Category: Capitol News

By Mary Pollock Election activities and news dominated the landscape in the last month. The Michigan Legislature met on October 13 and 21 and November 5 since the last report. COVID-19 COVID-19 cases are exploding in Michigan with an average of 20 dying each day as of this writing. The State’s seven-day average for new… Read more

By Mary Pollock A slow month it was not: a foiled kidnapping attempt on the Governor and attack on the capitol that made international news; presidential election frenzy; and the Michigan Supreme Court ruling the Governor’s Executive Orders on the pandemic are unconstitutional. Oh, and a State budget for Fiscal Year 2021 passed quietly without… Read more

By Mary Pollock The Governor continues to focus on running the state under emergency conditions for COVID-19 matters and the Legislature returned from their summer hiatus on September 1 for a few weeks. BUDGET ANXIETY First the good news — Michigan’s economy is rebounding; therefore, State government revenues are up by $2 billion more than… Read more

By Mary Pollock The August 4 primary and the COVID-19 pandemic dominated Michigan news in the last month. COVID-19 NEWS Statewide, there were 87,403 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6,250 deaths as of August 8. Don’t bring COVID home or spread to others unknowingly. Free testing is widely available right now. To find a testing… Read more

By Mary Pollock COVID-19 continued to dominate the news amid continuing global protests about racial injustice. Meanwhile, the state prepared for its August primary and a budget deal was struck. VOTE FROM HOME Michigan’s major party primary election is Tuesday, August 4. This year voting at home by absentee ballot is especially important and available to… Read more

By Mary Pollock It was a slow month in Michigan — pandemic, economic paralysis, widespread civil unrest, and a 500-year flood in the Midland area. DEMONSTRATIONS On May 25 George Floyd, a 46-year old African-American man, was killed while being restrained by a white police officer who used his knee to pin Mr. Floyd by… Read more

By Mary Pollock The Legislature, like the rest of us, has been predominantly sequestering themselves at home with just a few in-person meetings in April and early May. Meanwhile the Governor, her staff, and most of the executive branch have been very busy. STAY HOME, STAY SAFE Since her declaration of a state of emergency… Read more

By Mary Pollock Most of the state’s March news involved COVID-19, but the Governor signed a bill that we supported. PENSION TAX AMENDMENT Both chamber passed HB 4171 unanimously, so it was a no-brainer that Governor Gretchen Whitmer would sign the bill that will allow a widow or widower to claim a tax deduction that… Read more

By Mary Pollock With the March 10 primary behind us, we can enjoy a brief respite before intensive campaigning begins, our mailboxes fill up and phones start ringing. And with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 hitting the elderly hard, let’s follow the advice of our health experts to stay safe. MICHIGAN PRIMARY Former New York City… Read more

By Mary Pollock We are in the midst of the first quarter of an election year, practically the last time state legislators are going to pass anything controversial like raising taxes. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY MARCH 10 Michigan’s presidential primary is March 10, a week after so-called Super Tuesday when 11 states hold their primary. With Michigan’s… Read more