http://www.mcalvey.com/Links/News/tabid/65/Default.aspx An articles RSS feed from the EfficionConsulting Articles Module for DNN. en-us Administrator Account Administrator Account Mon, 21 May 2012 02:38:01 GMT EfficionConsulting Articles Module (www.efficionconsulting.com) Copyright 2012, McAlvey, Merchant & Associates   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120517/METRO/205170396/1409/METRO/State-expects-nearly-300-million-more-revenue-year Angie Keilen Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-17/tax-code-overhaul-must-be-made-a-u-dot-s-priority-camp-says Angie Keilen Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120517/BIZ/205170337/Michigan-jobless-rate-drops-8-3-percent-April?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs Angie Keilen Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120510/BIZ/205100461#ixzz1uUl0cIaA Angie Keilen Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/capitol_topics_range_from_guns.html Angie Keilen Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120507/POLITICS03/205070328/1022/politics/Crunch-time-Senate-hopefuls Angie Keilen Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/viewart/20120504/NEWS01/305040029/Age-limit-retiree-health-care-benefits-dropped Angie Keilen Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/gov_rick_snyders_administratio.html Angie Keilen Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/75906_Page3.html Angie Keilen Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120503/SCHOOLS/205030364/1022/POLITICS/Senate-bill-sent-gov-would-allow-cyber-schools-Michigan Angie Keilen Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/04/gov_rick_snyder_calls_for_over.html Angie Keilen Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/04/flint_emergency_manager_impose.html Angie Keilen Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120418/NEWS04/304180043/Autism-coverage-become-part-Michigan-law Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120417/POLITICS02/204170424/1361/Groups-oppose-bills-to-change-voter-registration-procedure Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120415/NATION/204150317/ Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120410/METRO/204100347/1409/metro/Law-aids-redevelopment-plan-Michigan-State-Fairgrounds Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120418/METRO/204180413/1409/METRO/Michigan-s-8-5-jobless-rate-hits-lowest-level-since-August-2008 Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://influencealley.nationaljournal.com/2012/04/engler-telling-congress-to-do.php Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120418/POLITICS02/204180407/Gov-Snyder-makes-secret-trip-Afghanistan?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120330/POLITICS02/203300375/1022/politics/Coverage-autism-therapies-heads-Snyder-s-desk Angie Keilen Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20120329/NEWS06/203290449/Helmet-option-bill-passes-Senate Angie Keilen Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20120327/FEATURES07/120327017/-Pure-Michigan-brand-rebounding-economy-boost-travel-spending-7-8-in-2011 Angie Keilen Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2012/03/29/news/doc4f739f3f2cde9062950150.txt Angie Keilen Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/03/bill_huizengas_dodd-frank_cons.html Angie Keilen Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20120325/NEWS01/303250020/Michigan-s-steadier-job-growth-boosts-optimism Angie Keilen Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120327/METRO02/203270381/1409/metro/Redistricting-law-upheld Angie Keilen Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/lt_gov_brian_calley_details_pl.html#incart_river_default Angie Keilen Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120316/POLITICS02/203160356/1022/politics/Michigan-Senate-plans-slimmer-budget Angie Keilen Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303717304577279863334347238.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Angie Keilen Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20120315/FREE/120319933# Angie Keilen Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT  LANSING – State Rep.  Lisa Posthumus Lyons,  R-Alto, has been tapped to head the state House Education Committee, stepping in as parent choice issues continue to attract controversy and attention. Lyons replaces state Rep. Thomas McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, who has been serving as interim chairman after state Rep. Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, was recalled in November. McMillin, who also heads the Oversight, Ethics and Reform Committee, ushered through bills to lift the cap on charter schools and most recently to raise the cap on virtual charter schools and expanding dual education opportunities. The charter cap cleared the House in December and was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder. But the virtual charter bill, SB 619, is awaiting a House floor vote. http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/state_rep_lisa_posthumus_lyons.html Angie Keilen Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120302/POLITICS01/203020363/1022/politics/Michigan-GOP-gives-Romney-edge-delegates-won-16-14 Angie Keilen Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/michigan_senate_bills_would_ma.html Angie Keilen Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120224/AUTO01/202240337/Autorama-revs-Detroit-supplier-business?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20120224/NEWS15/202240350/Despite-Super-Bowl-ad-Pete-Hoekstra-hangs-onto-lead Angie Keilen Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120224/POLITICS01/202240385/Drama-building-Michigan-primary-nears?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/02/post_68.html Angie Keilen Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20120215/FREE/120219928 Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120215/POLITICS02/202150332/1022/politics/House-OK-s-plan-erase-36-judgeships-Michigan-including-9-Metro-Detroit Angie Keilen Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/us/surplus-surprises-michigan-but-is-it-safe-to-spend-again.html?hp Angie Keilen Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20120208/NEWS15/202080338/Michigan-primary-GOP-race-will-swarm-into-state-next-week Angie Keilen Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120207/POLITICS02/202070404/1022/politics/Michigan-lawmakers-continue-votes-trim-judges Angie Keilen Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   The race for the new 14th Congressional District seat that stretches from southwest Detroit through the Grosse Pointes and all the way to Pontiac is shaping up as the most competitive -- and expensive -- race in the state. Two sitting members of Congress -- U.S. Reps. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township and Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit -- are running for the seat. So are Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence and former state Rep. Mary Waters of Detroit. According to campaign <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20120202/NEWS06/202020540/4-way-battle-in-14th-Congressional-District-expected-to-be-expensive#" id="itxthook0" rel="nofollow" class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" style="float: none !important; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: normal; text-align: left; position: static !important; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; font-family: inherit; font-variant: normal; margin-top http://www.freep.com/article/20120202/NEWS06/202020540/4-way-battle-in-14th-Congressional-District-expected-to-be-expensive Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT  A legislative showdown between Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature and labor unions escalated Tuesday, as a House committee approved a bill that would require employees to annually renew their written consent allowing certain union dues to be deducted from their paychecks. The bill approved along party lines by the House Oversight, Reform and Ethics Committee is opposed by Democrats and unions who consider the legislation unnecessary and an attack on labor organizations. Unions say the measure, which advances to the House floor, could hurt their finances because it would make it more difficult for them to collect union dues. "It seems to me to be an attempt to impose a great deal of paperwork, time and effort on a union to counteract decisions that have been made by membership previously," said Tim Hughes, who testified on behalf of the United Auto Workers. Supporters of the bill say it wouldn't allow employees to avoid paying a "fair share" contribution or fee related to operating a union. But the measure would give workers more opportunity to control whether money is collected for political activities or other functions they may not support. <p style="line-height: 24px; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120201/NEWS04/202010310/Michigan-House-committee-OKs-union-dues-bill Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120123/POLITICS02/201230348/State-health-exchange-hits-snag?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   By  PATRICK O'CONNOR Mitt Romney's supporters recently flocked to a Republican Party meeting in Castle Rock, Colo., to drum up votes for the former Massachusetts governor. Not that the votes in the nonbinding Feb. 7 Colorado caucus will hold any bearing on who becomes the Republican presidential nominee. But around that time begins a three-week pause in the nominating contest—an unusually long lull in the voting—and Mr. Romney wants to head into that period with as much momentum as possible. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204624204577179411568578988.html?mod=googlenews_wsj&_nocache=1327525226877&user=welcome&mg=id-wsj Angie Keilen Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120124/BIZ/201240398/1361/Optimistic-business-leaders-announcing-10-year-growth-plan-for-Michigan Angie Keilen Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120123/POLITICS03/201230349/Michigan-s-role-rises-GOP-presidential-contest?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120119/POLITICS02/201190413/Snyder-calls-continued-reforms-focus-jobs?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120114/POLITICS02/201140357/1022/politics/Groups-clamor-share-Michigan-s-457M-budget-surplus Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120116/POLITICS02/201160332/1022/politics/Right-work-fight-may-hit-Mich- Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204555904577169530086482326.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20120118/NEWS15/120118054/State-Sen-Mike-Kowall-to-suspend-campaign-from-Congress Angie Keilen Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT  Majority Leader  Randy Richardville  of Monroe was among a number of state senators wearing new lapel pins for the first day of the 2012 legislative session Wednesday indicating their membership in the "Recall Club 2011". The smart blue and gold pins were a gift of  Sen. Roger Kahn  , chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, who said 14 senators, including himself, qualify for membership in the club, having been targeted for recall during last year's heated session. None of the recall efforts against state senators was successful. State  Rep. Paul Scott  , R-Grand Blanc, was recalled from his House seat in the November election. "I didn't like receiving it — I hope I don't get a new one (for 2012)," Richardville quipped about the pin on his lapel. Kahn said he handed the pins out Wednesday morning as an act of camaraderie with his fellow recall targets. <p http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120112/POLITICS02/201120373/1022/politics/Political-insider-Senators-show-membership-survivors-club Angie Keilen Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20120104/NEWS03/201040358/Former-Michigan-state-Sen-Mike-Bishop-to-run-for-Oakland-County-prosecutor Angie Keilen Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120105/BUSINESS01/201050326/GM-sales-increase-13-U-S-2011?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120105/POLITICS03/201050398/Michigan-GOP-watches-waits-its-turn?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111228/METRO/112280311/2011-year-review-Many-challenges-some-silver-linings?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20111228/NEWS05/111228002/Calley-signs-latest-Michigan-business-tax-bills-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation today removing the cap on the number of charter schools allowed to operate in Michigan, ending a debate that began soon after the independent, public schools were first authorized in 1994. The legislation lifts the cap on schools authorized by universities, the primary charter school authorizer in Michigan, from its current 150 to 300 in 2012 and 500 in 2014, after which it will be removed entirely.  Snyder said the changes will give students and parents “good choices,” and result in “a program of quality.” The legislation also provides new reporting and accountability standards for charters, which receive per pupil state aid but operate independently of traditional public schools.  Charter expansion, backed by advocates who pointed to high demand and waiting lists at existing schools, was bitterly opposed by most of the state public school groups, especially th http://www.freep.com/article/20111220/NEWS06/111220043/Michigan-Gov-Rick-Snyder-signs-law-lifting-charter-school-limits Angie Keilen Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   In an action with major implications for health reform in Michigan, the state House has voted to turn down -- at least for now -- nearly $10 million in federal  <span id="itxthook0w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" style="float: none; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: normal; text-align: left; position: static; display: inline; white-space: normal; font-family: inherit; font-variant: normal; font-size: inherit; text-transform: none !important; margin-top: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0p http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011112160398 Angie Keilen Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   LANSING, MICH. State workers hired after Jan. 1 no longer will be eligible to receive state health care coverage when they retire and long-term employees covered by the state's defined benefit pension will have to contribute 4 percent of their pay to keep that benefit under bills signed Thursday by Gov. Rick Snyder. The changes are expected to save the state $5.6 billion in future decades by cutting its long-term unfunded liability for retiree health care and pension costs by a third, from $14.5 billion to $8.9 billion. The bills also refund a 3 percent contribution state workers have been paying for nearly a year toward retiree health care costs. Lower courts already had ruled the fee unconstitutional and the Michigan Supreme Court this week let stand the lower court ruling. A similar 3 percent contribution being paid by teachers toward their retiree health care costs is not affected by the http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9RL8M9G0.htm Angie Keilen Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/12/dave_camp_bill_would_reduce_fe.html Angie Keilen Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2011/12/detroit_three_all_gain_market.html Angie Keilen Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Lansing — Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature approved a bill Thursday aimed at blocking the offering of taxpayer-paid health insurance to domestic partners living with some public employees, but there's some dispute over whether the measure might cover universities. The main bill in the package passed by 63-45 vote in the House. It's headed to Gov. Rick Snyder for consideration because it passed the Senate earlier in the week. The legislation would prohibit some public employers from extending health benefits to unmarried partners of employees, whether they are of the same sex or opposite sex. It would apply to public schools, local governments and some state employees. Senate Republicans say it wouldn't apply to public universities, which have constitutional authority to make many of their policies in Michigan. But some House Republicans counter t http://www.detnews.com/article/20111208/POLITICS02/112080490/1024/POLITICS03/Michigan-Legislature-OKs-domestic-partner-benefit-ban Angie Keilen Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Gov. Rick Snyder is continuing to look at changes to the state's personal property tax next year and sees eliminating the industrial property portion of the tax as his highest priority within that area of reform. As part of a wide-ranging interview with  Crain's  today, Snyder said he is sensitive to the impact that changes to the tax would have on municipalities and wants further discussion with them before eliminating the tax. And even then, it won't happen overnight. "This is a solution that's a five- to 10-year solution," Snyder said. The administration continues to look at how the state's expiring business tax credits might free up revenue that could be directed to local governments. The so-called "certificated" credits that were previously awarded — such as those for general Michigan Economic Growth Authority  projects and for advanced battery manufacturing projects — are being honored by the state in Michigan's new business tax system. But they have a limited life. So as they phase out, the money that the state no longer would be paying on the credits might have potential as a funding source for local governments that would be losin http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20111212/FREE/111219986 Angie Keilen Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Karen Bouffard/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing — Gov. Rick Snyder sells himself as "one tough nerd" — but he admitted as he signed anti-bullying legislation Tuesday that his nerdiness made him a target for bullies in school. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; bo http://www.detnews.com/article/20111207/METRO/112070350/Snyder-signs-anti-bullying-law--‘I-was-a-victim. Angie Keilen Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Less than a month after the rare recall of a state lawmaker, Republican leaders in the Michigan Senate proposed a constitutional amendment on Thursday to limit the reasons for which an elected public official can be recalled. Michigan law now allows a recall to be attempted for just about any reason, including an elected official's policies and votes. The proposed amendment would limit a recall to reasons such as certain criminal convictions, official misconduct or misuse of public resources. An elected official could not be recalled for the "discretionary performance of a lawful act or of a prescribed duty." The proposal comes less than a month after voters in Genesee County narrowly recalled state Republican state Rep. Paul Scott from office for his education policy and budget votes. Scott, who was chairman of the House Education Committee, was the first Michigan state lawmaker recalled since 1983. It's http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20111202/NEWS04/112020322/Proposal-would-alter-recall-criteria-Michigan Angie Keilen Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Karen Bouffard/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing — The House Education Committee on Wednesday advanced the first in a package of bills aimed at lifting the lid on charter schools in the state, over objections from Democrats and the state's largest teachers union. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; bor http://www.detnews.com/article/20111201/SCHOOLS/112010384/1024/POLITICS03/House-bill-lifting-charter-school-limit-advances Angie Keilen Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-29/emergency-manager-appointed-to-take-control-of-finances-in-flint-michigan.html Angie Keilen Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-29/emergency-manager-appointed-to-take-control-of-finances-in-flint-michigan.html Angie Keilen Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20111129/POLITICS02/111290409/1024/POLITICS03/Legislature-sends-anti-bullying-bill-to-Snyder Angie Keilen Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20111129/POLITICS02/111290409/1024/POLITICS03/Legislature-sends-anti-bullying-bill-to-Snyder Angie Keilen Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/29/us-flint-michigan-emergency-idUSTRE7AS2MY20111129 Angie Keilen Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Forbes.com has  listed the best places to get a tech job  and Detroit falls to 40 on the list, which is led by these five techy hotspots: Seattle Baltimore Columbus, Ohio Raleigh, N.C. <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin http://www.mlive.com/jobs/index.ssf/2011/11/forbes_lists_detroit_as_40th_on_the_list.html Angie Keilen Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Associated Press Lansing — A Michigan election board is scheduled to certify election results that will formally remove from office a Republican legislator who was recalled in a union-backed campaign. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: in http://detroitnews.com/article/20111118/POLITICS02/111180395/1024/POLITICS03/Election-board-expected-to-certify-Scott-recall Angie Keilen Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Karen Bouffard/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing — The state House on Thursday passed anti-bullying legislation after hearing emotional testimony from some lawmakers, who recounted stories of teens who have been victimized. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: http://detroitnews.com/article/20111111/POLITICS02/111110395/1024/POLITICS03/State-House-passes-anti-bullying-bill-without-controversial-language Angie Keilen Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   (WXYZ) - Both the Michigan State House and the State Senate have passed a bill that would legalize the sale of consumer fireworks in Michigan. Under house Bill 4293/Senate Bill 0193, consumer grade fireworks would be legalized. These types of fireworks have been illegal in Michigan for years. However, they are legal in Indiana and Ohio and many people bring them back to Michigan. The Bill is known as the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act. It requires anyone selling consumer fireworks to get a consumer fireworks certificate from the Bureau of Fires Services on a yearly basis. Anyone convicted of selling fireworks without a proper license would face two years in prison or a maxim fine of $5,000 for each day they were in violation of the law. It also imposes a fireworks safety fee on any retail transactions involving the sale of consumer fireworks and low-impact fireworks. <p style="margin-top: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/michigan-legislature-approves-sale-of-commerical-fireworks Angie Keilen Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   For the past year, MLive.com and Booth Michigan newspapers have been mining 2010 Census data to develop a better understanding of who we are and how we're changing. Here's another look at our coverage this past year: February:   Michigan's census numbers appear ugly, but look again:  The state lost 54,000 people, but experts predict modest gains in West Michigan, counties around Traverse City and in some Southeast Michigan counties. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding- http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/from_population_loss_in_detroi.html Angie Keilen Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Marisa Schultz/ The Detroit News The eight leading GOP presidential hopefuls will all be in Metro Detroit next week for the next GOP presidential debate, organizers announced Wednesday. The candidates are Michigan native and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and http://www.detnews.com/article/20111102/POLITICS03/111020445/1022/Michigan-GOP-head--Presidential-debate-will-focus-on-jobs Angie Keilen Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   LANSING — The latest attempt by Michigan lawmakers to repeal the state's law requiring use of helmets by motorcycle riders has passed the state House. The measure approved by a 69-39 vote today returns to the Senate. If the Senate approves the House-backed changes, the legislation would be sent to Gov. Rick Snyder. It's unclear what Snyder will do if the bill reaches his desk.   The bill would allow riders 21 or older to go without helmets if they meet certain insurance and experience conditions. <p style="line-height: 24px; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-b http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20111102/NEWS01/311020014/Motorcycle-helmet-repeal-approved-Michigan-House- Angie Keilen Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20111026/FREE/111029933# Angie Keilen Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/10/after_poor_debates_rick_perry.html Angie Keilen Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/10/27/The-10-States-that-Can-Elect-the-Next-President.aspx#page2 Angie Keilen Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Leonard N. Fleming and David Shepardson/ The Detroit News Dearborn  — An infusion of millions of federal dollars announced Monday by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is expected to help Detroit solve a months-long busing crisis that has left riders stranded curbside for hours. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; b Angie Keilen Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT   20,000 names could be removed, they say Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, with the help of U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, hopes to cut down on potential voter fraud by removing about 20,000 names from Michigan voter rolls. An election reform package proposed by Johnson this week features another attempt to delete the “dead wood” from the voter registration rolls — names that could be used fraudulently at the polls to cast illegal ballots. “Some of the people on what is called our Qualified Voter File aren’t ‘qualified’ at all — http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2011/10/14/news/doc4e982712c8b46331819720.txt?viewmode=default Angie Keilen Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2011/10/times_higher_education_ranks_m.html Angie Keilen Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Paul Egan/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Michigan's governor would gain greater control of the state bureaucracy by appointing more overseers under a proposal discussed Wednesday by a Senate panel. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: mediu http://www.detnews.com/article/20111013/POLITICS02/110130370/1022/Michigan-Senate-bill-would-let-governor-appoint-more Angie Keilen Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Kim Kozlowski/ The Detroit News They're occupying Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lansing and places in between. The grassroots movement started on Wall Street that has spread across the nation is cropping up in scores of cities across Michigan. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border http://detnews.com/article/20111013/METRO/110130400/‘Occupy’-movement-takes-hold-across-Michigan#ixzz1af20Qugk Angie Keilen Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT  East Lansing City Manager Ted Staton will end his 16-year-run as the city's top administrative official Friday, Oct. 7. Staton is leaving his position for a similar job in Upper Arlington, Ohio.  Staton told WKAR's Scott Pohl  that he had three goals to accomplish from the time he announced his resignation until his last official day on the job: help the East Lansing City Council secure a search firm to hire his replacement; update the city's multi-year financial plan; and move the City Center II development plans closer to completion. <br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border- http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2011/10/exit_interview_east_lansing_ci.html Angie Keilen Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Some Michigan lawmakers will lose their lifetime healthcare benefits under legislation passed Wednesday by the state Senate.  MIRS reported that under the legislation passed today , lawmakers who aren't fully vested by January 1, 2013 would not be eligible for lifetime health benefits. The bill passed 37-1, with Sen. Coleman Young (D-Detroit) the lone no vote. http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2011/10/lifetime_lawmaker_benefits_ban.html Angie Keilen Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT  OF ALL the primaries and caucuses the Republican party will hold next year to choose its candidate for president, explains Rick Scott, the governor of Florida, “none will have a greater impact on the selection of the nominee than our own.” That, at least, was the intention behind Florida’s decision to hold its primary on January 31st, over a month before the earliest date allowed under party rules. It has triggered similar moves in other states, undermining efforts by both parties to get the primaries off to a later start than last time, when Iowa held its caucuses on January 3rd. The emerging schedule favours better known candidates and diminishes the chances of plucky insurgents and late entrants (both Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, and Sarah Palin, a tea-party standard-bearer, announced this week that they would not be running). For decades states have been moving their primaries earlier and earlier in election year in an effort to have more impact on the race. This trend has become so commonplace, it even has a name: frontloading. Whereas nominations used to remain up for grabs until June, they are sometimes now all but settled in February. This has led to complaints not only that the earliest races are beginning to impinge on the holiday season, but also that the calendar is becoming so compressed that the candidates are not getting a proper airing, leading to less seasoned nominees. Both parties seem to agree that frontloading has got out of hand, which is why they both adopted similar http://www.economist.com/node/21531487 Angie Keilen Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT  WASHINGTON D.C. – Michigan is leading the nation in terms of growth in technology jobs, defying a national trend that saw tech jobs decline as a whole last year, according to a new report.   In its 14th annual Cyberstates survey of technology-related employment, the Washington D.C. non-profit TechAmerica Foundation said Michigan gained more tech jobs between 2009 and 2010 than any other state. In fact, Michigan was one of only seven states plus the District of Columbia that added jobs last year, according to the survey, which uses U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Washington D.C (up 1,400), West Virginia (up 400), Utah (up 400) and South Carolina (up 300) were the only other gainers. Michigan ranked 15th overall in terms of technology-related employment in the survey. No doubt the rebound of the automotive industry played a major role in the relative boom in tech jobs. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bot http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/michigan_was_top_state_in_tech.html Angie Keilen Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2011/10/05/news/politics/srv0000014344535.txt Angie Keilen Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Legislators this week were to start looking at the formation of an online portal where residents and small businesses can shop for health coverage and compare plans — an idea required under federal health reform that has support in Lansing even as the law undergoes court challenges. Gov. Rick Snyder wants the state to create its own health exchange that would meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act, rather than opt to let the federal government do it for Michigan and impose a “one size fits all” approach. The law requires states to create a health exchange by 2014. Snyder, in his recent health care message to the state, said he strongly supports the idea, regardless of the mandate in the federal law. He urged lawmakers to enact legislation by Thanksgiving to create a “customer-oriented” health exchange that “makes a better market for us in a way that people can understand their hea http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2011/10/post_69.html Angie Keilen Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9Q27PC00.htm Angie Keilen Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   LANSING - Michigan lawmakers gave final legislative approval Wednesday to the key bill in their latest attempt to enact a state-level ban on a procedure opponents call "partial birth" abortion. The bill that would put a ban in  <span id="itxthook http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110929/NEWS04/109290310/Lawmakers-OK-ban-abortion-procedure?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p Angie Keilen Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Associated Press Lansing — A Republican-led state Senate committee has approved a bill that likely would lead to more charter schools in Michigan. The bill approved Wednesday by a party-line vote next goes to the Senate floor. It's one of many bills backed by Republicans aimed at increasing choices for students attending public schools. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; bo http://detnews.com/article/20110928/SCHOOLS/109280432/Michigan-bill-allowing-more-charter-schools-advances#ixzz1ZLJEjPHU Angie Keilen Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2011/09/snyder_signs_law_requiring_pub.html Angie Keilen Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://detnews.com/article/20110928/SCHOOLS/109280369/Bing-reignites-philanthropist’s-interest-in-schools#ixzz1ZFPwCStQ Angie Keilen Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110915/BIZ/109150353/1001/Michigan-jobless-rate-hits-11.2---up-for-a-4th-month Angie Keilen Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110915/POLITICS02/109150385/1022/Rematch-set-for-Michigan’s-1st-Congressional-District-seat Angie Keilen Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110915/POLITICS02/109150407/1022/Snyder-takes-on-health-issue Angie Keilen Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Francis X. Donnelly/ The Detroit News If America once was a slumbering giant, untroubled by calamity that seemed to occur only on the other side of the world, everything changed on a morning of cascading steel and towering dust. We are asleep no more. The Sept. 11 terrorist attack, whose 10th anniversary is Sunday, changed how Americans think, what they do, how they see the world, how they see themselves. It spurred changes big and small, public and private, economic and ps http://detnews.com/article/20110909/NATION/109090329/How-9/11-changed-America Angie Keilen Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Paul Egan/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Michigan's Supreme Court is to hear arguments today on whether Gov. Rick Snyder's new tax on public and private pension income violates the state constitution. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: me http://www.detnews.com/article/20110907/POLITICS02/109070369/1022/Michigan’s-Supreme-Court-to-hear-pension-tax-arguments Angie Keilen Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Michigan has fewer local government employees per capita than 42 other states, providing 12.2 Full Time Equated (FTE) employees per 1000 residents. The national average is 16.4. Local governments include cities, townships, counties and villages. Michigan taxpayers also have a smaller burden to bear when it comes to paying those employees, doling out an average of $617 toward the salaries of local government employees. That's good enough for 37th in the nation, and well below the national average of $887.<br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-b http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2011/09/michigan_8th_in_nation_fewest.html Angie Keilen Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has signed into law today a four-year cap on welfare cash assistance, his office said. State Rep. Kenneth B. Horn, R-Frankenmuth,  introduced the legislation . The law takes effect Oct. 1. The measure has evoked an <a href="http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/07/opponents_cutting_welfare_afte.html" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; p http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/09/gov_rick_snyder_signs_four-yea.html Angie Keilen Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/08/candice_miller_backs_pete_hoek.html Angie Keilen Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Karen Bouffard/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Rep. Tim Melton of Auburn Hills will resign to take a job with an education reform group, he said Tuesday. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right Angie Keilen Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110825/POLITICS02/108250420/Michigan-Legislature-approves-4-year-cap-on-welfare Angie Keilen Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110825/POLITICS02/108250385/1022/local/Health-care-cap-for-public-employers-sent-to-Snyder Angie Keilen Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110825/POLITICS02/108250418/1022/local/Michigan-appeals-court-bars-sales-of-medical-marijuana-patient-to-patient Angie Keilen Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Associated Press Brooklyn, Mich. — Gov. Rick Snyder said Sunday that he is confident a public bridge authority will be in place by October to oversee the building of a proposed second span between Detroit and Windsor. Snyder spoke at a news conference before the running of the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. He was asked about the status of a new bridge, estimated to cost about $1 billion. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding http://www.detnews.com/article/20110822/METRO01/108220327/1408/local/Snyder-wants-bridge-panel-by-October Angie Keilen Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Deb Price/ Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington — Detroit charter schools leader Clark Durant jumped Thursday into the race to unseat Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in 2012. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border http://www.detnews.com/article/20110818/POLITICS02/108180478/1361/Charter-school-executive-Durant-enters-Michigan-Senate-race Angie Keilen Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT Paul Egan/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Gov. Rick Snyder wants the Michigan Supreme Court to give a speedy ruling on whether the state's toughened emergency manager law is constitutional. "Time is of the essence to ensure the continued financial stability of communities in financial emergency," Snyder spokeswoman Geralyn Lasher said Thursday. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-l http://www.detnews.com/article/20110819/POLITICS02/108190378/1022/Snyder-wants-quick-state-Supreme-Court-ruling-on-emergency-manager-law Angie Keilen Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Deb Price/ Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington  — Former Democratic Rep. Mark Schauer announced Wednesday he won't seek a rematch against Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; borde http://www.detnews.com/article/20110728/POLITICS02/107280399/1022/Former-U.S.-Rep.-Schauer-won’t-seek-rematch-vs.-Walberg Angie Keilen Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT  The stalemate on Capitol Hill over whether to increase the $14.2 trillion U.S. debt limit isn’t affecting the debate over how to overhaul the tax code, said Representative  Dave Camp , a Michigan Republican. “Despite the debate over the debt limit, I am encouraged about the bipartisanship and progress that has been made in the area of  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-27/overhaul-of-tax-code-shouldn-t-result-in-tax-increase-camp-says.html Angie Keilen Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-27/states-count-cash-while-hoping-congress-reaches-deal-to-raise-debt-limit.html Angie Keilen Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Michigan House Speaker Jase Bolger ordered staff and budget cuts in the state House of Representatives on Thursday, saying they were "unfortunate (but) necessary" because of overall budget tightening. The Marshall Republican ordered cuts of 13.9% for member offices, a 7.5% cut in the budget for central Republican and Democratic staff and 5% for the nonpartisan employees of the House clerk and http://www.freep.com/article/20110722/NEWS06/107220343/Michigan-House-speaker-orders-staff-budget-cuts Angie Keilen Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- County Sheriff Robert Pickell says he's considering entering the fray to  replace U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee , the Flint Democrat who's announced his plans to retire last week. Pickell, sheriff since 1998, said today that he's been approached by supporters willing to help him raise money for a run and people with strong union credentials who have urged him to get into the race. "I've been approached and I'm going to give it a lot of thought over the next couple of weeks," Pickell said. "I think I would bring something unique to the table.<br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/07/genesee_county_sheriff_robert_18.html Angie Keilen Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Down and up: How state revenue from business taxes will fall and income tax revenue will rise under this year's tax changes. $2 billion:  Estimated business tax revenue this year $1 billion:  Estimated business tax revenue next year $343 million:  Estimated business tax revenue the year after that, as tax changes fully kick in <p style=&quot http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/07/state_of_change_how_business_t.html Angie Keilen Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Melissa Burden/ The Detroit News Michigan's unemployment rate climbed for the second straight month to 10.5 percent in June, but economists see the increase as something temporarily tied to Japan's March earthquake and not a cause for concern for the state's economic recovery. June's seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point from May and is above the state's low this year of 10.2 percent in April, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Bud http://www.detnews.com/article/20110721/BIZ/107210405/1001/biz Angie Keilen Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT     Hoekstra, Stabenow set up a tough fight Both Senate rivals strong in key factors drawing voters Deb Price and Nathan Hurst/ Detroit News Washington Bureau http://www.detnews.com/article/20110721/POLITICS02/107210367/1022/local/Hoekstra--Stabenow-set-up-a-tough-fight Angie Keilen Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   LANSING  — Whether Michigan school districts will see more funding next year will depend on the state’s economy, but lawmakers are working on pension reforms to free up money for Michigan K-12 classrooms, state House Speaker Jase Bolger , R-Marshall, said Wednesday. “I don’t want (school districts) to count on more money next year. ... But our hope is that when the economy improves, those budgets will improve,” Bolger said.<br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: init http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/07/michigan_house_speaker_jase_bo_3.html Angie Keilen Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   More than 12,600 welfare recipients and their children will lose monthly checks averaging $511 effective Oct. 1. The Senate passed a House bill today that imposes a strict 48-month time limit on benefits There is no grandfather clause in the measure, approved 24-12, which tightens the original 2006 benefits cap that allowed for benefit extensions if the recipient was in job training or unable to work. That means most recipients who are or will be past 48 months on Oct. 1 will be cut off. Gov. Rick Snyder supports the bill that would save some $77 million. Recipients could no longer apply to the Department of Human Services for an extension beyond the 48 months. Nor could DHS make allowances for those it determines should be exempt from work requirements.  <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.55em; &qu http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/07/michigan_senate_approves_tight.html Angie Keilen Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   East Grand Rapids — Former first lady Betty Ford was remembered today for not only bravely confronting her demons but helping others to do the same. Public officials and historians recounted how the plain-spoken wife of former President Gerald Ford didn't flinch from the public spotlight when she overcame bouts with cancer and alcoholism, and supported political causes. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; borde http://www.detnews.com/article/20110714/METRO/107140462/Betty-Ford-stood-for-‘good-and-hopeful-things-’-mourners-told Angie Keilen Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT  July 12, 2011, 6:12 p.m. EDT Associated Press LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation Tuesday to allow more flexibility and smaller credits within Michigan's downsizing movie and film incentive program. The new law gives the Michigan Film Office the ability to negotiate the size of the credits it offers to movie, television and video game producers. The incentives offered can be lower than the 42 percent subsidy now provided automatically when a project is approved for credits. Supporters of the change say the current system may result in more costs to taxpayers than necessary for some projects. More flexibility also might allow the state to target projects that will result in jobs for http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/gov-snyder-signs-michigan-film-incentive-measure/95028dfd049343c187ab569d49e5026c Angie Keilen Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   WASHINGTON -- Ford is the first automaker to support a bill that would ban motorists nationwide from using handheld cell phones while driving. U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., proposed legislation last month directing the federal government to compel all states to prohibit such use, except in certain emergencies. Pete Lawson, Ford's vice president of government affairs, said Monday that the legislation "represents a practical, commonsense approach to a national problem" and that the company believed "drawing drivers' eyes away from the road -- whether (by) text messaging, manually dialing a cell phone or reading maps -- substantially increases the risk of an accident or near misses." Verizon Wireless endorsed the legislation last week, saying, "while mobile devices bring great benefits to Americans' lives, they must be used responsibly while driving." <p style="li http://www.freep.com/article/20110712/BUSINESS0102/107120345/Ford-backs-proposed-nationwide-ban-handheld-phone-use-while-driving?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Auto%20news Angie Keilen Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT  U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter could  benefit significantly  from Michigan's newly-defined Congressional districts, but the Livonia Republican has his eyes set on a higher office, and his seat could be available for the taking.   Enter Republican state Sen. Mike Kowall of White Lake Township, who tells The Oakland Press  he is forming a committee and plans to run for Congress in the  redrawn 11th District , which under the plan awaiting Gov. Rick Snyder's signature, will include the entirety of his current state http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/07/republican_mike_kowall_to_run.html Angie Keilen Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT  The bittersweet return of Betty Ford, the hometown Grand Rapids girl who changed how the nation looked at addiction and women in the White House, will be an homage this week to the forthright manner of the former first lady.   "She was a genuine person. That was the one thing that struck everyone who knew Betty Ford," said former Gov. John Engler. "There was never any artifice or pretense from her." That character was celebrated Saturday by politicians, celebrities and the little-known people touched by her life. Ford died Friday at 93. By 11 p.m., fans were lined up outside the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids to write their thoughts about Ford in a con http://www.freep.com/article/20110710/NEWS06/107100557/Homecoming-prepared-forthright-former-first-lady-Betty-Ford Angie Keilen Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Lt. Governor Brian Calley called the Detroit-Windsor border crossing the “worst bottleneck in the entire Pan American freeway system” Thursday afternoon during a presentation to the Detroit City Council about the planned New International Trade Crossing (NITC) bridge. “You could go from Montreal to Mexico City without hitting a stop light,” said Calley. “But you can’t go from I-75 to the 401 in Canada without hitting 18 or 19 stoplights. This is the worst bottleneck in the entire system. A freeway-to-freeway connection is absolutely essential for efficient trade.” Governor Rick Snyder briefly joined the meeting by phone, telling Council that the NITC project is an opportunity for the state to build a partnership with city government.<br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding- http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/07/lt_governor_brian_calley_state.html Angie Keilen Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Gov. Rick Snyder released a statement tonight in response to today's mass murder, manhunt, police chase and hostage situation in Grand Rapids: “My sincere condolences and deepest sympathies go out to the families who lost loved ones today in a senseless, tragic wave of violence. I commend the brave men and women serving as law enforcement officers, first responders and emergency personnel who have worked tirelessly to protect citizens and bring an end to this tragedy. The entire state of Michigan stands with the City of Grand Rapids and remains committed to helping the victims, families and community through this difficult time.” http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/gov_rick_snyder_michigan_stand.html Angie Keilen Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Lansing — Michigan Republicans are just five-and-a-half weeks away from deciding whether to hold a presidential primary, caucus or convention next year, but a consensus hasn't emerged. Dennis Moore, director of the Willow Run Tea Party Caucus in Ypsilanti, would like to see pizza magnate Herman Cain or Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, both tea party favorites, win the nomination. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: n http://detroitnews.com/article/20110707/POLITICS02/107070373/1024/POLITICS03/Mich.-GOP-considers-’12-primary Angie Keilen Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://detroitnews.com/article/20110621/SPECIAL01/110621001/ Angie Keilen Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Measure ranks effectiveness over seniority in evaluations Karen Bouffard/ The Detroit News Lansing — The Legislature ended its first 180 days in session late Thursday, altering teach http://detroitnews.com/article/20110701/SCHOOLS/107010394/Michigan-Senate-tightens-teacher-tenure Angie Keilen Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT  LANSING - Satisfied with what he's accomplished in his first six months in office, Gov. Rick Snyder showed no signs of letting up Thursday as he met with senior advisers to plan initiatives for the rest of the year. The former businessman has signed 71 bills and said some of his decisions have been tough to make. He understands some have had to sacrifice to get Michigan back on track but he has no regrets about turning what he calls a "broken" system upside down. "I feel I was the right person to come do this job at this time," he told The Associated Press on Thursday. "That's why I ran. Basically, we needed a nonpolitician to come in and say, 'Let's just step up and do the right thing and reinvent our state.' And I believe I had the best skill set to do that and so I find a lot of positive satisfaction from doing that." Even before he took office Jan. 1, Snyder was talking about working in "dog years" - the idea that one year in a dog's life is equal to seven in a human's - to get as much done in his first six months as most governors would get done in 3-1/2 years. <p style="line-height: 24px; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-ri http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110701/NEWS04/107010323/Michigan-governor-satisfied-accomplishments-far Angie Keilen Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Measure gives primacy to a government's ability to pay as mediators resolve disputes Karen Bouffard/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing — A local government's ability to pay would be the top factor for an arbitrator to consider when settling labor disputes involving police and fire departments under terms of legislation approved Wednesday by the state Legislature. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; http://www.detnews.com/article/20110630/POLITICS02/106300371/1022/local/Legislature-passes-police--fire-union-arbitration-bill Angie Keilen Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Finney argues rebounding state can lure firms with lower taxes rather than incentives Jaclyn Trop and Brian J. O'Connor/ The Detroit News After Gov. Rick Snyder eliminated some of the tax breaks used to lure out-of-state businesses to Michigan, developers and municipalities worried that the state had unilaterally disarmed them in the midst of the war to boost jobs and tax base. But the state's economic development chief, in an exclusive interview with The Detroit News, says Michigan will attract businesses and help existing ones by emphasizing the state's <a id="itxthook0" rel="nofollow" class http://www.detnews.com/article/20110628/BIZ/106280363/1001/biz Angie Keilen Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Congressional lines sent to Senate; panel approves maps for state Legislature Karen Bouffard/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing — Michigan's new political maps are on a fast track for passage after the House Wednesday passed new congressional districts and a Senate committee signed off on new state House and Senate districts. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-st http://www.detnews.com/article/20110623/POLITICS02/106230409/1022/State-House-OKs-redistricting-plan Angie Keilen Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT  The 2012  budget that Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law this week replaces $300 million in discretionary revenue sharing with a $200 million pool of cash to be awarded to municipalities that adopt what the governor calls “best practices.” One of those practices is defined as consolidating or sharing local government services, such as through a regional authority. The Michigan Senate today approved a bill that makes it easier to do just that. The bill allows, but doesn’t require that the agreement to share or consolidate services, typically police and fire, be collectively bargained. And it leaves in place the collective bargaining rights of local unions after a service sharing contract has been approved. But it removes from collective bargaining the decision of a municipality to pursue service sharing and with whom. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-righ http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/michigan_senate_approves_bill.html Angie Keilen Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Gov. Rick Snyder has signed Michigan’s fiscal 2012 budget into law, calling it “a major milestone in the reinvention of Michigan.”   Flanked by House and Senate Republicans and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Snyder signed two bills, House Bills 4526 and 4325, that set state spending for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. Administration officials have called Michigan’s budget solid, eliminating a $1.5 billion deficit and containing no one-time fixes,while putting money away. For example, the state is putting $280 million toward addressing the state’s long-term liabilities, $255 million in its budget-stabilization fund and $133 million in a new School Aid Fund reserve account for future retirement liabilities. However, the budget also makes significant departures from past spending practices, such as eliminating $300 million in statutory revenue sharing payments for cities, villages and townships and replacing it with a $200 million incentive-based revenue-sharing program available to local governments that meet state standards and adopt best practices. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110621/FREE/110629959# Angie Keilen Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Gov. Rick Snyder said he declined to join 29 other Republican governors in asking Congress to repeal last year’s federal health care overhaul and to provide more flexibility in providing Medicaid health care to the poor because, “I’m focused on Michigan.”   “My role is not to be a large advocate on the national scale. I was hired to be governor of Michigan,” Snyder told a news conference today. “We’re focused on Michigan issues. We’re doing a major message in September on health and wellness. The focus right now is education, government reform, all the other good activities we're working in partnership with the Legislature.” The letter to Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, presented on the Republican Governors Association website, called on Congress to revamp Medicaid to give states more leeway in crafting state-specific health plans for the poor and to give the poor more choices in the insurance they have. But t http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/06/gov_rick_snyder_declines_to_jo.html Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT   LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan lawmakers return to session this week to work on a variety of topics including redistricting plans for congressional and state legislative districts. Sessions of the House and Senate resume Tuesday. Lawmakers won’t be voting on redistricting plans this week. But some proposed maps for new districts could be drawn up and submitted for review at the end of the week. District boundaries will be redrawn based on counts from the 2010 U.S. Census that’s costing Michigan one U.S. House seat. Republicans control the Legislature and will largely decide the outcome.<br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; mar http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2011/06/14/news/politics/doc4df7220bb320d262949970.txt Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Supporters detail new public span to Canada for state lawmakers who remain unconvinced Paul Egan/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing — Proponents of a new public bridge to Canada received a c http://www.detnews.com/article/20110616/POLITICS02/106160389/1022/Michigan-Senate-leery-of-bridge-pitch Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Michigan’s unemployment rate rose slightly in May, to 10.3 percent from 10.2 percent in April, according to data released today by the  Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. The May seasonally adjusted jobless rate was down 2.5 percentage points from last year’s May rate of 12.8 percent. During the same period, the nation’s unemployment rate dropped 0.5 percentage points. Michigan’s jobless rate remains above the nation’s. The state’s May rate was 1.2 percentage points higher than the U.S. jobless rate of 9.1 percent for the same month. In a news release, Rick Waclawek, director of the department’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, said that while Michigan’s labor market picture “improved significantly” through last year and into early 2011, the unemployment rate has been essentially flat since February, and payroll jobs have slightly declined. Amy Lane: (517) 371-5355, alane@crain.com. Twitter: @alanecdb http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110615/FREE/110619928# Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Paul Egan/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — It won't happen overnight, but Michigan is on a path to having its AAA credit rating restored, Budget Director John Nixon said today. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: m http://www.detnews.com/article/20110614/POLITICS02/106140419/1361/Budget-chief-Nixon-optimistic-about-Michigan-s-credit-rating Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Ron French/ The Detroit News Lansing — The teacher tenure system would be overhauled and public schools would be able to fire ineffective teachers more easily under a package of bills passed by the Michigan House of Representatives today. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; b http://detroitnews.com/article/20110609/SCHOOLS/106090459/1024/POLITICS03/House-passes-teacher-tenure-overhaul-bills Angie Keilen Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Angry voters gathering signatures to get petitions on the ballot in November Karen Bouffard/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau <i style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: n http://detroitnews.com/article/20110609/METRO/106090385/1024/POLITICS03/Gov.-Snyder--15-GOP-legislators-target-of-recall-efforts Angie Keilen Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Legislation that would green-light Michigan’s participation in a project to build a second Detroit River bridge was introduced into the state Senate today.   Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, is sponsoring two bills — SBs 410-411 — that would establish the regulatory infrastructure needed to oversee, build and operate the  New International Trade Crossing . No timetable has been set for debate of the bill. Most key state elected leaders are at the  Mackinac Policy Conference  this week, where the bridge is a key discussion point. The legislation, circulated this spring in draft form, sets up a state bridge authority to oversee Michigan’s portion of the project. It’s written to prevent the state from taking on any debt related to the project. Because the state cannot afford to pay its share of the $2.1 billion project, Canada has offered to pay Michigan’s share, and the private sector would finance construction of the span itself. Tolls would repay Canada and the private-sector concessionaire. The proposed project comprises a publicly owned, privately built and operated bridge with publicly funded highway interchanges on both sides of the bridge and a U.S. inspection plaza. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110601/FREE/110609982/bill-to-build-new-detroit-river-bridge-introduced-in-state-senate# Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT  MACKINAC ISLAND — With authorizing bills introduced today in the Legislature, Gov. Rick Snyder said he is pushing for fast action on the  New International Trade Crossing  to Canada.   The $2.1 billion bridge across the Detroit River, which would compete with the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, is "about Michigan's future," Snyder said at a news conference on the porch of the  Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, site of the  Detroit Regional Chamber 's  Mackinac Policy Conference . He said he hopes to see the legislation "get done in the next month." Snyder was among many wearing pro-bridge buttons that had been passed out at the ferry dock in Mackinaw City. Bills authorizing the much-debated publicly owned, privately built and operated bridge were introduced by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe. Senate Bills 410 and 411, among other things, provide for an authority that would enter into a governance agreement for the project; the bridge would be built by a private contractor. The project includes publicly funded highway interchanges on both sides of the bridge and a& http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110601/FREE/110609976/snyder-8216-im-not-anti-ambassador-bridge-im-pro-international Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The fast legislative pace  that produced a tax code overhaul and a 2012 budget by Memorial Day may be slowing down. Because the term “bipartisan workgroup” does not connote speed, lawmakers apparently will be taking their time constructing a legislative framework for Gov. Rick Snyder’s education overhaul he outlined in April. Any notion that it could be done by July Fourth was tempered today by House Speaker Jase Bolger’s announcement that a special committee of nine Republicans and four Democrats would take on a lengthy list of education topics.  Recommendations by the panel aren’t expected until the fall. Those topics include: improving student performance, helping schools collaborate, reviewing how other states fund their schools and examining how school pe http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/05/bipartisan_michigan_house_pane.html Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT   The shrinking City of Detroit could retain crucial taxing authority under two bills approved in the state House on Wednesday. The legislation authorizing Detroit to continue special taxes on income and utility users was jeopardized by the city's population decline in the 2010 census. It was narrowly approved in the House, but is expected to get prompt attention in the state Senate and has at least tacit support from Gov. Rick Snyder. The bills allow the city to levy income taxes of 2.5% for residents and 1.25% for nonresidents (compared with 1% and 0.5% in most other cities), and continue to collect a 5% tax on phone, electric and gas bills. Reps. Harvey Santana and David Nathan, Detroit Democrats who sponsored the bills, said the tax revenues are crucial to maintaining public services and fiscal stability. <p style="line-height: 24px; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-b http://www.freep.com/article/20110602/NEWS06/106020454/House-OKs-special-taxes-Detroit?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Paul Egan/ Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Gov. Rick Snyder today signed a package of tax bills that he said are "a critical pillar" in his promised reinvention of Michigan and the most sweeping tax reform since Proposal A in 1994. The package included legislation that kills the Michigan  http://www.detnews.com/article/20110525/BIZ/105250439/1001/biz Angie Keilen Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Before taking office Jan. 1, Gov. Rick Snyder pledged to accomplish monumental changes in his first 182 days. As that self-imposed July 1 deadline approaches, The News takes a look at the areas the governor targeted. Encourage consolidation Local governments can qualify for a greater share of state money by merging services in several ways. They can merge services internally, such as by combining police and fire services to form a public safety department. Or, they can share services with other local governments. And, under new legislation Snyder has proposed, it will be easier for cities and counties to merge into a metropolitan authority. <h5 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0 http://www.detnews.com/article/20110526/POLITICS02/105260375/1022/How-Snyder-has-fared-in-his-first-five-months Angie Keilen Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Michigan’s unemployment rate edged downward slightly in April to 10.2 percent from 10.3 percent in March, according to data released today by the  Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.   The April seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 2.9 percentage points below last year’s April rate of 13.1 percent. During the same period, the nation’s unemployment rate dropped 0.8 percentage points. “Michigan’s labor market indicators were stable from March to April,” Rick Waclawek, director of the department’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, said in a news release. Payroll jobs posted a minor decline in April from March. Construction employment led the overall reduction, followed by smaller declines in professional and business services and the trade, transportation and utilities sectors. However, compared with a year ago, payroll jobs in the state are up 1.5 percent, with the largest gains in professional and business services, manufacturing, and education and health services.   http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110518/FREE/110519866/state-8217-s-jobless-rate-dips-to-10-2-percent-in-april Angie Keilen Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Nathan Hurst / / Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington — Fresh off sweeping November victories that landed the GOP a majority in the state Legislature, the governor's seat and other top state offices, Michigan Republicans quickly turned their sites on the next big catch: Debbie Stabenow's U.S. Senate seat. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; pad http://www.detnews.com/article/20110519/POLITICS02/105190421/GOP-struggles-to-find-Senate-challenger-for-Stabenow Angie Keilen Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Deal on table would trim reduction by $200 per pupil — but comes with strings attached Paul Egan / / Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative http://www.detnews.com/article/20110519/POLITICS02/105190404/1022/Snyder--legislature-could-reduce-K-12-cuts Angie Keilen Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Michigan’s unemployment rate edged downward slightly in April to 10.2 percent from 10.3 percent in March, according to data released today by the  Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. The April seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 2.9 percentage points below last year’s April rate of 13.1 percent. During the same period, the nation’s unemployment rate dropped 0.8 percentage points. “Michigan’s labor market indicators were stable from March to April,” Rick Waclawek, director of the department’s Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, said in a news release. Payroll jobs posted a minor decline in April from March. Construction employment led the overall reduction, followed by smaller declines in professional and business services and the trade, transportation and utilities sectors. However, compared with a year ago, payroll jobs in the state are up 1.5 percent, with the largest gains in professional and business services, manufacturing, and education and health services. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110518/FREE/110519866/state-8217-s-jobless-rate-dips-to-10-2-percent-in-april Angie Keilen Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT  Public employees in Michigan would be required to pay at least 20 percent of the cost of buying their health insurance coverage under proposals approved Wednesday by the Republican-led state Senate. The Senate approved measures by 25-13 and 26-12 votes, mostly along party lines. One bill to change state law and a proposed constitutional amendment next go to the Republican-led  <span id="itxthook0w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" style="float: none; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110519/NEWS04/105190349/Michigan-Senate-OKs-health-cost-plan?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT  A former local insurance executive has been appointed chief deputy commissioner of Michigan’s Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation.Ann Flood replaces Stephen Hilker as the office reorganizes under Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration. Flood is the former executive vice president and chief operating officer of American Physicians Capital Inc. in East Lansing. The medical liability insurer was purchased last year by Napa, Calif.-based Doctors Co. Flood joins her former colleague, Kevin Clinton, a former APCapital President and CEO who became OFIR commissioner in April. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110519/BUSINESS/305190006/Ex-APCapital-executive-takes-Office-Financial-Insurance-Regulation-post?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s Angie Keilen Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110510/FREE/110519986# Angie Keilen Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110510/METRO/105100376/1414/METRO05/Feds-provide-$200M-for-high-speed-rail-in-Michigan Angie Keilen Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110512/NEWS04/105120360/Senate-votes-20-19-broad-Michigan-tax-proposal?odyssey=mod|breaking|text|FRONTPAGE Angie Keilen Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   By  MATTHEW DOLAN DETROIT—Michigan Governor Rick Snyder named a former General Motors Co. executive to take charge of Detroit's troubled school district, replacing an official who planned a wide-ranging overhaul of the city's education system. The governor appointed Roy S. Roberts, 72 years old, who has no experience running a school district, as its new emergency manager. Gov. Snyder said Mr. Roberts is known as a consensus-building corporate leader and past director of several educational organizations, including positions on the board of directors of Western Michigan University and with the http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703937104576303982384159782.html Angie Keilen Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-mi-ussenate-2012-lan,0,6324945.story Angie Keilen Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Marisa Schultz and Nathan Hurst / / Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington  — Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president and Michigan's only Commander in Chief, was permanently memorialized today with a 7-foot-tall bronze statue in the U.S. Capitol, a place Ford considered home. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-w http://www.detnews.com/article/20110503/POLITICS03/105030420/President-Ford-immortalized-in-bronze-at-U.S.-Capitol Angie Keilen Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Saying that Michigan's "broken" educational system must be retooled into a system that rewards results, Gov. Rick Snyder today unveiled his plan for the state's schools during a special message on education. Speaking in front of members of the  State Board of Education  and state Superintendent Mike Flanagan at the  United Way for Southeastern Michigan  office in Detroit, Snyder said Michigan's school system must become performance-based. Such a system would evaluate districts and schools on whether students move up a year in ability for each year's worth of teaching. Districts that improve student achievement would be eligible for more funding from a bonus pool the governor plans to set up for the 2013 academic year and beyond. The funds could be spread across the district to fund areas such as teacher salaries and technology improvements. Snyder also introduced the "State of Education in Michigan" dashboard, which will serve as the state's educational report card. Included are metrics on Kindergarten-through-grade-12 educatio http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110427/FREE/110429930# Angie Keilen Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Brian J. O'Connor / / Detroit News Finance Editor Tuesday's reports of another month of increased auto sales is good news for Detroit's Big Three but also for the U.S. economy. The rebound in auto sales from rock-bottom just two years ago is big factor in the manufacturing rebound that is driving the nation's economic recovery. According to federal data, the economy grew at an annual rate of 1.8 percent in the first three months of 2011. But at 9 percent, manufacturing grew four times faster. <br style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-ri http://www.detnews.com/article/20110504/BIZ/105040363/Michigan-manufacturing-shores-up-nation’s-economy Angie Keilen Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703789104576273062356463774.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Angie Keilen Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110427/POLITICS02/104270387/1026/SCHOOLS/Gov.-Snyder-targets-teacher-performance-in-sweeping-plan Angie Keilen Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110428/POLITICS02/104280401/1022/Senate-narrowly-passes-$340-per-pupil-school-cut Angie Keilen Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110429/POLITICS02/104290390/1024/POLITICS03/Michigan-House-passes-business-tax-cut--levy-on-pensions Angie Keilen Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/gov_rick_snyder_appoints_jacks.html Angie Keilen Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110418/METRO/104180338/Emergency-manager-training-popular Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20110418/FREE/110419913# Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/us/politics/15freshman.html?_r=1 Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110418/POLITICS02/104180340/1024/POLITICS03/Some-lawmakers-have-debt-from-campaigns Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110418/POLITICS02/104180370/1410/GOP-slams-Gov.-Snyder-recall-effort Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-ap-mi-statebudget-michi,0,6850628.story Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110412/POLITICS02/104120391/State-budget-deal-close--will-phase-in-pension-tax- Angie Keilen Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110412/METRO/104120398/Official--Detroit-census-recount-would-come-too-late-to-help-in-state-redistricting Angie Keilen Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20110411/NEWS15/110411057/Ex-Rep-Bart-Stupak-joins-Venable-lobbyist Angie Keilen Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110412/METRO/104120389/1410/METRO01/Snyder--Canadian-offer-for-bridge-is-legit Angie Keilen Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/03/gov_rick_snyder_signes_law_to.html Angie Keilen Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110329/POLITICS02/103290389/1409/Snyder-talks-city--county-consolidation--unemployment-insurance Angie Keilen Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110323/METRO01/103230387/1409/METRO/Detroit’s-population-falls-25---Bing-wants-recount Angie Keilen Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/03/31/general-mi-snyder-legislative-leaders_8385210.html Angie Keilen Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110323/BIZ/103230434/1001/Legislature-approves-jobless-benefits-extension-—-with-reduced-future-eligibility Angie Keilen Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110323/METRO01/103230381/1409/Population-drop-will-redraw-Detroit’s-political-map Angie Keilen Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20110323/NEWS15/110323021/Granholm-joins-Pew-energy-adviser Angie Keilen Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9M3S0N80.htm Angie Keilen Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20110220/NEWS06/102200528/1025/features/Q-amp-Gov-Snyder-m-doing-what-said-going-do-?odyssey=nav%7Chead Angie Keilen Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110222/METRO/102220327/Lansing-braces-for-protests Angie Keilen Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110220/NEWS04/102200546/0/CELEB/Question-now-can-Snyder-get-Legislature-back-budget-?odyssey=nav%7Chead Angie Keilen Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20110222/SCHOOLS/102220325/1026/Mich.-high-school-grad-rates-up--many-not-ready-for-jobs--college Angie Keilen Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Karen Bouffard / Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Former Michigan Budget Director Bob Emerson has joined the Lansing lobbying firm of McAlvey, Merchant & Associates, it was announced today. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: me http://detnews.com/article/20110214/METRO/102140413/Former-state-budget-director-turns-lobbyist Angie Keilen Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT   No Medicaid payment cuts in budget, Snyder says Paul Egan / Detroit News Lansing Bureau <i style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; bor http://www.detnews.com/article/20110214/BIZ/102140373/1361/Snyder-might-funnel-school-aid-surplus-to-community-coll Angie Keilen Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Paul Egan / Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Gov. Rick Snyder will issue an executive order that breaks up the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth and shifts most of its job-related functions to the Michigan Economic Development Corp., a spokeswoman said today. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: http://www.detnews.com/article/20110209/POLITICS02/102090391/1361/Snyder-breaking-up-Department-of-Energy--Labor-and-Economic-Growth Angie Keilen Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT   DETROIT —  For Keith Creagh, a 33-year veteran of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the chance to lead the agency as it takes on the broader mission of strengthening the state's rural communities is allowing him to put his passion for agricultural policy back to work.  Creagh left the department in 2007 for the private sector, spending three years with Lansing-based food and animal safety products company  Neogen Corp.  His return came as new Gov.  Rick Snyder  gave the department an expanded economic, social, and educational focus.  "By now elevating the importance of rural development -- not at the expense of urban redevelopment, but in consorts with that -- then that actually will allow the various players ... (to) address the needs for those rural communities," Creagh told<a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="AUTOORNPR000041" title="The Associated Press" style="font-weight: 700; color: rgb(55, 104, 154); text-decor http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-mi-ruraldevelopment,0,7172722.story Angie Keilen Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Eliminate Michigan Business Tax and replace with 6% corporate income tax:  Snyder's principal campaign proposal, a version of which was introduced Wednesday in the state Senate. Estimated net tax cut of $1.5 billion for  business , and corresponding hole in state budget. Legislature is wary, and groups representing those who benefit from the $1.5 billion are terrified. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px http://www.freep.com/article/20110120/NEWS15/101200515/Address-highlights#ixzz1Ba0a6PcA Angie Keilen Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT   WASHINGTON -- When talk on the floor of the U.S. House turns today to repeal of last year's landmark health care reform bill, it will almost look like -- from all the Michiganders running the debate -- that it is happening in the state Capitol instead of the nation's. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, a Midland Republican, will be front and center along with St. Joseph's Fred Upton, the new chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. They will help lead arguments to roll back legislation they say -- despite some nonpartisan reports to the contrary -- will run up the federal deficit and cost jobs. On the other side of the debate: Rep. Sander Levin of Royal Oak, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, who will tout the reform bill's promise to offer affordable health insurance to all Americans. Although the repeal is expected to pass the House this week, it is unlikely to clear the http://www.freep.com/article/20110118/NEWS15/101180361/1319/Michigan-lawmakers-in-health-care-repeal-debate Angie Keilen Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Marisa Schultz / Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington — Rep. John Dingell, 84, will run for a 30th term in the U.S. House and seek to make congressional history for the longest tenure. "It's the http://www.detnews.com/article/20110121/POLITICS02/101210395/1022/Dingell--84--seeks-his-30th-term Angie Keilen Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT   Grand Rapids-area state Sen. Dave Hildenbrand wants the Michigan Business Tax repealed so badly he made it the first bill introduced in the new session today. The  bill proposed by Hildenbrand, R-Lowell,  would also scrap the much-maligned 21-percent surcharge included with the  MBT . If adopted in both chambers and signed by Gov. Rick Snyder, the bill would take immediate effect. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 17px; pad Angie Keilen Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT  LANSING -- Gov. Rick Snyder will deliver his first State of the State address at 7 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Capitol before a joint session of the House and Senate. Snyder is expected to lay out specific goals of his promise to "reinvent Michigan" with an economic and political culture that promotes entrepreneurial spirit with lower  taxes </p http://www.freep.com/article/20110106/NEWS15/101060478/1001/NEWS/Snyders-1st-State-of-State-set Angie Keilen Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT  EAST LANSING – The Legislature’s top four new leaders said today reducing compensation for state employees should be part of any plan to balance next year’s budget, though they disagreed over how that might happen. The also disagreed over whether a $1.8 billion deficit projected for next year can be erased with budget cuts alone. Republicans support it and Democrats don’t. The four appeared together for a taping of public television’s “Off the Record” this morning. State revenue sharing to cities and township will likely be cut, said the two Republican leaders – House Speaker Jase Bolger and Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville – a cut Democrats would oppose. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding http://www.freep.com/article/20110106/NEWS15/110106022/1285/news15/Mich.-leaders-argue-on-balancing-budget Angie Keilen Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT   New Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Young Jr. said Wednesday that he will urge the Legislature to downsize the judiciary over the next two years -- eliminating some appeals court and trial court posts, and combining the duties of others -- in response to Michigan's "cataclysmic fiscal crisis."   Young, 59, was re-elected to the court in November and selected by his colleagues Wednesday to serve as chief justice for the 2011-12 term. He said budget cuts for the judiciary appear inevitable. Eliminating seats on the bench in jurisdictions where the case load makes it possible is preferable to across the board reductions, he said. He said he wasn't ready to make specific recommendations, but noted that a review of statewide court operations four years ago recommended elimination of four of the state's 28 appellate judgeships and 20 judicial posts from the lower courts. Young's accession was made possible when he and then-Wayne Circuit Judge Mary Beth Kelly were elected in November, giving the Republican Party-nominated justices a 4-3 majority on the state's http://www.freep.com/article/20110106/NEWS06/101060480/1008/Justice-wants-smaller-judiciary Angie Keilen Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT   For the first time in 11 years, Michigan is expected to add more jobs than it loses in 2011, yet there's little reason to toast the new year just yet. University of Michigan economist George Fulton expects the state to add about 6,300 net jobs next year and 48,000 in 2012, giving the state an average 12.4 percent unemployment rate in 2011 and 11.5 percent in 2012, down from an average rate of more than 13 percent this year. The state still has a long way to go to replace the nearly 860,000 jobs it has lost since the economy began sliding in June 2000. Even a welcome 2-percentage-point drop in the unemployment rate over the past year leaves it with a rate of 12.4 percent, behind only Nevada and tied for <a class="iAs" classname="iAs" href="http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101227/NEWS02/12270315/State-s-economy-may-improve-slightly-in-2011#" target="_blank" itxtdid="27819528" style="float: none; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: transparent Angie Keilen Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT Gov.-elect Rick Snyder is so eager to jumpstart Michigan's recovery that he said he will move up the annual State of the State address by a couple of weeks and have lawmakers pass the  budget  by July 1 instead of dragging the process into the fall. "We hope to go fast," he told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday. "It's setting the tone." Angie Keilen Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Nathan Hurst / Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington — Let the speculation begin. With 14 as the magic number of seats for Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives, one of the current positions is sure to vanish in the 2012 election. <span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: Angie Keilen Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Hope for the economy  The local and state economies will continue to be stressed in 2011, but there are glimmers of hope.  University of Michigan  economists predict the state will add around 25,000 jobs next year for the first time in 11 years. While that will hardly offset the 285,600 jobs it lost in 2009 alone, unemployment is projected to fall from 12.8 percent to 12.4. The service sector will add the most jobs, and manufacturing jobs will increase modestly, though government jobs will continue to be lost as local units of government struggle with declining property tax revenues.  Robert Daddow, deputy Oakland County executive, sees more gloom than glimmer. He describes the shrinking tax base as a looming fiscal crisis and says there will be "numerous government units (facing) an emergency financial manager or worse."  Building wishes  With very few construction projects under way in downtown Detroit at year's end, hopes are high that projects will be fully funded and under construction in 2011.  Topping the downtown wish lists are a new sports arena by Mike Ilitch and the light-rail line in Detroit.  Also to watch is  Quicken Loans Inc. , which purchased the former Madison Theatre building and is eyeing more downtown real estate -- after moving its headquarters to Detroit in 2010. Founder Dan Gilbert's next moves are a mystery but are expected to be exciting.  Health care construction will be hot, with $850 million in improvements planned at the  Detroit Medical Center  pending the fin http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20101226/FREE/312269996/10-things-to-watch Angie Keilen Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Paul Egan / Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Michigan's incoming director of the Department of Community Health says she will encourage healthier lifestyles and seek to root out fraud and abuse as ways of reducing the state's health care costs. Gov.-elect Rick Snyder today named Olga Dazzo to the high-profile post. The health insurance industry veteran is the first woman Snyder has named to his cabinet.   <span style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-l http://www.detnews.com/article/20101217/POLITICS02/12170416/1361/Snyder’s-pick-for-health-director-to-focus-on-fraud--better-lifestyles Angie Keilen Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Tuesday's data release determines seats in Congress, federal funding Nathan Hurst / Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington  — Michigan finds out Tuesday just how bad the damage of http://www.detnews.com/article/20101220/METRO/12200351/Census-to-cost-Michigan-cash--clout Angie Keilen Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Gov.-elect Rick Snyder promised a " sprint  to accomplish incredible things" in the first six months of his administration during brief remarks Monday at a Lansing conference of public and policy leaders.   Snyder, less than three weeks from taking office, told the audience at the Radisson <a class="iAs" classname="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="27232518" style="float: none; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-co http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101214/NEWS04/12140315/Gov.-elect-says-administration-will-sprint-to-accomplish-incredible-things Angie Keilen Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT  LANSING -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who says she has a “good idea” of what her next job will be, says she is leaving her current one satisfied that her administration did everything it could in response to the wrenching economic change that will define her two terms in office.   “I am really proud of the work this administration has done ... in the most difficult economic environment in the country,” Granholm said Friday in an interview with reporters. “I feel that we have accomplished a lot in light of the circumstances.” Granholm declined to say what her next job would be, whether it would be in Michigan or Washington, or somewhere else -- or even whether it would be in the public or private sector. She said she will take a vacation after handing off the office to Gov.-elect Rick Snyder on New Year's Day, then “I’ll be announcing what I’m doing in January.” An abundance of speculation over the past few months, which her aides say is uninformed, has included her becoming president of Wayne State University, working at a top-end law firm, serving on the federal bench or joining the Obama administration. That last possibility was fueled by a piece she wrote Thursday for the website <a style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: http://www.mcalvey.com/Links/News/tabid/65/ItemID/94/View/Details/Default.aspx Angie Keilen Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT   It will likely be a day to break out the long underwear, woolly hats and hand warmers as Michiganders watch the swearing in of Gov.-elect  Rick Snyder  as the state's 48th governor on Jan. 1. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom http://www.freep.com/article/20101210/NEWS15/12100410/1322/Snyder-inauguration-to-be-low-key-affair Angie Keilen Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT   KALAMAZOO —   With Republican U.S. Rep. Fred Upton  selected to lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee , a Michigander is again at the helm of that influential panel. The Southwest Michigan congressman who has characterized himself as “pro-nuclear,” unconvinced of man’s responsibility for climate change and supportive of clean coal was confirmed as the committee’s chairman Wednesday by the House Republican Conference.<br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; p http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/12/us_rep_fred_upton_will_oversee.html Angie Keilen Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT   By Chris Cillizza 1.  Republican National Committee Chairman  Michael Steele  will hold a conference call with supporters tonight where he is widely expected to announce whether he will seek a second term in his current post. Steele alerted RNC members of the conference call on Saturday night. If Steele is, in fact, running for a second term, a conference call would be an odd way of going about it. Sources close to the situation say Steele has done little to get a new campaign off the ground. But, one Republican insider who has spoken directly to Steele in recent days says the chairman is planning to run again. <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font: normal normal normal 14px/18px arial; width: auto; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/-2-republican-national-committ.html Angie Keilen Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT EAST LANSING, Mich. —  Now that his second term as  Jennifer Granholm 's lieutenant governor is drawing to a close, John Cherry said he plans to spend his time helping restore his hometown area of Flint and Genesee County.  Cherry has spent 28 years at the Capitol as a lawmaker and lieutenant governor, and at one point, he hoped to be Michigan's next chief executive.  But he said Friday that he knew when he withdrew from the governor's race in January that only a wealthy Democrat who could mirror the millions Republican  Rick Snyder  was pouring into the race had a chance of winning. No wealthy Democrat emerged, and Snyder will take office Jan. 1 after trouncing underfunded Democratic Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.  Cherry said changing demographics means it's time for Michigan <a class="tax http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-ltgovcherry,0,7194143.story Angie Keilen Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Since the November 2010 midterm elections, several cities have issued bans on growing, producing and selling medical marijuana.  &lt http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20101208/hl_ac/7362150_michigan_cities_of_lansing_wyoming_join_medical_marijuana_bans Angie Keilen Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Paul Egan / Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing — The incoming director of the Department of Natural Resources says he wants to reverse a slow, but steady, decline in the sale of hunting and <a class="iAs" classname="iAs" href="http://detnews.com/article/20101205/METRO/12050310/State%E2%80%99s-new-DNR-chief-wants-to-more-people-hunting--fishing#" target="_blank" itxtdid="26999837" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: 0.075em !important; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; text-decoration: underline http://detnews.com/article/20101205/METRO/12050310/State’s-new-DNR-chief-wants-to-more-people-hunting--fishing#ixzz17FKrNlrk Angie Keilen Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT  As the smoke clears from the economic rubble in Michigan, match up October’s regional unemployment rates with the most recent county-level data on college completion.   You want to enter the middle class? Or stay there? You’d better successfully exit college. Counties with less than 10 percent unemployment in October tend to have the highest percentages of residents with at least a two-year degree. Washtenaw County’s unemployment rate was 7.8 percent compared to the Michigan rate of 12.8 percent. According to college attainment data assembled this fall by the Lumina Foundation for Education in Indianapolis, 60 percent of Washtenaw County residents have two or four-year, or graduate degrees. Michigan’s overall rate is 36 percent. In Kalamazoo County: 9.7 percent unemployment, 44 percent with degrees. Kent County: 9.9 percent unemployment, 40 percent with degrees. Ingham County: 9.9 percent unemployment, 46 percent with degrees. Midland County: 8.9 percent unemployment, 46 percent with degrees. Counties with high unemployment rates, conversely have fewer degree holders than the state o http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/12/peter_luke_want_to_be_middle_c.html Angie Keilen Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT  LANSING —Gov.-elect Rick Snyder has tapped Utah’s budget director to become the next budget chief in Michigan where he will immediately confront a $1.5 billion deficit in the 2012 spending plan, the loss of federal stimulus funding and eroding bases in the state’s two main sources of revenue, the income and sales taxes.   John Nixon, head of Utah’s Office of Planning and Budget since 2006 and current president of the National Association of State Budget Officers, said Monday that Michigan’s ongoing budget trouble is challenging, but presents “great opportunity” for reform. “John is considered one of the best in the business and is widely respected inside and outside of state government,” Snyder said in a statement. “John will work with us to bring fiscal responsibility, stability, transparency and citizens’ priorities to state government.”   Despite a 7.6-percent unemployment rate (compared to Michigan’s 12.8-percent rate), Nixon said Utah has had to wrestle with budget issues of its own as revenues fell 20 percent after the 2008 market crash. Utah’s overall budget, includin http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/11/what_rick_snyders_new_budget_d.html Angie Keilen Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Michigan Gov.-elect meets with president and Cabinet members David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder wrapped up two days of meetings http://detnews.com/article/20101203/POLITICS02/12030374/1024/POLITICS03/Mr.-Snyder-goes-to-Washington Angie Keilen Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Dick Posthumus wasn't looking for a job when he fired off an e-mail in mid-October to Rick Snyder, a fellow Republican who would soon be elected Michigan's next governor.  Posthumus, a former state legislative leader and lieutenant governor who most recently helped run a west Michigan furniture company, was merely offering some advice to Snyder — a former Gateway computer executive and venture capitalist making his first foray into politics with his gubernatorial run. Posthumus told Snyder that he has a chance to make history as he seeks to govern Michigan out of tough times that have ravaged the economy and the state budget. But Posthumus also noted Snyder faces a big challenge because he's an outsider who has no experience with getting things done at the state Capitol in Lansing.  "I told (Snyder) I thought he had a great opportunity, but at the same time I told him he had a real challenge in that because he was so much from the outside he didn't have people around him who really knew the process," Posthumus said in a recent phone interview with The Associated Press. "Getting things done in the public sector is different than in the private sector. I suggested he look to get somebody who really understood that." http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/11/posthumus_brings_veteran_exper.html Angie Keilen Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT  LANSING -- This week's lame-duck Legislature should be lame, indeed. Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, plans limited action in the Senate, which intends to close shop Thursday for 2010 and leave the leftovers to Republican Gov.-elect Rick Snyder and a GOP-controlled House and Senate. Still, there's pressure for action on a short list of unfinished business, including more <a class="iAs" classname="iAs" target="_blank" itxtdid="21806779" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 100, 0) !important; text-decoration: underline !important; float: none; left: auto; right: auto; top: auto; bottom: auto; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: solid !important; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; background-color: transparent !important; line-height: normal; text-align: left; position: static !important; display: inline; font-family: inherit !important; cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal !important; font-size: 18px; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 100, 0) !important; border-bottom-width: 0.075em !important; " href="http://www.freep.com/article/20101129/NEWS15/11290336/Lame-duck-lawma http://www.freep.com/article/20101129/NEWS15/11290336/Lame-duck-lawmakers-may-leave-Snyder-lots-of-leftovers Angie Keilen Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT Paul Egan / Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — Gov.-elect Rick Snyder made his first appointment from outside Michigan today, naming John Nixon of Utah as his budget director. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; bord http://www.detnews.com/article/20101129/POLITICS02/11290375/Snyder-picks-Utah-official-as-budget-director Angie Keilen Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT  The  Detroit Athletic Club  is the scene of plenty of deal making, but members probably were not prepared this year to see Manuel "Matty" Moroun working the dining room on behalf of his Ambassador Bridge. Even this modestly public appearance is new territory for Moroun, who for decades has relied on litigation, campaign donations and behind-the-scenes lobbying to get results.  But the new tactics, for now at least, have brought victory: Legislation to advance the proposed  Detroit River International Crossing  bridge project was killed in the Legislature's lame-duck session. "I don't like it. This is a new Matty Moroun," he said of his more public role, during a recent sit-down interview with  Crain's . Often described as reclusive, the 83-year-old Moroun has shunned publicity for most of his life, rarely granting interviews or engaging in high-profile philanthropy.  But over the past year, he's been forced to seek allies and personally lobby for support in public as the race to span the river has grown more intense and a series of court fights turned sour. He's also sent his wife, Nora, and son, Matthew, to campaign for him (and against DRIC) in public and behind closed doors in Lansing and elsewhere.  Whether his legislative victory was Pyrrhic remains to be seen, because the enabling legislation for DRIC is expected to be picked up in the spring, and Canada has reportedly turned to the U.S. federal government for support.  Moroun opposes the $5.3 billion U.S.-Canadian span as unneeded and unfair government competition to the bridge he bought in 1977 as a $30 million stock play from investor Warr http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20101128/FREE/311289998/building-bridges-burning-bridges-moroun-does-both-shapes-battle# Angie Keilen Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT  More than 5,000 people have applied for  jobs  with the administration of Gov.-elect Rick Snyder in the three weeks since his transition office Web site went online, Snyder’s transition office announced this afternoon. Since the governor in Michigan on http://www.freep.com/article/20101119/NEWS15/101119039/Thousands-apply-to-work-for-Governor-elect-Rick-Snyder#ixzz15qQIZ7d0 Angie Keilen Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT  U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra says he has lots of opportunities when he leaves office in January, and he won’t entirely rule out a U.S. Senate run in 2012. “Lots of people have talked to me about that,” said Hoekstra, 57, “but we just got through a grueling race.” The Holland Republican lost a brutal governor’s primary in August and has not hid his frustration with Right To Life of Michigan, which endorsed only Attorney General Mike Cox despite Hoekstra’s 100 percent rating from the organization. Cox finished a distant third in the primary, and many analysts  believe Hoekstra would have defeated Gov.-elect Rick Snyder if not for Right To Life’s move. Still, Republicans think two-term Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow will be vulnerable in two ye http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/11/could_pete_hoekstra_mount_a_ch.html Angie Keilen Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Michigan's freshman congressmen scope out Washington life By TODD SPANGLER FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF WASHINGTON -- The members of Michigan's biggest class of freshman congressmen since the early 1990s were in Washington last week for party caucus meetings, lectures on ethics and how to set up their offices, and a taste of what life will be like in the nation's <a class="iAs" classname=&q http://www.freep.com/article/20101121/NEWS15/11210489/Michigan-s-freshman-congressmen-scope-out-Washington-life#ixzz15vFXlV00 Angie Keilen Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT  By JOHN GALLAGHER
Free Press Business Writer Michigan's jobless rate continued to move in the right direction during October, dropping two-tenths of a percentage point to 12.8%. October marked the first month since March 2009 that the state's jobless rate fell below 13%, according to data released Wednesday by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth. The U.S. unemployment rate remained flat at 9.6% in October. "Michigan's October labor market changes and jobless rate decline continued the relatively stable trends seen throughout 2010," said Rick Waclawek, director of DELEG's Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. "Since October 2009, Michigan recorded moderate job gains in tempor http://www.freep.com/article/20101118/BUSINESS06/11180445/1002/Business/Michigan-jobless-rate-drops-to-12.8-in-October Angie Keilen Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT  SAN DIEGO (AP) — The 2010 elections barely over, nearly three dozen current and incoming Republican governors already are looking to the next election, aiming to capitalize on victories in presidential battlegrounds while working to shed the GOP's white-guy image. Still a full two years away, the 2012 contests hung heavily over the Republican Governors Association's annual conference. No fewer than four potential presidential candidates, including outgoing RGA Chairman Haley Barbour and Vice Chairman Tim Pawlenty, and a slew of GOP rising stars were among the 34 governors and governors-elect planning to attend the two-day gathering. With 800 to 1,000 people expected, the meeting was to be the largest celebration by the political arm of the nation's Republican governors since 1994 when the GOP posted huge gains. Two weeks ago, Republican candidates took advantage of a friendly environment to score enough victories to ensure that the party will control a majority of states — 29 — come January. That's significant because Republican governors will set conservative state policy that's expected to counter what's coming out of Washington under a Democratic controlled White House. Also, in many states, Republicans will preside over the every-decade redrawing of congressional and legislative districts, putting the G http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gD6wUmA0vyby5sRge7hJvAYv4I-Q?docId=23b9d57cd63e4214b0e85661e46066f8 Angie Keilen Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20101106/NEWS15/101106008/Detroit-area-leaders-discuss-the-recent-election-and-the-challenges-ahead Angie Keilen Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20101110/POLITICS03/11100377/1022/Michigan-Republicans-have-redistricting-upper-hand Angie Keilen Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JCRFN01.htm Angie Keilen Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-michiganhouse-rec,0,5045344.story Angie Keilen Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101111/NEWS04/11110337/Michigan-governor-s-home-to-be-unoccupied Angie Keilen Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Paul Egan / Detroit News Lansing Bureau Detroit — Governor-elect Rick Snyder called on Gov. Jennifer Granholm in Detroit this morning, wasting no time getting to work on a transition from her administration to his. Angie Keilen Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Tim Walberg was sent home from Congress two years ago when Mark Schauer was swept into office with the help of a strong Democratic wave. But the tide turned against the Democrats nationally Tuesday, and voters sent Walberg — along with a majority of House Republicans — back to Washington. Several hundred enthusiastic Walberg supporters burst into thunderous applause when the Tipton Republican addressed them late Tuesday night. “It has been a tough-fought battle as you might have noticed. It’s been well watched, it’s been well-spent and financed,” Walberg said. “But we won.” The 7th Congressional District was one of the most expensive races in the country. In the end, likely more than $10 million will have been spent, including more than $1 million from the National Angie Keilen Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   By  LAURA MECKLER  And  JONATHAN WEISMAN Republicans won control of the House of Representatives as voters dealt a stiff rebuke to President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party in a wave that swept the GOP to power in states and districts across the country. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; line-height http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703506904575591691212513522.html?mod= Angie Keilen Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Nathan Hurst and Marisa Schultz / Detroit News Washington Bureau Republicans won control of the U.S. House in Tuesday's election, while in Michigan, two Democrats narrowly survived challenges in hotly contested races against a tide of voter anger. Democratic freshman Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, was defeated by former Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, 50-45 percent. Things were brighter for Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, who appears to have narrowly defeated his tea party-backed Republican http://www.detnews.com/article/20101103/POLITICS02/11030384/1024/POLITICS03/GOP-wins-U.S.-House--Peters--Dingell-hold-off-challenges Angie Keilen Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Leonard N. Fleming / The Detroit News Detroit  — The Michigan Republicans have seized control of the state House of Representatives and have gained a supermajority in the state Senate as part of the statewide GOP juggernaut. http://www.detnews.com/article/20101103/METRO/11030386/1409/Republicans-win-state-House--gain-in-Senate Angie Keilen Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT     Paul Egan / Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing  — The Republicans go into the final days of the election campaign with sizable leads over Democrats for every statewide office, according to a Detroit News poll released Wednesday, with Rick Snyder getting strong support throughout the state and southeastern Michigan. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left http://www.detnews.com/article/20101028/POLITICS02/10280417/News-poll--Snyder--GOP-candidates-hold-big-leads Angie Keilen Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Prognosticators thought the chances were remote a year ago, but there's now a real possibility that a  GOP  election swing Tuesday could leave Michigan Republicans controlling both chambers of the Legislature and the governor's office. <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; http://www.freep.com/article/20101028/NEWS15/10280557/1320/GOP-has-a-shot-at-state-House Angie Keilen Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT  BY LINDSAY VANHULLE lvanhulle@record-eagle.com <div class="entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0 http://record-eagle.com/local/x176175654/Michigan-Proposal-1-a-mystery-to-some Angie Keilen Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Leonard N. Fleming / The Detroit News Detroit — While voters prepare to choose dozens of new members of the state Legislature on Election Day, a spirited, behind-the-scenes competition for leadership positions is taking place. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: medium; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: http://www.detnews.com/article/20101028/POLITICS02/10280420/1022/State-House-leadership-battles-take-shape Angie Keilen Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT President Obama's name is not on the ballot Nov. 2, but his chance at a second term in the White House could be on the line.  As the president and top Democratic surrogates like Bill Clinton criss-cross the country to campaign for their party's gubernatorial candidates, party operatives are looking ahead to what this year's race will mean for 2012.  And so far, it's not looking good for Democrats.  <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bo http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/23/midterm-races-hold-key-white-house-congress/ Angie Keilen Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Karen Bouffard / Detroit News Lansing Bureau Lansing — Last Sunday's gubernatorial debate didn't help Democrat Virg Bernero, according to a poll conducted the day after and released today by Foster McCollum White and Associates and Baydoun Consulting, while a second poll by both companies finds the secretary of state race tightening. The automated telephone poll of 2,331 voters found Snyder leading by 21.4 percentage points Monday.   The margin of error is 2 percentage points. <br style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; p http://www.detnews.com/article/20101015/POLITICS02/10150426/1024/Poll--Snyder-leads-Bernero-by-21.4-percentage-points--SOS-race-a-dead-heat Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT  The Detroit News Although he sells himself as a political newcomer, Rick Snyder had being elected U.S. senator as one of his goals in college. Virg Bernero was so wrapped up in politics that he asked his future wife for her vote before he asked for a date.     <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-width: mediu http://www.detnews.com/article/20101014/POLITICS02/10140422/1024/POLITICS03/Rivals-took-different-paths-to-governor’s-race Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT  ST. JOHNS — Rick Snyder meets many people on the campaign trail, often hundreds a day.   Some are happy to see the Republican gubernatorial candidate, and they welcome his promise of can-do business savvy to solve Michigan's problems. Others are fearful he'll take too big of a meat cleaver to state services if elected.   Some, at first glance, have no idea who Snyder is.   And then there are those such as Shawn Powers of Garden City, who are the face of Michigan's economic turmoil. A school bus driver who lost her pension and health benefits in June after a school board voted to privatize her job, the 53-year-old voted for Snyder in the Aug. 3 primary but remains skeptical about whether he'll bring needed change to Michigan's economy. <p style="font-size: 12px http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20101019/ELECTIONS03/10190320/Snyder-pursuing-confidence-of-voters-hoping-for-change Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT  MUSKEGON HEIGHTS — Governmental cooperation, a topic that has been debated for months in Muskegon County, was offered as a statewide concept Monday by Virg Bernero, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. During a campaign stop at Muskegon Heights High School, Bernero appeared to momentarily veer off his normal talking points, suggesting local municipalities need to take a serious look at collaborating with each other on services as a way to become more efficient.   Bernero stood on the auditorium stage alone in front of about 100 people during a two-hour event that local organizers originally hoped would be a debate between Bernero and his Republican opponent, Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder. The crowd heavily favored Bernero. The two candidates took part in their only scheduled debate earlier this month. While many of the questions from local clergy, community leaders and residents focused on the economy and criticism raised in television advertisements, Bernero talked about cooperation while highlighting his belief in investing in the state’s core cities. <p style="margin-top: 0p http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/10/virg_bernero_speaking_in_muske.html Angie Keilen Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT   By  MATTHEW DOLAN WIXOM, Mich.—In a state rocked by economic upheaval and kept afloat by government intervention over the past couple of years, voters in this year's gubernatorial election are getting a surprisingly conventional contest. While the tea-party movement has made for unlikely matchups elsewhere, the two Michigan candidates appear to be straight out of central casting: a union-backed, populist city Democrat who rails against the big banks, and a business-backed Republican whose passion is tax reform. <a name="U http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704127904575544571676287414.html Angie Keilen Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT   GRAND RAPIDS — Constitutional conventions are rare. Voters in eight states have already rejected referendums this decade and constitution scholars aren’t predicting Michigan will be the exception. “It’s a very negative time for government,” said Robert Williams, associate director of the Center for State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University. “People are afraid of losing out to the politicians and other vested interests, and that’s why very few referendums get approved anymore.” Fourteen states require mandatory convention referendums in intervals of nine, 10, 16 (Michigan) or 20 years. Voters in Illinois, Connecticut and Hawaii were the last to reject the idea, in 2008. Illinois voted 3 to 1 against the convention. As in Michigan, voters in Iowa, Montana and Maryland will weigh reopening their state’s fundamental laws this November. “Of the four states voting this time, I’ve seen the most support in Iowa,” said John Dinan, a political science professor at Wak http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/what_other_states_have_done_ab.html Angie Keilen Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT  By  JEFF ZELENY  and  MONICA DAVEY Published: October 10, 2010 WASHINGTON — Republicans are well-positioned to pick up a substantial number of governor’s seats in this year’s election, with potentially far-reaching effects on issues like the new health care law, Congressional redistricting and presidential politics.     Democrats hold 26 governorships, and Republicans 24. But the balance appears likely to shift, perhaps markedly, with Republicans holding the upper hand in many of this year’s 37 races, including those in crucial political battlegrounds. In Iowa, Michigan and Pennsylvania — all states that have Democratic governors — Republicans have pulled away from their opponents. The <a http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/us/politics/11govs.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1 Angie Keilen Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT  LANSING, Mich., Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Michigan is looking to use about $208 million in unclaimed checks and other valuables to help balance the state budget, officials say.  Michigan is facing a $484 million shortfall and Gov. Jennifer Granholm  and legislative leaders have agreed to shorten the period businesses have to turn over unclaimed property from 15 years down to three, The Detroit News reported Monday. Published: Sept. 27, 2010 at 4:34 PM The unclaimed property, which includes bank accounts, payroll checks and safety deposit boxes that have been misplaced or forgotten by their owners, eventually goes to the state's general fund. John Gabriel, president of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, is against the change for the sake of a one-time budget fix. "If payroll checks, for example, aren't cashed in a year, then they're probably lost," Gabriel said. But the measure has passed both houses of the state Legislature and only needs Granholm's signature. Gabriel said New York and New Jersey enacted similar legislation this year. Workers in the state's Unclaimed Property Division track more than 10 million unclaimed accounts valued at more than $1.3 billion. Some of the money makes its way into the general fund when it becomes apparent no one will be coming foforward to claim their cash. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/09/27/Unclaimed-funds-to-help-fill-Mich-budget/UPI-29841285619651/ Angie Keilen Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT  LANSING — Southeast Michigan businesspeople want to see the Michigan Business Tax reduced — but not necessarily at the expense of a worsening state structural budget deficit.  A recent survey of Southeast Michigan businesses, conducted for  Crain's Detroit Business  and  Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP  by Lansing-based  Epic-MRA Corp. , found 89 percent in favor of reducing the MBT to help the state become among those with the lowest business tax burdens. That item ranked second in business favor in a long list of proposals that have been suggested by interest groups to improve Michigan's economy, change its budget process, cut government operating costs or increase state revenue to fund programs.  First on the list, with 95 percent of respondents in favor, was enabling and encouraging local governments to share services to cut costs.  In third place, just following the MBT, was 88 percent in favor of making sure changes in state or local tax laws don't worsen the state's structural budget deficit.  “They want lower taxes, but how can you achieve lower taxes without exacerbating the budget deficit in the state? They prefer cuts,” said Bernie Porn, president of Epic-MRA.  The survey found 59 percent of respondents saying state business taxes were too high. Sixteen percent said taxes were about http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100926/FREE/309269999# Angie Keilen Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   By  James Rowley and Ryan J. Donmoyer  -  Sep 24, 2010 5:45    <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; padding- http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-23/durbin-says-senate-won-t-pass-tax-cut-extension-before-november-elections.html Angie Keilen Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT Mike Wilkinson / The Detroit News   For most families in Michigan, the long-running recession has meant a simple, unrelenting truth: living with less. And census data released on Tuesday shows how much less -- the state's median household income fell by more than $12,000 over the last decade -- the equivalent of trimming $1,000 from a family's monthly budget. The drop was stunning in both its size and its singularity: No other state came close to losing the estimated 21.3 percent of its median income between 2000 and 2009, and no state endured the 6.5 percent drop seen from 2008 to 2009.   "When you ask about what have we cut, it's what haven't we cut," said Carrie Brickner, 45, a Metro Detroit freelance television producer. Her family's income bottomed out in 2009 after her husband, Steve, 54, an electrician, got laid off in December 2008. He hasn't had steady work since. http://www.detnews.com/article/20100929/METRO/9290370/Michigan-sees-sharpest-income-plunge-in-nation Angie Keilen Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42579_Page2.html Angie Keilen Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.detnews.com/article/20100922/POLITICS02/9220335/1024/POLITICS03/Polls-show-wide-gap-between-Mich.-gov-candidates-Snyder--Bernero Angie Keilen Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Angie Keilen Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39276947/ns/business-eye_on_the_economy/ Angie Keilen Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Paul Egan / The Detroit News Here is an excerpt of the Rick Snyder interview with The Detroit News where he discusses whether the corporate income tax rate might start higher than 6 percent. The discussion began with the observation that analysts had said his proposed corporate tax would not raise as much money as the Michigan Business Tax it is intended to replace. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium; border-bottom-width: medium; border-le http://www.detnews.com/article/20100921/POLITICS02/9210382/1409/Snyder-weighs-in-on-Michigan-Business-Tax Angie Keilen Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Michigan Republicans are ahead in races to retain control of the offices of attorney general and  secretary of  state<img src="http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif" name="itxt-icon-0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-sty http://www.freep.com/article/20100915/NEWS15/100915069/1322/Poll-GOP-ahead-in-races-for-AG-secretary-of-state Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Republican Rick Snyder continues to lead Democrat Virg Bernero by more than 20 points in the race for governor, according to a new Free Press/WXYZ Channel 7 poll of 600 likely voters. Snyder’s 53% to 29% lead has widened slightly since a similar poll by the same firm, EPIC-MRA of Lansing, in August. The percentage of undecided voters has shrunk to 15% from 20% in late August. Snyder, an Ann Arbor venture capitalist campaigning as a political outsider, is overwhelmingly preferred by men, independents and Republican voters. Independent voters overall support Snyder, 53% to 15%. Snyder’s lead among women voters is 45% to 35%, but among men is a whopping 62-21. Snyder leads in all regions of the state. In Oakland County, where President Barack Obama had 57% of the vote in 2008, Snyder leads Bernero 3-1. http://www.freep.com/article/20100915/NEWS15/100915061/Poll-shows-Snyder-has-widening-lead-over-Bernero-at-53-to-29- Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Nathan Hurst / Detroit News Washington Bureau Washington  -- The battle for control of Capitol Hill has sparked a campaign finance bonanza in Washington, and candidates in Michigan's most competitive races are getting a boost from it. <p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt; border-top-width: medium; border-right-width: medium http://www.detnews.com/article/20100915/POLITICS02/9150371/1022/With-Congress-at-stake--parties-are-spending-big-on-local-races Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Michigan's two gubernatorial candidates began Monday with angry words over whether to hold debates but ended it by cordially answering questions at a town hall meeting and agreeing to have coffee together.   It still remained unclear whether there ever will be a formal debate between Republican Rick Snyder and Democrat Virg Bernero. The congenial exchange between Snyder and Bernero on Monday evening at the Hawthorne Valley Country Club in the Detroit suburb of Westland came at the end of a daylong clash over debates. Snyder told WJR radio host Paul W. Smith on Monday morning that he was done negotiating over debates since Bernero didn't accept his Friday offer to do three. He dismissed debates as largely "sound bites and bickering." Bernero called a news conference in Lansing later Monday to criticize Snyder's decision. <p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100914/ELECTIONS03/9140338/Candidates-for-Michigan-governor-share-stage-at-Snyder-event Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Exactly three decades ago, Ronald Reagan stormed to an election victory, and in the process reshaped the Republican Party. In came waves of Southerners and Midwest social conservatives who previously called themselves Democrats, and out went many Northeastern moderates and social liberals who suddenly felt out of place.   The movement produced a more conservative and ultimately successful Republican Party. It also inspired a serious independent presidential challenge in 1980 from one disaffected party moderate, Rep. John Anderson of Illinois, who won 7% of the vote in that year's election. The tea-party movement, which is activating a new cadre of angry citizen-activists, could well be doing something similar to the Republican Party right now. This time, the outcome figures to be a party that isn't just more conservative, but also more populist. Again, the question of what happens to party moderates is a big one. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704394704575495791614893612.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories Angie Keilen Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   By  DOUGLAS BELKIN SPRINGFIELD, Ohio—Across the U.S., 37 governors' seats are up for election in November. One issue links them all: the economy. That's bringing national politics—and the 2012 presidential race—into local frays. Republicans are attacking the Obama administration's handling of the country's worst recession in three generations, including the president's economic-stimulus package. Democrats are reminding voters who was in charge when the bubble burst and, in many cases, extolling the stimulus as a savior of jobs. <p s http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704206804575467750422531356.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Angie Keilen Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   By  MICHAEL COOPER Published: September 7, 2010 The midterm elections are being closely watched to determine whether Republicans will have a majority in Congress for the next two years. But it is the outcome of a lower-profile battle over state legislatures that could strengthen the  Republican Party  for a decade. Republicans are within reach of gaining control of eight or more chamber http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/us/politics/08legislature.html?_r=1 Angie Keilen Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN •  ASSOCIATED PRESS  • SEPTEMBER 10, 2010   LANSING -- Democrat Virg Bernero on Thursday began running his first ad in the Michigan governor's race, a 30-second spot that promotes his accomplishments as Lansing mayor. <p style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20100910/NEWS03/9100313/GOP-Dems-launch-first-TV-ads-in-gubernatorial-campaigns Angie Keilen Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   By  JEANNETTE NEUMANN ( See Correction & Amplification  below   .) As state and local governments push to get employees to pick up more health care costs, some employees are pushing back. On Thursday, a Michigan judge heard arguments in two of three lawsuits filed by public-school un http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704913704575453800747267726.html Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Michigan<img src="http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/mag-glass_10x10.gif" name="itxt-icon-0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-color: initial; display: inline !important; height: 10px; width: 10px; position: relative; top http://www.freep.com/article/20100827/NEWS15/8270383/1318/Surprise-exit-shakes-up-state-high-court Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT  By  KASIE HUNT  | 8/31/10 3:32 PM EDT  Updated: 9/1/10 12:43 PM EDT   <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.2857em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-wid http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/41636.html Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.freep.com/article/20100827/NEWS15/100827018 Angie Keilen Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT Crain's  asked each of the seven candidates for governor the same list of questions. Their responses are below. There were additional questions and answers that could not fit in our print article.  Click here for our WEB EXTRA. What is the top change you would make to the Michigan Business Tax? How would you pay for it? Virg Bernero Will work to eliminate the MBT surcharge as part of a comprehensive overhaul of state business taxes to a structure that rewards job creation and value-added, export-oriented production. Andy Dillon Reform the MBT by basing tax on companies' net worth and net income, not modified gross receipts and net income; repeal MBT surcharge. End tax loopholes for oil and gas companies and increase efficiencies in state government. Mike Bouchard Eliminate the MBT because it is suffocating Michigan businesses. Mike Cox Would cut MBT 50 percent with eventual phase-out and repeal 2007 personal income tax increase, paid for with $4 billion in cuts that include reforming state worker health care to save more than $269 million, changing teacher health care for nearly $500 millio http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100725/FREE/100729931/1069# Angie Keilen Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT     Legislative candidates have raised $17.4M for primaries House up 13% from 2006, Senate up 2% revised 7/27/2010 The field of 663 primary election candidates for the Michigan Legislature report having raised $17.4 million through July 18th, according to reports on file with the Bureau of Elections, as of 11:00 a.m. on July 26th. House of Representatives Reported fundraising by House candidates is down by 2.4 percent compared to 2008: $8,227,034 to $8,426,216. However, House fundraising is up by 13.1 percent compared to 2006, when primary candidates for the House raised $7.3 million. That is the last time House candidates shared the ballot and the fundraising pool with candidates for the Senate and the constitutional executive offices, as they are this year. http://www.mcfn.org/press.php?prId=110 Angie Keilen Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Federal Race to the Top school funds again skip Michigan   http://www.detnews.com/article/20100727/SCHOOLS/7270396/1026/schools/Federal-Race-to-the-Top-school-funds-again-skip-Michigan Angie Keilen Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Lansing  -- Texting at the wheel is banned starting Thursday, but drivers are getting mixed messages about enforcement. While highway billboards and TV commercials alert motorists to the new law, police and state officials are worried about how difficult it will be to crack down on those typing or reading on their cell phones. Angie Keilen Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT The Free Press has been following the five Republicans and two Democrats who want to replace Gov. Jennifer Granholm come Jan. 1. We're profiling each of the candidates, posting their positions on key issues and following breaking news of the campaign. Look to freep.com also for the latest debates and schedules of candidate appearances. http://www.freep.com/article/99999999/NEWS15/100616110/Meet-the-people-who-want-to-be-Michigan%5C-s-next-governor Angie Keilen Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT   Grand Rapids  -- Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and House Speaker Andy Dillon hammered each other on their job-creation records, stem cell research and leadership abilities in a heated debate between the two Democratic candidates for governor Monday night.  In the campaign's first televised showdown, Bernero called Dillon a "fat cat," "corporate raider" and "speaker of the mess" who oversaw wage and benefit cuts and layoffs as a private businessman and budget breakdowns as a legislative leader. Dillon responded that unemployment in Lansing has ballooned under Bernero's administration and he said a Lansing group dubbed his foe "least effective legislator" when Bernero was in the state Senate. http://detnews.com/article/20100622/POLITICS02/6220374/Bernero--Dillon-debate-heated Angie Keilen Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT This is the article description that we all have come to know and love. SuperUser Account Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT   SuperUser Account Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT   http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100315/NEWS04/3150329/ Angie Keilen Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT Lansing--Michigan Democrats will try to give their candidates for attorney general and secretary of state an early fundraising edge by endorsing them next month--four months before they're officially nominated at the party convention. http://www.detnews.com/article/20100303/POLITICS02/3030360/1022/Michigan-Democrats-to-endorse-candidates-early Angie Keilen Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT  Ea facer summo neglegentur sed, alia vitae accommodare ne usu, brute nonummy efficiendi te nam. Et nibh praesent mel, habeo hendrerit usu ex. Ei vim simul nonumy, cu ferri veritus his. An pro movet consetetur instructior, quis oratio ad ius. Aeque euripidis ad vis, euismod officiis electram his cu, euripidis incorrupte neglegentur mea in. Cum recusabo percipitur te, facilisi forensibus quo cu. http://www.google.com SuperUser Account Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT No nisl diceret assueverit eam, mea ferri noster contentiones in. Ad vel iusto possim accommodare, ei his intellegat reformidans, per te paulo volumus. Ne utroque constituam consectetuer qui. Ne erant explicari principes eos, libris labores postulant ut vel http://www.cnn.com SuperUser Account Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Cu mea tibique principes abhorreant, eirmod labores mel cu. Inani aperiri docendi qui ut, vix modus error vocent ex, mel ut accumsan eligendi delicata. Pro an eros omittantur, in nullam doming facete sed. Vel te veniam eirmod moderatius, ne alia legendos quaerendum eos, ne appareat senserit duo. Est ei laudem everti civibus, ei cum erant fierent detraxit, ius eius quidam ne. Ea mea diam summo fabellas. http://www.drudgereport.com SuperUser Account Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Ei sed clita erroribus iracundia, in usu rebum eirmod consetetur. Nam ut stet docendi comprehensam, eu mea quem erroribus. Duo ne lobortis invenire, mea ea erant scripta offendit. Civibus comprehensam pri ei. Possit iisque mandamus no eam, odio mutat hendrerit et quo. At sea vocent numquam tibique, sonet consul pro ad. http://www.google.com SuperUser Account Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Test Article 1 Description SuperUser Account Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Test Article 2 Description SuperUser Account Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Budget negotiations are stepping up with the start of the state's new fiscal year now less than six weeks away.... http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/michigan/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1547365/Michigan.News/Governor.Does.Not.Expect.Budget.Shutdown SuperUser Account Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT C ongress to approve approvals This is the articles test All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.   OK, so what's the speed of dark? How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink? If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something. Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have. SuperUser Account Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT