Lawmakers passed bills Tuesday to conceal identities of donors to political nonprofits, assign letter grades to schools and change toxic waste standards, among other measures.
2018 Michigan lame duck
Posted inGuest Commentary
Opinion | Michigan’s lame duck session is why voters hate politics
Last-minute power grabs and watering down initiatives supported by Michigan voters erode civility and respect, says one legislator.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan A-to-F school bill gets passing grade in Senate; on to Gov. Rick Snyder
A controversial bill that will give grades to schools will likely become law, despite concerns about whether it meets federal guidelines.
Posted inTalent & Education
Michigan education department blasts A to F school system bill
State Superintendent Sheila Alles minced few words in a last-ditch effort to kill an A-to-F school grading system pushed by the legislature.
Posted inMichigan Government
Lansing looks to bonds to help solve local pension, health-care debts
A lame-duck bill that would allow more Michigan communities to use bonds to pay for spiraling pension and retiree health care legacy costs is expected to soon reach Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan House moves to overhaul standards for toxic cleanups
Industry groups cheer move to require state regulators to use federal standards to determine if sites are safe. Critics say those are looser and the measure would make cleanups less protective.
Posted inMichigan Government
Bill to protect ‘dark money’ groups in Michigan passes House
The Republican bill would largely prevent the incoming Democratic Secretary of State and Attorney General from accessing information about groups that influence elections.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan House panel votes to gut ‘radical’ wetlands protections
‘If we don’t do something, we can kiss personal property rights goodbye,’ says sponsor of measure that would remove protections on at least 550,000 acres of wetlands. Critics disagree.
Posted inMichigan Government
Snyder signs bills that weaken Michigan minimum wage, sick leave laws
The term-limited Republican governor said he agreed with the GOP Legislature that the original laws passed earlier this year would harm economic progress in Michigan. Advocates for workers vowed a lawsuit.
Posted inMichigan Government
What’s dead ‒ and what’s still in play ‒ in Michigan’s lame-duck session
The Michigan Legislature has one week left before its two-year term ends. A number of bills, including requiring public employee unions to vote to recertify and banning home growing of marijuana, died for lack of votes.