Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting
Senate Bill 961, Senate version of next year's public school budget: Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate
The Senate version of the public school budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $12.71 billion, compared to $12.66 billion originally authorized for this year, and $12.68 billion proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder. The bill would increase the per-pupil foundation grant by between $116 and $232, depending on how much school districts currently receive. Both the House and Senate versions of this budget watered down and reduced the dollar amounts of "best practices" grants proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder, which make a portion of the money contingent on adopting specified fiscal and transparency reforms.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 961, Hopgood amendment to increase school spending: Failed 16 to 22 in the Senate
To increase the spending proposed in the Senate School Aid budget by $495 million, and increase per-student spending by $300. Republicans Green, Hansen, Jones and Rocca joined all Democrats in supporting the amendment.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 951, Senate prison budget: Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate
The Senate version of the Department of Corrections budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $1.991 billion, compared to $1.936 billion this year. The budget includes provisions that could result in placing some prisoners in a private prison, which is strongly opposed by the SEIU-affiliated prison guard union. Republicans Casperson, Caswell, Emmons, Kahn, Nofs and Walker joined all Democrats in opposing this budget.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 951, Anderson anti-prison privatization amendment: Failed 15 to 23 in the Senate
To increase the procedural barriers to privatizing a prison or particular functions in a non-privatized prison. Among other things, the department would be prohibited from realizing savings through privatization unless this saves more than 10 percent compared to the current cost. Republicans Casperson, Emmons and Nofs joined all Democrats in supporting the amendment.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 949, Anderson community college fund-source amendment: Failed 19 to 19 in the Senate
To not use tax revenues earmarked to the state School Aid Fund in next year's community colleges budget, but instead use non-earmarked revenue. Although under the state constitution the SAF is "exclusively for aid to school districts, higher education, and school employees’ retirement systems," the public school establishment contends that the 1994 Proposal A initiative earmarking a sales tax increase to the SAF means it can only be used for K-12 schools. Republicans Caswell, Colbeck, Green, Hansen, Jones, Nofs and Rocca joined all Democrats in support.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5189, Water-down local government reform "incentive grants": Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To water-down the requirement in the state budget enacted for the current fiscal year that local governments must adopt certain fiscal and transparency reforms as a condition of receiving the portion of state revenue sharing distributions not required by the state constitution. In particular, the bill essentially eliminates the "incentive grant" requirement that municipal employees must contribute at least 20 percent toward the cost of their health insurance fringe benefits.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 619, Increase online charter "cyber-school" enrollment cap: Passed 56 to 54 in the House
To gradually increase the number of Michigan students who may take advantage of online public “cyber schools.” Under current law, this is limited to just two online charter schools and 1,000 students statewide. The bill would increase this to 15 schools and not more than 2 percent of the state's public school students, subject to various additional restrictions. It would also allow community colleges, school districts and intermediate school districts to create online charter schools serving students anywhere in the state.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5414, Establish more “dark sky preserves”: Passed 80 to 28 in the House
To designate Wilderness State Park, a portion of Port Crescent State Park in Huron County, and state forestland in Emmet County as “dark sky preserves.” The term is not defined in statute, but in general it means restricting outdoor lighting to a minimum.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5189, Water-down local government reform "incentive grants": Passed 96 to 9 in the House
To water-down the requirement in the state budget enacted for the current fiscal year that local governments must adopt certain fiscal and transparency reforms as a condition of receiving the portion of state revenue sharing distributions not required by the state constitution. In particular, the bill essentially eliminates the "incentive grant" requirement that municipal employees must contribute at least 20 percent toward the cost of their health insurance fringe benefits.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5365, House version of next year's state budget: Passed 58 to 52 in the House
The House version of the non-education portion of the state government budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $34.195 billion, compared to $33.14 billion originally authorized for this year. Of this, $15.03 billion comes from state tax, fee and other revenue, compared to $15.63 billion the previous year. The rest of this budget is federal money ($18.11 billion, compared to $17.52 billion the previous year).
While both the House propose slightly less spending in many areas than Gov. Rick Snyder, they also watered down the "best practices" incentive grants he proposed, which make some of the money distributed to schools, local governments and universities contingent on their adopting specified fiscal and transparency reforms.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5372, House version of next year's education budget: Passed 56 to 54 in the House
The House version of the K-12 public school, community college and university budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $12.81 billion for K-12 public schools, compared to $12.66 billion originally authorized for this year and $12.68 billion proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder.
The bill also appropriates $1.39 billion for state universities, compared to $1.36 billion enacted for this year. Community colleges would get $294 million vs. $283 million this year.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
Interested in a cumulative list of all weekly Roll Call Report Votes for 2012?
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 https://www.michiganvotes.org.
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