September 20, 2013, MichiganVotes Weekly Vote Report

Senate Bill 276, Require community service work by welfare recipients: Passed 27 to 9 in the Senate
To require cash welfare recipients to perform community service if they are not already in a welfare-related work or training program.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 126, Amendment to allow "Common Core" curriculum implementation: Failed 12 to 24 in the Senate
To repeal a provision of the current state budget that prohibits spending money to implement a “Common Core” curriculum promoted by an entity associated with the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers. The amendment sponsored by Sen. Gretchen Whitmer was to a minor supplemental appropriations bill.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 315, Revise marketing “assessments” imposed on potato growers: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate
To increase the maximum "assessment" that can be levied on growers under a government potato marketing scheme, with exceptions for smaller growers; revise the constituents represented on the board of political appointees authorized to determine the level of assessments; and authorize a potato grower referendum on assessment increases every five years.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4694, Authorize “mental health courts”: Passed 104 to 0 in the House
To authorize a type of alternative judicial proceeding for mentally disturbed or disabled individuals who commit minor crimes, similar to the state “drug courts” for minor drug use crimes. These “mental health” courts would allow dismissal of charges if the individual agrees to and abides by an agreement that includes a prescribed mental health treatment program.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4833, Increase election recount deposit requirement: Passed 95 to 9 in the House
To increase the money deposit a candidate must make to get an election recount from $10 to $25 per precinct, and to $125 per precinct if the election wasn't close (within 50 votes or 0.5 percent).

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit https://www.michiganvotes.org.

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