LANSING - Business groups have long argued increasing the minimum wage forces employers to cut back on hiring, but the Michigan League for Public Policy said in a report released Monday that the increase would generate jobs. The group estimates that increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour from the current $7.40 would mean
LONDON - Michigan House Speaker Jase Bolger said last week repealing the prevailing wage is still seriously being discussed, and he hopes to have some solution to transportation funding approved by the Legislature before the end of the year. Bolger (R-Marshall) said in an interview with Gongwer News Service he currently is giving Senate Majority
LANSING - Michigan House Speaker Jase Bolger says he would like to see reform of the state's no-fault auto insurance system before the end of the year and Rep. Pete Lund's bill isn't dead in the House. "I think (HB 4612 ) does address several ... issues, but we remain willing to work with people
LANSING - Policy changes are needed to reduce the cost of no-fault insurance in the state without necessarily reducing benefits, the Citizens Research Council said in a report released last week. The report found that Michigan insurance rates are 17 percent higher than in other states, in part because medical costs for similar crashes are
LANSING - Michigan's premiums for health insurance coverage through the federal exchange may be lower than the national average, but sign-ups have been "modest," says Rick Murdock, executive director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans, due to factors such as the fierce advocacy on both sides of the Affordable Care Act, the state deciding
LANSING - A performance audit of the security and access controls in the state's main database for the Medicaid program generally showed effective management, but also highlighted some weaknesses that need shoring up. The audit of the Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System, known as CHAMPS, showed that the Department of Technology, Management and Budget
LANSING - The permitting process for those seeking to deal with aquatic invasive nuisances would be substantially changed under a bill reported by the Michigan Senate Natural Resources, Environment and Great Lakes Committee on Thursday. SB 444 would require permits for addressing invasive species be due no later than April 15 or 30 days after
LANSING �?? Four companies have been awarded more than $3 million in incentives and tax breaks from the state and local governments to invest $41.7 million in projects the Michigan Economic Development Corp. says will create 70 new jobs. The funding comes primarily from the Michigan Strategic Fund through the Michigan Business Development and Community
LANSING - After Governor Rick Snyder announced the appointment of Treasurer-designate Kevin Clinton on Tuesday, Clinton said he plans to devise a mathematical model that would enable the state to project five years into the future to see how the finances of local governments and school districts would look as a way to head off
LANSING ? Business projects in Ann Arbor and Roseville were granted $1.5 million in incentives from the Michigan Strategic Fund Thursday, which will be used to leverage $5.9 million in private investment. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. said the two projects also would generate 639 new jobs in the state. ?These two innovative companies deserve