchases. House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) has made it a priority to ensure all money charged at the pump goes to the roads.

By |2019-06-07T18:52:40-04:00June 7th, 2019|Politics, Politics/Government|

Lansing Finalizes 20 Medical Marijuana Provisioning Centers

LANSING - The city of Lansing has finalized the 20 medical marijuana provisioning centers that will get official approval once they receive a state license, it announced Monday. Under Lansing's ordinance, the city was to approve 20 provisioning center applications and can approve five more later. The 20 that now have conditional approval received it

By |2019-06-04T19:30:19-04:00June 4th, 2019|New Products / Contracts, Politics, Politics/Government|

Personal Disclosure Bills Getting Bi-Partisan Support In Michigan Legislature

LANSING - Michigan officeholders and candidates for legislative, executive and judicial branch positions within state government would be required to fill out financial disclosure statements similar to what is required of congressional candidates and members under legislation highlighted Thursday. Reps. David LaGrand (D-Grand Rapids) and Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) led a press conference Thursday afternoon with

Slight Bump In Revenue Agreed Upon In Consensus Forecast

LANSING - Lawmakers will have a slight cushion of revenue to complete budget work in the weeks ahead for the current fiscal year and fiscal year 2019-20, according to the numbers agreed upon Friday by the state's Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference. Economists and state budget officials delivering presentations before conference members Friday in the Capitol

By |2019-05-21T21:31:03-04:00May 19th, 2019|Politics, Politics/Government|

State, National Economy Rolling Along With Trade Uncertainty Looming

LANSING - While those studying the state and national economy remain optimistic regarding growth, the growing uncertainty on federal trade policy has everyone worried, officials said Friday at the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference. In presentations Friday, Gabriel Ehrlich and Daniil Manaenkov with the Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics at the University of Michigan had mostly

By |2019-05-29T19:59:18-04:00May 19th, 2019|Politics, Politics/Government|

Roads, Schools Key Detroit Chamber Mackinac Conference Topics

DETROIT - Traditional themes will be the story at the Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference later this month with entrepreneurship, education and yes, addressing the state's roads being among the key topics expected to be discussed during a busy agenda that officials released this week. A central theme being pushed this year, Detroit Regional

By |2019-05-13T07:38:59-04:00May 13th, 2019|Politics, Politics/Government|

Senate DHHS Budget Proposes Oversight Board For IT

LANSING - Cost overruns on information technology in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services prompted the Senate to include several provisions in the DHHS budget bill for the 2019-20 fiscal year changing how IT is handled in the department. There is a shortfall in what DHHS has to spend on technology. How much,

By |2019-05-13T07:32:35-04:00May 13th, 2019|Politics, Politics/Government|

Republicans Request Emergency Stay On Redistricting Ruling

LANSING - Michigan Republicans have asked the three-judge panel that ruled last week the Legislature must redraw maps for Michigan's 14 U.S. House seats, the Michigan Senate and the Michigan House for an emergency stay of the ruling. The motion for an emergency stay and immediate consideration was filed Friday by most of the state's

By |2019-05-06T07:09:00-04:00May 5th, 2019|News, Politics, Politics/Government|