' Tag Archives: 'Michigan Legislature''

State waits for Legislature to do its job on transit

State waits for Legislature to do its job on transit

By Timothy R. Fischer/Michigan Environmental Council and Michele Hodges/Troy Chamber of Commerce Our state’s leaders must stop dithering and approve the regional transit authority bills (Senate Bills 909, 911-912) before the Michigan Legislature. An RTA matters ...

GOP leaders eye state contribution in tweak to MPSERS reform bill

GOP leaders eye state contribution in tweak to MPSERS reform bill

Confronted with concerns that a bill to revamp the teacher retirement system would lead to a mass exodus of veteran teachers this year, Republicans who control the Legislature are tinkering with Senate Bill 1040 to reform ...

Republicans play to win; Democrats play to pout

Republicans play to win; Democrats play to pout

In 1983, Michigan Republicans secured a two-seat majority in the state Senate thanks to the recall of two Democratic senators from southeastern Michigan. They’ve been running the Michigan Senate ever since. After the 2008 elections, Michigan ...

Schools fear property tax cut will be permanent

Schools fear property tax cut will be permanent

Like many other Michigan public schools, the River Rouge School District is struggling to stay afloat. In recent years, it has laid off teachers and eliminated music, art, gym, libraries and athletics — but it’s still ...

See where personal property tax hits

See where personal property tax hits

Bills that would lead to the elimination of the personal property tax for almost all Michigan businesses are now before the Michigan Legislature. Business groups have expressed strong support for PPT repeal, arguing the levy on ...

Legislators want to run, not pay for, Mich. universities

Legislators want to run, not pay for, Mich. universities

Spring budget treks to the State Capitol by the presidents of Michigan’s public universities weren’t always this pointless. When lawmakers appropriated half the money or more that universities spent for operations, it paid for presidents to ...