LANSING - Economists testifying at Friday's Revenue Estimating Conference saw good signs of economic growth in Michigan going forward, but concerns about the national economy and the debt crisis in Europe, which affects the state, are ever present. George Fulton of the University of Michigan's Research Seminar in Quantitative Economics said the state is more
LANSING - For months, the major stakeholders in the health and insurance sectors have attended and testified at hearings of the House Health Policy Committee on creation of the state's health insurance exchange, but next week, Rep. Gail Haines, the committee chair, said the panel will seek and welcome input from residents on the controversial
LANSING - If the House passes a bill, or a Senate committee reports it, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) said Wednesday he's not standing in the way of a floor debate on right-to-work legislation. But Richardville, who supports a right-to-teach bill targeted at the Michigan Education Association, told reporters he doesn't support a broader
DETROIT - State economic development officials said the Pure Michigan branding effort will have a place at the main stage of the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit beginning next week. It will be the first time the state has had a main floor showcase to highlight its marketing effort at one of
LANSING - Work to establish Port Lansing into a cargo and logistics focused Aerotropolis moved forward Wednesday with the Michigan Strategic Fund designating the city of Lansing, DeWitt Charter Township and the Capital Regional Airport Authority as the state?s second Next Michigan Development Corporation. As a Next Michigan Development Corporation, Port Lansing will be able
LANSING - Governor Rick Snyder signed into law Wednesday legislation setting up a new structure for the state's film incentive program. Snyder's signature on SB 569 (PA 291) means the state will provide incentives for film, television and video game projects made in the state of between 25 percent and 32 percent for costs of
LANSING - Michigan lost more people in 2011, according to estimates released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau, but the decline was relatively small and did not affect the state's status in terms of the percentage of population it holds in the United States. Unlike the decennial census issued a year ago, Michigan was not
LANSING - A package of bills outlining the proposed structure of a $100 million business development fund to replace the state's soon-to-expire tax credit system was signed into law Tuesday by Governor Rick Snyder. The Michigan Business Development and Michigan Community Revitalization Programs replace the state's previous Michigan Economic Growth Authority, Brownfield and Historic tax
LANSING - A bill making major changes to the state's worker's compensation system is headed to the governor after the House concurred Tuesday with changes the Senate made to the legislation last week. The state's main business groups supported HB 5002 , but unions have strongly opposed it. The House approved the bill 60-47, and
LANSING - The House removed language in a supplemental appropriation bill Tuesday that would have allowed the state to accept a $9.8 million federal grant to continue the planning and development of the MIHealth Marketplace in a move that underscored the virulence of opposition among the House GOP to the federal health care law. It