Gongwer News Service

Schools would take a larger per-pupil hit than they did this year, but that would be offset some by reduced contributions to the pension system under the School Aid Fund budget reported Wednesday to the full Senate Appropriations Committee.

APPEALS COURT THROWS OUT CLAIM PRIMARY RECORDS CAN BE SEALED

Records from the 2008 presidential primary are public records and open to disclosure, a divided panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. The decision potentially strikes a dagger into the heart of claims that records dealing with who votes can be kept private to all except the political parties.

POLL: HOEKSTRA, DILLON LEAD RESPECTIVE FIELDS

U.S. Rep. Peter Hoekstra is gaining ground in the Republican primary, while Speaker Andy Dillon has a slight edge on the Democratic side, according to a new poll released Wednesday.

'RACE TO THE TOP' MONEY DROPPED FROM HOUSE BILL

A week after the House Appropriations Committee fell short on the number of votes needed to pass a supplemental containing $25 million in expected "Race to the Top" funding, the panel deleted that part of the bill entirely.

LEGISLATIVE CONFLICT OF INTEREST BILL MOVES

Lawmakers who would personally gain financially from a bill would be prohibited from voting on the legislation and would have to state their conflict of interest for the record under a bill overwhelmingly reported by the House Ethics and Elections Committee on Wednesday.

RETIREMENT BILLS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED THURSDAY

Bills that would enact Governor Jennifer Granholm's state and school employee retirement provisions are expected to be introduced on Thursday, just a little less than three weeks before Ms. Granholm said they need to be enacted.

MATCHING FUNDS MAY EQUAL 26 CENTS ON DOLLAR FOR CANDIDATES

The eight gubernatorial candidates will have to rely on their supporters for more of their money than the state's campaign matching funds, since the fund might be only to offer 26 cents on the dollar of what the candidates can raise.

DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN ALREADY INTO NASTY TURN

Robocalls either attacking or promoting the top two candidates for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination are already ringing phones across the state.

HOUSE PANEL EXPLORING CHANGES NEEDED FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Michigan residents might need some financial encouragement to buy electric and hybrid vehicles, but they also might need some assistance getting charging stations and the electric grid built to support them.

HOUSE PANEL APPROVES CHILD CARE TRAINING

Unlicensed child care providers receiving state subsidies would have to undergo some basic training and a criminal background check to keep getting those funds and could receive additional training to see a larger reimbursement under bills reported from the House Families and Children's Services Committee.

WITH LOWER RATE, MICH. STILL HAS NATION'S HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT

Despite dropping slightly between December and January, Michigan's unemployment rate of 14.3 percent was still the highest in the country, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Wednesday.