Inside 208

This afternoon, Governor Snyder vetoed SB 59, a bill that would allow those holding a concealed pistol license to carry firearms in schools, churches, hospitals, etc.  Gov. Snyder wanted language in the bill that would allow schools to exempt themselves and ban carrying of firearms on premise.  That language was...

A new resource for understanding the new federal transportation program, MAP – 21 is now available from Transportation 4 America here. This is aimed at helping those who will be wokring with or under the programs, better navigate his new comprehensive law. Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives...

The past few days Speaker Boehner and President Obama have indicated that they have put tax increases and debt reductions on the table beyond what they had previously stated they would accept, signaling a glimmer of hope that a resolution on the pending tax increases and spending cuts known as...

More than 100 municipal leaders attended a live chat hosted by the Michigan Municipal League Tuesday about bills approved in the lame duck session of the Michigan Legislature in recent weeks. During the live chat, led by the League’s Anthony Minghine and Samantha Harkins, Minghine started out explaining that the...

During the late night final session day, the House of Represenatatives took up SB 334 which will allow four townships in Kent County to create Business Improvement Zones (which are currently limited to only cities and villages).  There was an effort to expand this to all townships, which was opposed...

In a surprising move, the Legislature took up and passed bills to amend the voter-initiatied Medical Marihuana law late last night. HB 4834 allows the Department of Community Health to contract with a private firm to handle the processing of medical marijuana registration cards, easing a backlog that has frustrated...

Speaker Boehner and the President had another meeting late last week, after a few days off and some intense rhetoric regarding their solutions on the fiscal cliff, the combination of the expiration of Bush-era tax credits and significant automatic budget cuts set to go into effect January 1. There have...

The Legislature has sent to the Governor SB 810 and SB 811. These bills require village elections to be in November instead of September. Specifically, SB 810 would amend the Michigan Election Law to require a village regular election to be held at the general November election, and eliminate a...

SB 713, which loosens the regulation for pawn resale shops, died in committee when session ended this week. This bill would have taken the regulation of this industry, which either unintentionally or intentionally deals in stolen property, out of the hands of local governments who are responsible for the health,...

The Legislature has sent to the Governor bills that will change the recall process. They took a package of bills and condensed them into two bills – HB 6060 and 6063. The bills will do the following: – change the maximum number of days to circulate recall petitions from 90...