December 1, 1994

Legislative Week in Review

• With the empty chair of the state’s longest-serving Democratic legislator draped in mourning, it looked and felt like the end of an era as Co-Speaker Curtis Hertel (D-Detroit) gaveled to adjournment Wednesday the final House session under his party’s control for at least two years. The Democrat’s last month of shared power in the lower chamber was cut a day short by cancellation of Thursday’s session, to permit lawmakers to attend the funeral of Dominic Jacobetti (D-Negaunee). Representative Jacobetti’s 40-year legislative tenure included almost two decades as chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee.
• To no one’s surprise, Paul Hillegonds (R-Holland) was elected Speaker of the House by his caucus last week. Frank Fitzgerald (R-Grand Ledge) survived a challenge by Alan Cropsey (R-Dewitt) to retain the Speaker pro tem position, and Ken Sikkema (R-Grandville) replaced newly elected judge Richard Bandstra as floor leader. The new positions of associate Speakers pro tem went to Jessie Dalman (R-Holland) and Penny Crissman (R-Rochester).
• A five-bill package of domestic violence legislation passed the House this week, including one measure that puts abusive dating relationships in the category of domestic violence. The House bills—5804–08—are virtually identical to measures already passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee; action by the full Senate on its package is expected before year’s end.
• A dozen bills addressing technical implementation aspects of Proposal A also passed the lower chamber this week, despite unsuccessful amendment attempts on the floor. HBs 5680, 5846, 5931, 5933, 5935, 5937, 5940, 5942–3, 5945–6 address collection and distribution, school aid funding, and millage assessment formulas.

Political News

• Secretary of State-elect Candice Miller has named a transition team headed by state Chamber of Commerce Vice President Robert LaBrant and Lansing attorney Ken Brooks; the group also includes her husband, Don.
• In other news of Millers, spouses, and transitions, Republican Sharon Miller—who put up a good fight against incumbent Jim Berryman in the 17th state Senate District—was appointed by the governor to head the Michigan Women’s Commission. Miller, whose spouse is director of the state Department of Social Services, replaces Anne Mervenne; Mervenne is returning to the governor’s office, as a member of his transition team’s executive committee.
• Figures just in from the U.S. Commerce Department list Michigan as the nation’s third-largest exporter, trailing only California and Texas and ahead of New York and Washington.
• Montrose Republican Rep. Sandra Hill’s minuscule 70-vote victory margin in the 47th House District has been formally challenged by opponent Rose Bogardus, who asked this week for a recount of the 16,207–16,137 tallies. Expressing perhaps the most guarded optimism of the campaign season, Ms. Bogardus predicted her chances of winning a recount, and thereby returning the House to a shared power arrangement, range from slim to none.
• Concluding a round of sparsely attended public hearings, members of the State Officers Compensation Committee (SOCC) are leaning toward recommending a six percent pay hike for top state officials. The SOCC—whose salary recommendations for the governor, lieutenant governor, state senators and representatives, and Michigan Supreme Court justices take effect automatically unless both legislative chambers vote to reject them—earlier received a report listing Michigan officeholders’ compensation as among the ten highest in the nation.
• In the U.S. House of Representatives, David Bonior (D-Mt. Clemens) remained in the saddle as Democratic whip, despite a challenge from conservative Texan Charlie Steinholm, in caucus elections held this week. In other news, Barbara Rose Collins (D-Detroit) has been awarded an title even loftier than congresswoman: The Ghanan town of Pepease has designated her as a queen mother. In describing plans for her installation ceremony next month in the West African nation, Collins said that "this is not merely an honorary position, but a genuine coronation, with all the responsibilities and privileges afforded to royal family members."