League Asks Governor Snyder to Veto Domestic Partner Benefit Bills
 Last week the House concurred on the Senate amendments to HBs 4770 and 4771: bills that prohibit local units of government (including public schools, counties, cities, villages and townships), as well as the state, from offering domestic partner medical benefits. The League is opposed to this legislation that now heads to the governor for his signature, and has sent a letter to the governor's office asking him to veto the bills. MORE>
State
Affairs Update
 League Offers Free Online Program for Next Step in EVIP Requirments TODAY - By January 1, cities must comply with the Economic Vitality & Incentive Program (EVIP) second requirement to qualify for the next one-third of the funding. Join the League and State Department of Treasury 2-3 pm TODAY, Tuesday, Dec. 13 for an online discussion about where to go from here, how to proceed, and your next steps. Register at mml.org.
Workers’ Compensation Changes Pass Senate
Interacting with the State - Michigan Shared Services Community
2011/2012 Pay and Benefits Survey Now Available
Federal Update
 Deficit Reduction - Members Urged to Pass Resolution - Even though the failure of the Supercommittee to agree on debt reduction has no immediate policy consequences (the $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts won't take effect until 2013), December is still shaping up to be a brutal month in the nation's capital. Funding for the federal government expires on December 16, meaning a continuing resolution will probably be adopted before the actual budget is finalized. The President and Congressional Democrats are also pushing for enactment of elements of the President's $447 billion jobs plan while Republicans are continuing their call for cuts in federal spending. MORE>
Public Safety Communications Legislation Advances But At What Expense?
Local Input Reduced in Senate Transportation Bill
Push to Increase Truck Weights - Call to Oppose!
21st Century Communities
“That Michigan Radio Show” Discusses Economics of Place Book with League CEO Dan Gilmartin - The Michigan Municipal League's new book, The Economics of Place: The Value of Building Place Around People was the focus of a recent "That Michigan Radio Show." The book received rave reviews from show co-hosts Steven Bennett and Holly Hetzner. "As I was reading through the book, I was nodding my head so often that my co-workers probably thought I was going into some kind of seizure. No, I wasn't seizing. I was just in violent agreement with a lot of the observations noted in the book," said Hetzner during the show. Michigan Municipal League CEO Dan Gilmartin was a main guest for the show and he talked about the book (available on Amazon.com), and why placemaking is vital to Michigan's future. MORE>
US EPA Urban Water Grants Available
Free Graduate Student Research and Analysis Available for Metro Detroit Communities
“Our Town” Arts Grants Available
Green Communities Conference Videos, Presentations Now Available
Sign Regulation Workshops
Economics
of Place
Book Released, Available from League at Amazon |
