LANSING - Michigan's election systems and performance scored well in a study by Pew Charitable Trusts, which placed the state sixth in the nation when measuring categories like ease of voting, accuracy of systems and completeness of data. The study reviewed the election performance of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Wisconsin scored
LANSING - The easing of the Personal Property Tax burden will put pressure on the General Fund as a result of redirecting a portion of use tax revenues to local governments and making sure the tax changes do not cost the School Aid Fund money, according to the Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency. A SFA report
LANSING - After two years of major budget cuts, tax changes and controversial policy changes, Governor Rick Snyder on Thursday proposed a 2013-14 budget of nearly $51 billion that attempts to master prudent growth and investing additional money into education while at the same time winning approval for some controversial transportation tax increases and creating
LANSING - Governor Rick Snyder had said he would leave it up to the Legislature to decide how to pay for the added $1.2 billion, but as part of his budget proposal Thursday, he proposed a 33-cent per gallon fuel tax and specific registration increases to the mix of revenue sources. The proposal would average
LANSING - The Michigan Senate on Wednesday passed a pair of bills that would exclude from the sales tax the value of a trade-in for a new or used motor vehicle, watercraft or recreational vehicle and phase that process in over 10 years. Both SB 89 and SB 90 saw two amendments, the first from
LANSING - As bills that would convert Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to a mutual company continue their movement in the Legislature, the question that keeps coming up at every committee hearing is: What happens to Medigap coverage after the attorney general's rate freeze ends in July 2016. One of the biggest wins for
LANSING - The Public Service Commission on Friday released its annual report on video services competition, boasting that since the law regarding the reporting of video services competition (PA 480 of 2006) took effect, the number of municipalities reported having two or more video/cable providers offering service has more than doubled from 53 to 105.
LANSING - Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced Friday that the Department of State will issue driver's licenses and state identification cards to young persons brought to the United States illegally but who are now part of the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The policy change is the result of recent federal guidance
LANSING - Governor Rick Snyder filed a request Monday with the Supreme Court for a direct ruling on the constitutionality of the right-to-work law enacted last year. If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it would bypass the trial courts and Court of Appeals should the unions or others have filed litigation against
LANSING - Rep. Wayne Schmidt said creating a surcharge on tires for all vehicles, including bikes and off- road vehicles, could be one way to help raise the approximately $1.6 billion needed to fix Michigan's roads. Schmidt (R-Traverse City) told Gongwer News Service Wednesday that bikes and ORVs have their own lanes or wider shoulders