Michigan Report Top Stories

Volume #47, Report #141--Wednesday, July 23, 2008

House Activity Report

ADMINISTRATION DEMANDS INFORMATION ON POBUR, BISHOP'S OFFICE CALLS IT 'STUNT'

Declaring Senate Republicans are engaging in McCarthyism, the Granholm administration stepped up the confrontation over the appointment of Colleen Pobur to the Liquor Control Commission, sending a letter demanding the release of information the majority party asserts disqualifies Ms. Pobur for the post.   The letter was hand-delivered the day before it is now anticipated the Senate will reject Ms. Pobur's appointment.

COURT EASES USE OF HABITUAL OFFENDER PENALTIES

Separate, prior criminal behavior will now not be the only thing sentencing courts can consider in handing down harsher habitual offender sentences to criminals under a 5-2 Supreme Court decision issued Wednesday.   The majority overturned decisions the court issued in 1987 and 1990 which limited habitual offender penalties when only based on separate criminal incidents, not multiple crimes arising from one episode.

HOUSE APPROVES K-12, GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETS

The 2008-09 per-pupil foundation allowance has been set as the House approved the K-12 School Aid appropriation Wednesday, sending the bill onto the governor for signature.

HOUSE SENDS ENERGY BILLS TO CONFERENCE

The House on Wednesday rejected Senate changes to a main piece of energy legislation altering the regulation of the state's electric market, sending the measure to conference committee. Senate and House leaders are planning a mid-August session to deal with the legislation, providing an agreement is reached by then.

SUPREME COURT REJECTS FIREFIGHTER SUITS AGAINST LAYOFFS

Firefighters in Pontiac and Detroit who claimed layoffs would jeopardize their safety and undermine the ability of fire departments to respond to emergencies lost their cases before the Supreme Court, which on Wednesday ruled lower courts were wrong to issue injunctions against the cities.

98TH HOUSE RACE SHAPING UP AS DAVID AND GOLIATH BATTLE

The Republican match in the House 98^th District to replace term-limited Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Midland) pins a relative newcomer as the underdog against a current senator's brother, who currently has ten times more cash for his campaign, a slew of endorsements and the support of the outgoing lawmaker.

BUSINESS CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING ALLEGAN COUNTY RACE

While eight candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for an Allegan County House seat, one candidate is especially under fire for his management role at a recently failed company.

REPORT: MORE STATES FACING FINANCIAL TROUBLES

In just one year, most states found themselves in fiscal trouble and are anxiously concerned about growing financial problems in the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years, a report issued Wednesday by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

CHAMBER FILES FINANCE COMPLAINT AGAINST R.M.G.N.

Charging that supporters of the Reform Michigan Government Now effort cannot seriously claim their campaign efforts did not begin in 2007, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce filed a campaign finance complaint against the organization demanding that the state order it to no longer violate state law.

HOUSE PANEL MOVES ID THEFT BILLS, STARTS ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS BILL

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved two bills that would increase penalties for identity thieves by including felony convictions under racketeering laws and by allowing law enforcement to seize property from felons in the same way they currently take the valuables involved in narcotics crimes.

COURT DISALLOWS CHILD SUPPORT LIENS AGAINST PROPERTY OWNED JOINTLY BY DEBTOR AND SPOUSE

In a case that presented the court the first opportunity to reconcile the laws on the issue, judges ruled in a Wednesday published appellate decision that courts may not place a lien for unpaid child support against properties held jointly by a married couple, unless the debt is in both property owners' names.

CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROPOSES TWO PROTON BEAM FACILITIES

The state could have two, rather than one, proton beam therapy facility under regulations being considered by the Certificate of Need Commission.   But the new rules would make it easier to develop a collaborative to run the facility and would allow the rules to cover more technology.

OPPOSITION DROPS TO GREAT LAKES DRILLING, POLL SHOWS

Public opposition to drilling along the shores of the Great Lakes has dropped, according to a poll sampling residents' views on energy-related issues amid the spike in gasoline prices.   The poll by EPIC/MRA of Lansing found 38 percent of the 600-voter sample said the prices have had a significant impact on their lives.

HOMESTEAD CREDIT INCREASE SUGGESTED AFTER 33 YEARS

A duo of bi-partisan legislators with competing bills to add $100 or $200 and an inflation peg to the homestead tax credit don't care which version of the legislation gets passed, reporters were told on Wednesday, as long as something gets done.

COURT ALLOWS SERVICE CHARGE FOR CHECKING TELEPHONE LINES

Telephone companies can charge the customer for a service call if a diagnostic check of the company's lines finds the problem is inside the customer's home or business, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in a split opinion.   The ruling also overturned the Public Service Commission's finding that AT&T had made false statements to a customer about the potential for charges.