Inside 208

Last week provided some hopeful signs that the Congress might actually be able to scratch and claw there way to a agreement before the currente extension expires at the end of the month. First there was a exchange of actual proposals between House and Senate conference leaders. It began with...

Yesterday the House Judiciary Committee reported SB 1082, a bill that would more specific define what makes up synthetic drugs and bans those materials. Last session the legislature passed bills to ban synthetic drugs, but the manufacturers of these drugs began using different materials. This legislation is drafted more broadly...

Recent reports from the conference committee tackling a new transportation authorization is that negotiations my have hit a stand still.  Not only does the House Republican legislative agenda for the remainder of spring and summer not even mention transportation, but several House Republicans are now demanding a floor vote instrictuing House conferees...

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation at the Mackinac Policy Conference this week announced five new initiatives under the Pure Michigan Business Connect umbrella that will further help Michigan businesses grow and improve the state’s economy. The new Pure Michigan Business Connect initiatives include: Develop Michigan Inc. – A $20 million,...

The conference committee for the budget of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs approved $9.2 million for fire protection grants, the same amount that was appropriated last year. Fire protection grants are awarded to communities who have state buildings that are not on the tax rolls to include state...

On Wednesday May 30th, the House Transportation Committee passed HB 5302 a bill termed “best practices.” The committee adopted an H-4 version of the bill that is substantially different from the original bill as introduced which included a host of safety requirements. The bill that passed committee offers much more...

Yesterday afternoon the House unanimously passed HB 5196, a bill that would require public entities to post wages and benefits for employees who receive more than $100,000 total compensation. It also unanimously passed HB 5274, a bill that would require all contracts for all public entities greater than $25,000 to...

Yesterday afternoon, a house and senate joint conference committee reported out SB 954 and in doing so funded the Business Attraction and Economic Gardening line item (i.e. the Community Revitalization Program and Business Development Program – which replaced the Brownfield, Historic and MEGA credits) at the $100 million mark again...

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is soliciting new candidate project applications for fiscal year 2014 High Risk Rural Road (HRRR) program. CLICK HERE to view the notice. The deadline to submit projects is August 13, 2012. Jason Mancini works for the Michigan Municipal League handling Transportation Issues. He can be...

Last evening the House Local Government Committee reported House Bills 5566-5570, a package that amends the Emergency Municipal Loan Act to include school districts and amend the criteria for qualifying. The substitute for HB 5566 (the main bill in the package) adopted by the committee is available here: HB 5566.h1.pdf...