LANSING - Legislative Republicans are shopping a proposal that would link curbs in automobile personal injury protection insurance to fixing a shortfall in what the relatively new tax on health insurance claims raises. Under the proposal, motorists would no longer pay the annual Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association fee of $175, soon to rise to $186,
LANSING - What seemed the straightforward signing Wednesday by Governor Rick Snyder of legislation to provide emergency dredging aid found itself caught up in the debate about whether the state should provide the same legal protections to the LBGT community as it does for people based on their race, religion and other factors. The state
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 - 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
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
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