LANSING - The Michigan Senate Energy and Technology Committee is expecting quick movement on legislation that would further deregulate the state's telephone industry. The bill (HB 4314 ) is expected to see a few changes based on discussions between the various parties, but the main thrust of considering wireless and voice over Internet protocol as
LANSING - The Michigan general public opposes most of Governor Rick Snyder's major tax and spending proposals, a new poll shows, and some, especially cutting spending on schools, are opposed by Republicans. The results also show a large majority oppose the recently enacted emergency manager act and proposals to take away collective bargaining rights. In
LANSING ? Michigan state government departments would be prohibited from issuing rules more stringent than federal standards under legislation passed by the Senate. Majority Senate Republicans touted passage of the seven-bill package as a significant move to improve the state's business climate. Although most of the focus so far this year has been on the
SOUTHFIELD - In announcing his budget for the state, Governor Rick Snyder called for shared sacrifice on the part of state and local government to help bridge a $2 billion budget gap. But sharing doesn't have to be about sacrificing, particularly when what are being shared are services among government entities. That?s the message that
LANSING ? Michigan Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville sent the critical tax overhaul legislation to the Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee where a considerable challenge awaits to get the votes needed to move the legislation to the Senate floor. Richardville (R-Monroe) could always have the bills discharged from the committee to the full Senate if
LANSING - Business licensing and regulation has been housed with business development efforts for decades, but breaking them apart actually gives the state an opportunity to be more business friendly, said Steven Hilfinger, director of the new Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, told Gongwer News Service in a recent interview. The new department retains
LANSING - News of more money than expected coming into state coffers isn't necessarily good news for Michigan schools facing massive budget cuts. Revenues coming in are $314 million above the amount anticipated at the revenue estimate conference in January, due in part to a reduction in income tax refunds, and that number could soar
EAST LANSING - When Governor Rick Snyder unveils his education message on Wednesday, a hallmark will be moving authority for activity in the classroom to the teacher, he said Monday at the annual Governor's Education Summit in East Lansing. Snyder told the educators gathered at the Kellogg Hotel and Center at Michigan State University that
LANSING - The Michigan Senate version of the budget is $40 million general fund below Governor Rick Snyder's recommendation, not $300 million, Ellen Jeffries, director of the Senate Fiscal Agency, said Monday. Last week, when the Senate Appropriations Committee reported all budget bills, Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township), the committee chair; Jeffries; and other Senate
LANSING - Michigan is already the 10th -lowest state in terms of support for higher education, and it would fall to fifth or lower if the cuts proposed by Governor Rick Snyder are approved, the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan said on releasing a national report on university funding. The State Higher Education Finance