Michigan Technology related politics
LANSING - Sharp rhetoric over the path to adequate road funding preceded a unanimous vote for Michigan legislation to inject an additional $175 million into state roads this fiscal year, with a few minor additions for spending priorities for other departments. HB 4321 passed 36-0 after Democratic amendments were jettisoned that would have infused even more
LANSING - The state's 13 investor-owned utilities will provide the Public Service Commission with calculations for rate reductions to pass along to ratepayers as a result of the new federal tax law and as part of a three-part process the commission rolled out Thursday. By March 30, nine of the 13 utilities will be required
LANSING - Farmers, producers and processors would be able to choose alternative energy suppliers without counting toward the 10 percent cap on electric choice under a bill discussed Tuesday in the House Energy Policy Committee. The panel took no action on HB 5387, sponsored by Rep. Gary Glenn (R-Williams Township), the committee chair. Supporters of the proposal included
LANSING - Environmental Quality Director Heidi Grether told both subcommittees overseeing her budget that finding a replacement for the Clean Michigan Initiative bonds was her top priority for the year, and heard concerns from members of both panels over the proposed increase in tipping fees. As part of the department's $494.59 million budget ($46.95 million General Fund), Governor
LANSING - The campaigns backing initiatives for paid sick leave and a minimum wage hike in Michigan both say they'll emerge from winter weather petitioning with ballot proposals to turn in this spring. Danielle Atkinson, spokesperson for MI Time to Care, said the group is aiming for "early spring" to turn in their signatures. The
LANSING - Gov. Rick Snyder's final proposal last week: Putting a $5-a-customer fee on public water systems to come up with $110 million to fix up the state's water infrastructure. The Governor called the state's water infrastructure "failing" and said it's time to fix water mains and replace lead service lines. To do so, he's
LANSING - Three Michigan ballot committees have gathered more than $1 million in support based on today's campaign finance filings with another committee on the verge of hitting the $1 million milestone. The amount raised isn't necessarily a harbinger for success, however. The Clean Michigan Government drive to create a part-time Legislature has raised more than $1 million,
LANSING - Total utility customers participating in electric choice programs in 2017 were down from the previous year, as were the number of cable subscribers in the state, according to a pair of annual reports released Thursday. The Public Service Commission released its yearly Status of Electric Competition in Michigan and Status of Competition for
LANSING - After first inquiring with the utilities it regulates, the Michigan Public Service Commission urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to tell its interstate natural gas pipeline operators to adjust their rates in response to the lowered corporate tax rates under the new federal tax law. The MPSC said the FERC should "take immediate
LANSING - Michigan’s individual income tax filing season officially has begun and an army of hackers are waiting to steal your identity and your refund, warns the Michigan Treasury Department. In an effort to protect Michigan taxpayers, the state Treasury Department continues to implement security measures to stop tax-related identity theft. As a result, some
