Today at the Capitol
Michigan Report Top Stories
Volume #48, Report #127--Thursday, July 2, 2009
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NEWSMAKER FRIDAY: WOULD TEMPORARY TAX HIKE DIG STATE OUT OF MINI-DEPRESSION?
While in the current budget cycle federal stimulus dollars may have managed to keep the state "crawling and screaming" toward balance, without a serious change in spending and a dramatic new tax plan by 2012 Michigan could look a lot like California, a state drowning so far in its own debt it seems it could very well fall off the coast, said Rep. Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit).
LAHTI: U.P. WILL TAKE CALIFORNIA PRISONERS
Rep. Michael Lahti (D-Hancock), one of the Upper Peninsula legislators hoping to stave off closure of correctional facilities there, said Thursday that if California agrees to send prisoners to Michigan, the UP would be happy to take them.
LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY CONTINUE TO BE PUSHED
Democrats and Republicans continue to be at odds over how transparent government spending should be to the public.
STATE NOW RANKS 20TH IN PER CAPITA DEBT LEVEL
Michigan's total debt load has more than tripled in the past 20 years and the state now stands 20th in terms of total per capita debt, a paper from the Senate Fiscal Agency said.
Legislation that should clear the way for Detroit's Cobo Center to remain the home of the North American International Auto Show is now law.
GRANHOLM TO GO ON TRADE MISSION TO GERMANY AND BELGIUM
Governor Jennifer Granholm leaves on her eighth international trade mission, traveling to Germany and Belgium, beginning Monday.
GORCHOW RETURNING TO GONGWER NEXT MONTH AS MICHIGAN REPORT EDITOR
Zachary Gorchow, a former Gongwer News Service staff writer, is returning to Gongwer early next month to become editor of the Michigan Report.
