Category: Capitol News

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

By Mary Pollock The Legislature broke for the winter holidays on December 19 amid a flurry of activity to settle many of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget disputes. The legislative session resumes on January 8, 2020. BUDGET IMPASSE RESOLVED More than nine months after Governor Whitmer introduced her budget, legislative chambers sent negotiated supplemental… Read more

By Mary Pollock The Legislature’s last day before its holiday break is December 19 with plans to return January 8, 2020. BUDGET RESOLVED The standoff between Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-led legislature on the Fiscal Year 2020 budget (which started October 1, 2019) appears to have been partially resolved, a good start at… Read more

By Mary Pollock SERA MEMBER APPOINTED TO STATE RETIREMENT BOARD Governor Whitmer has appointed SERA member Lauri Schmidt of Williamston to the State of Michigan Retirement Board which provides oversight of the state employee’s pension fund. Schmidt is the SERA Plus Coordinator for Hantz Financial Group and the retired director of the Employee Benefits Division… Read more

By Mary Pollock The talk of the town is the GOP-controlled legislature waiting until the last minute to send the Governor FY2020 budget bills and then the Governor’s bold budget vetoes. However, there was plenty of other news in the last month. FY 2020 BUDGET Whitmer’s budget, presented in March, was built around her proposed… Read more

By Mary Pollock The Michigan Senate returned on August 27 and the Michigan House on the day following, ending its 9-week summer “district work.” BUDGET NEWS Facing a potential state government shutdown on October 1 over Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s commitment to raising new revenue to complete her campaign promise to “fix the damn roads” and… Read more