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Every week, MichiganVotes.org sends a report to newspapers and TV stations showing how just the state legislators in each publication's service area voted on the most important and interesting bills and amendments of the past seven days. The version shown here instead contains a link to the complete roll call tally in either the House or Senate. To find out who your state senator is and how to contact him or her go here; for state representatives go here.
Senate Bill 1163, Compromise 2010-2011 school budget, passed
in the Senate (37 to 1)
To adopt a compromise version of 2010-2011 school aid budget reported by a
House-Senate conference committee. This would appropriate $12.846 billion,
compared to $12.823 billion for 2009-2010. The bill would increase the
per-pupil foundation allowance by $11, retroactive to include the 2009-2010
school year.
Senate Bill 382, Post online certain state spending,
contract and employee information, passed in the Senate (38 to 0)
To require the state to post online a searchable database containing
year-to-date expenditures by department and category; the number of employees
by department with job specifications and wage rates; a listing of state
contracts with vendor name, amount and description; and other information. Most
of this is mostly available currently on other state websites; the bill would
not require the state to post its "check register" online, as has been
done in Missouri and some other states, which is considered the "gold
standard" of government transparency initiatives.
House Bill 4726, Ban license renewal if three unpaid parking
tickets, failed in the Senate (14 to 23)
To reduce from six to three the number of unpaid parking tickets a person can
have before the Secretary of State will not renew a driver license. In addition
to the tickets a person would have to pay a $45 "clearance fee."
Senate Bill 1402, Encourage elementary schools to adopt
"Eddie Eagle" gun safety program, passed in the Senate (34 to 4)
To require the Department of Education to develop a model elementary school gun
safety program based on the National Rifle Association's "Eddie
Eagle" program, and encourage school districts to adopt it.
House Bill 6151, Mandate local "complete-streets"
policies, passed in the House (85 to 21)
To mandate that local road agencies adopt "complete-streets" policies
within two years, defined as ones that "promote safe and efficient movement of
people and goods whether by car, truck, transit, assistive device, foot, or
bicycle." The bill would also create a government "complete streets" advisory
council with representatives of various pro-sidewalk interest groups, and
require road agencies to notify adjoining jurisdictions of how they intend to
spend road money allocated to sidewalks and other nonmotorized facilities.
House Bill 6195, Authorize unionization of home personal
assistance providers, passed in the House (66 to 41)
To codify in statute a scheme begun in 2004 by which the state has unionized
42,000 individuals hired by elderly or disabled Medicaid recipients to provide
personal care services in their homes. These providers are not employees of the
state, so the scheme uses the legal device of creating a shell government
"employer" (the "Michigan Quality Community Care Council") that transfers some
$6.6 million in Medicaid money annually to the SEIU union (considered the "union
dues" for these workers). Note: A lawsuit filed by the Mackinac Center is
pending regarding a similar arrangement imposed on home day care providers.
House Bill 6053, Revise pepper spray restrictions, passed in
the House (103 to 4)
To eliminate a prohibition on the use of pepper spray with a 10 percent
oleoresin capsicum concentration in the reasonable defense of one's person or
property. Under current law citizens are limited to 2 percent pepper spray.
Senate Bill 1166, Spend $50 million in mostly
"stimulus" money, passed in the House (84 to 22)
To appropriate $50.3 million in mostly federal "stimulus" deficit
spending, including $17.8 million to pay for the demolition of abandoned houses
in a number of local communities; and $30 million for more subsidies for energy
efficiency improvements to private homes and some commercial buildings,
primarily in Detroit, Grand Rapids and some other metro-Detroit communities.
The bill also appropriates state tax and fee money for a $2.5 million State
Police crime lab in Marquette; and authorizes a new $60 million building at
Western Michigan University.
Senate Bill 1163, Compromise 2010-2011 school budget, passed
in the House (98 to 6)
To adopt a compromise version of 2010-2011 school aid budget reported by a
House-Senate conference committee. This would appropriate $12.846 billion,
compared to $12.823 billion for 2009-2010. The bill would increase the
per-pupil foundation allowance by $11, retroactive to include the 2009-2010
school year.
SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit MichiganVotes.org.
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