MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week. Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting
Senate Bill 291, Final vote on repeal motorcycle operation: Passed 24 to 14 in the Senate
To repeal the mandatory helmet requirement for a motorcycle operator who is age 21 or older, has been riding for at least two years or passes a safety test, and has a personal injury insurance policy providing at least $20,000 in benefits. This vote sends the measure to Gov. Snyder for approval or veto.
Following final votes this week, a bill to repeal Michigan’s motorcycle helmet mandate is on its way to Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk. Legislators who favor the repeal invoked arguments rooted in freedom of choice and individual liberty to support it.
Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, lamented that people who just “want the freedom to choose” were being denied it by the motorcycle helmet law. Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell, says the purpose of the repeal is to “give people choices.”
Michelle Malkin writing at National Review Online today cites the Mackinac Center on how electric car battery maker A123 laid off workers and gave executives large raises after receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate welfare.
Michigan Capital Confidential broke the story in February.
Senior Economist David L. Littmann was a guest on Fox Business News today, discussing the financial future of Detroit. He wrote about the city’s potential bankruptcy earlier this week.
More commentary and analysis about Detroit can be found here.
James Hohman, assistant director of fiscal policy, was a guest on "The Vic McCarty Show" on WMKT AM1290 in Traverse City today, discussing his recent study on how to reform the public school employees' retirement system.
You can read more about public-employee pension reform here and here.
Mackinac Center President Joseph G. Lehman in a Detroit News Op-Ed today outlines why America cannot afford Obamacare.
Mackinac Center Legal Foundation Director Patrick J. Wright predicted the Supreme Court will decide the issue on a 5-4 vote.
Technology enables schools to rethink the way that they deliver instruction to students, and a recent phenomenon that’s catching on is called “flipping the classroom.”
It works by having students receive direct instruction — often via online videos — outside of the classroom, enabling teachers to devote more time to collaboration, project-based learning, developing critical thinking skills and mentoring students individually.
A blog post by Jarrett Skorup yesterday pointing out the dubious nature of a study propping up Pure Michigan tourism subsidies is noted in Crain’s Detroit Business.
Crain’s also cited taxpayer money being given to Michigan International Speedway, which hosts NASCAR races. Michigan Capitol Confidential addressed this issue almost six months ago.
Senior Economist David Littmann writes in today's CapCon:
If the unions get the signatures but state voters reject their position in November, then emergency manager work will proceed. However, if the unions win, Gov. Snyder will have to decide whether to toss Detroit into federal bankruptcy court.
During a debate in the state House over legislation that would ban the “stealth” unionization of independent contractors who receive subsidy payments, Rep. Vicki Barnett, D-Farmington Hills, reportedly argued that the bill is unnecessary because individuals opposed to unionization can simply seek to decertify the union.
A new study claiming that the Pure Michigan advertising campaign funded by taxpayers returns a sizable investment for the state is dubious for several reasons.
The projections are based on an online survey from Longwoods International, a travel consulting firm that found that every dollar spent by the state returns $4.90 in tax revenue. This is actually up from their previous 2010 study that found that each dollar returns $2.23.
Paul Kersey, director of labor policy, was a guest recently on "The Lynn Rivers Show" on WEMU Public Radio, where he discussed several right-to-work issues, including a proposed union-backed ballot initiative that he has described as "self-centered and reckless."
Senior Economist David Littmann told The Detroit News that recent mild weather could have both positive and negative impacts on the economy.
People could “get a whole lot more confident” as spending increases at places such as golf courses and home improvement stores.
Perhaps I’ve been toiling too long in the public policy salt mines, but my take on "The Hunger Games" is that it’s less an adolescent dystopian adventure/love story than an allegory of government rules run amuck.
I may be trying too hard to squeeze a square peg into a round hole, but bear with me:
MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week. Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting
Senate Bill 1018, Ban unionization of contractors paid with government subsidies: Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate
To establish that a person whose private employment compensation comes from a direct or indirect government subsidy is not considered a government employee, and so is not subject to being inducted into a government employee union. Such a scheme involving home day care providers was ended by the Snyder administration subsequent to a Mackinac Center legal challenge, and the bill would (eventually) end a still-ongoing one extracting SEIU union dues from home health care providers who are mostly relatives of disabled individuals.
Patrick J. Wright, director of the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation, was a guest on "The Frank Beckmann Show" on WJR AM760 this morning, discussing passage of Senate Bill 1018, which clearly defines home health aides as private individuals, rather than public employees, thereby saving them from being forced into a government union.
Thousands of home-based health care providers have been forced into a union because they receive assistance from the state while they take care of loved ones who are disabled. The Service Employees International Union receives close to $6 million annually in forced dues from this abusive arrangement.
Inside Higher Ed today writes about the victory graduate student research assistants at public universities won after Gov. Rick Snyder signed House Bill 4246 to protect them from forced unionization.
The Midland Daily News also reported on the development.
MLive.com ran a Viewpoint commentary about Michigan’s alcohol wholesale monopoly by Michael LaFaive, director of the Center’s Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative, in the Grand Rapids Press, Saginaw News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal and Jackson Citizen Patriot. The Advisor & Source newspaper chain also ran the piece in the Sterling Heights Source and the Shelby Township Advisor.
Patrick J. Wright, director of the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation, told MIRS Capitol Capsule that he will “monitor the situation” as the Service Employees International Union attempts to enshrine its forced unionization of home health aides.
“They recognize that there’s a movement for a legislative end to this and they have money to spend,” Wright said.
New data released by The Chronicle of Higher Education help compare colleges in terms of effectiveness and efficiency by looking at both completion rates and spending per degree earned.
On average, about 61 percent of first-time students earn a degree or certification from a four-year public university within six years of enrolling, and these universities spend about $75,900 for each degree they issue.
Senior Legislative Analyst Jack McHugh was a guest this morning on "The Tony Conley Show" on WILS AM1320 in Lansing, where he discussed the possibility that Michigan could eventually have the highest gas taxes in the nation.
Education Policy Director Michael Van Beek writes in this Detroit Free Press Op-Ed why the “Michigan2020” college subsidy plan won’t increase the number of college graduates in the state or boost Michigan’s economy.
He has more details here.
MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week. Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting
Senate Bill 756, Ban hands-on cell phone use by new drivers: Passed 28 to 10 in the Senate
To prohibit an individual with a level 1 or 2 graduated drivers license status (new drivers age 17 or younger) from operating a motor vehicle while using a hands-on cell phone.
Thousands of home-based health care providers have been forced into a union because they receive assistance from the state while they take care of loved ones who are disabled. The Service Employees International Union receives close to $6 million annually in forced dues from this abusive arrangement.
