LANSING – At long last, Michigan’s divided government has the framework for a budget deal. But it’s mostly flat and doesn’t include major funding to big problems voters elected lawmakers to solve. An agreement to end a months-long standoff on Tuesday includes no new money for roads and bridges that are some of the nation’s
LANSING - The months of nail-biting and worry among those affected by a budget standoff between Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Republican legislative leaders might finally be coming to an end. Negotiations between Ms. Whitmer, House Speaker Lee Chatfield (R-Levering) and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) gained enough momentum Wednesday that the House and Senate quickly and overwhelmingly passed
LANSING - Enbridge waited two months to report to the state the loss of some equipment on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac while conducting geotechnical drilling ahead of the potential Line 5 tunnel project and likely will have to leave the debris until spring 2020. According to media reports this week, Enbridge was
LANSING - The state is close to being in line for a potential annual windfall of tens of millions in new revenue after the Senate passed legislation Wednesday requiring the collection of sales tax from online retailers and sent the package to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's desk. Passing the Senate were HB 4540, HB 4541, HB 4542 and HB 4543. The
LANSING – A months-long budget standoff could be nearing an end, as Michigan lawmakers moved bills Wednesday to reappropriate some $459 million of the nearly $1 billion Gov. Gretchen Whitmer line-item vetoed from the state’s 2020 budget. Millions of dollars would be returned to programs that fund rural police patrols, charter schools, isolated school districts,
LANSING - Fresh off the holiday break, a Michigan Senate panel will dive into discussions next week on a package of online gaming and sports betting bills sent over from the House. Senate Regulatory Reform Committee Chair Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) said an initial conversation about the House gaming package will be on the agenda Tuesday. The
LANSING - The state of Michigan's semi-annual surplus store, MiStore, will open to the public for a one-day sale Saturday, Dec. 7, to unload excess property from federal, state, and local government agencies. MiStore has a large inventory of items from property seized by police, items voluntarily surrendered at airports, surplus property from local public colleges,
LANSING – The Michigan Education Trust (MET) Board of Directors announced this week that the state’s prepaid college tuition program will reopen enrollment on Dec. 1, allowing those who buy a contract by the end of the year to qualify for a deduction on their Michigan tax return. MET contract holders are eligible for a
LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel unveiled 12 initiatives Thursday aimed at cracking down on Michigan's robocalling problem, as roughly 1.3 billion robocalls have been placed to residents so far in 2019. Part of the initiatives will include launching a statewide educational speaking tour next year to educate residents on robocalls, introducing a "scam
LANSING - Legislation codifying into state law a U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding internet sales tax provisions for online retail entities was reported by a Michigan Senate panel Wednesday, a move that could bring millions in additional revenue to the state. The proposed changes come following the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in South Dakota v.
