Michigan Report Top Stories

Volume #49, Report #25--Monday, February 8, 2010

BERNERO, ENTERING GOV. RACE, SOUNDS POPULIST THEME

DETROIT - Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, in opening his campaign for governor Monday, sought to separate himself from the state political establishment and even his own Democratic Party as he vowed to purge business as usual in the Capitol.

BUDGET COMPLETED; OFFICIALS STILL MUM ON PROPOSALS

Governor Jennifer Granholm and her staff have completed work on the 2010-11 budget, but officials will say nothing about what tax proposals and cuts are planned for the document that will be presented to the Legislature on Thursday.

GRANHOLM: RENTAL CAR FEE COULD PAY FOR TOURISM PROMOTION

A few bucks charged on rental cars picked up near Michigan airports could be a way to finance the state's Pure Michigan campaign, Governor Jennifer Granholm said over the weekend.

GRANHOLM STILL PUSHING CHICAGO LOCK CLOSURE

The federal government's new $78.5 million plan to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes is insufficient, Governor Jennifer Granholm said Monday, but she will wait, at least for now, for the courts to act or for additional evidence to bolster the case for closing the Chicago-area locks.

STATE, A.F.S.C.M.E. AGREE ON CONCESSIONS

The 2,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees still have to concede, but union officials have reached a tentative agreement with the state to accommodate that union's share of the $50 million in payroll cuts the Granholm administration is trying to achieve in the current fiscal year.

SNYDER STAFF SAYS AD HAS SPURRED INTEREST

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Snyder's "tough nerd" ad has helped his campaign spark interest among the general public and helped bring focus to his status outside of the "professional politicians that have done damage to the state," staff members told reporters Monday.

ROAD TRIP PLANNED FOR GAS TAX BID

Money for road and bridge projects will be on the agenda for the House Transportation Committee as it hits the road discussing legislation raising gasoline and diesel taxes this month.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG CARVE-OUT TO DILLON POOLING PLAN PROPOSED

One of the recommendations out of workgroups assigned to further study House Speaker Andy Dillon's health care pooling legislation is a proposal creating a statewide prescription drug pool for government employees that would be separate from any other insurance coverage.