LANSING - A poll conducted by Marketing Resource Group found that 52 percent of those surveyed believe the state is on the wrong track, but a plurality of those voters also believe the state economy has gotten better in the last year and are somewhat optimistic about next year's performance. Of those questioned, 63 percent
LANSING ? The Michigan House Appropriations Community Colleges Subcommittee reported a budget bill for the state's 28 community colleges that includes denial of performance funding for those colleges that extend or renew labor contracts before the right-to-work law takes effect. HB 4212 , which passed 3-2 on party lines, creates a new prerequisite for receiving
LANSING - A fully federally run health care exchange is likely in store for Michigan, the governor's office said Thursday after the Senate adjourned without voting on a bill that would appropriate $31 million in federal funds to help set up a state-federal partnership on the exchange under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
LANSING - As agriculture continues to expand in Michigan, the state needs to expand its infrastructure capabilities to help move the products to markets, the head of the Michigan Agri-Business Association said at forum, and that means improving rail and water transportation along with the roads. Jim Byrum, president of the association, said those improvements
LANSING - Public universities would have to hold tuition increases to no more than 3 percent to receive part of a proposed funding increase under the higher education budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year approved Tuesday by a House subcommittee. Governor Rick Snyder's budget recommendation called for limiting tuition increases to 4 percent. Additionally, tuition
DETROIT - A solemn Governor Rick Snyder confirmed on Thursday what Detroit and state residents expected by saying he would declare a financial emergency in Michigan's largest city and name an emergency financial manager, but he also hoped that with the action a process of restoring and rebuilding Detroit would begin. Flanked by Detroit Mayor
LANSING - A new study shows 311 local governments in Michigan have a combined unfunded liability of $12.7 billion, a specialist from Michigan State University told the House Financial Liability Reform Committee on Thursday. Eric Scorsone, an MSU Extension specialist, said in a new report that Detroit carries 39 percent of the unfunded liabilities, with
LANSING ? Michigan Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville told reporters Tuesday he still hopes his chamber will vote on a proposal to enact a state-federal exchange on the Affordable Care Act this month. Members of Mr. Richardville's (R-Monroe) caucus are still discussing various ramifications of the proposal that would have joint management of a health
LANSING - The Michigan Senate did not meet the March 7 deadline to pass legislation calling for a statewide vote in the May election that would increase or change the distribution of the sales tax to put more money toward funding the state's roads, but there is still the potential for a special election or
LANSING - Whether the state will be able to use Natural Resources Trust Fund grants to pay for dredging projects appears to hedge on the Legislature's latitude in defining development. Legislation discussed Thursday in the Senate Outdoor Recreation Committee (SB 229 ) would define dredging as a development activity and allow the trust fund board