June 16, 1995

Legislative Week in Review

• "We will meet until it’s done," pronounced Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus about the state budget, after a midweek powwow of legislative leaders with Gov. John Engler. And they did, and it was done--a little after 4 a.m. on Friday morning--giving lawmakers the earliest summer recess date in recent memory. Analysis and detail on the $15-billion, all-funds budget will be provided to subscribers in an upcoming issue of Public Policy Advisor. Roundup will resume publication on September 14, after the recess.
• Their amendment to the Corrections Department budget didn’t say "chain gangs", but that was the term immediately used to characterize the required inmate-work details inserted by House Republicans into the lower chamber’s revisions to Senate-passed changes in HB 4418. The 81-22 vote for passage reflects the view of the amendment’s sponsor, Rep. Charles Perricone (R-Kalamazoo), that "Prisoners have had it too easy for too long." Upwards of 4,000 inmates could be affected by new, mandatory community service work, which "shall be physical in nature and may include working in swamps."
• A bill giving prosecuting attorneys subpoena power during criminal investigations passed the House 80-35 this week. SB 85 compels witnesses in a criminal investigation to cooperate with prosecutors or face contempt charges. Currently, subpoena power is reserved for cases actually brought before a grand jury or to trial. Supporters applaud this potential additional crime-fighting tool; opponents say the bill violates citizens’ constitutional rights by forcing them to appear before an investigatory body.
• Another headline grabber in this week’s law-and-order news was the governor’s endorsement of determinate sentencing--better known as "no parole." A two-bill package designed to ensure that violent criminals serve out their sentences will get legislative consideration this fall after a capitol press conference preview this week.
• A 40-bill, Friend of the Court reform package was unveiled this week by a Senate subcommittee that spent months hearing mostly critical testimony about the circuit-court-administered child support system. The central and most controversial recommendation will transfer oversight in child support and visitation cases from the courts to the presumably more electorally sensitive offices of county commissioners.

Political News

• As promised, the federal government has sued Michigan over failure to fully implement "motor voter" law provisions. "Just another unfunded mandate," huffs gubernatorial spokesman John Truscott, who reiterates the executive branch contention that the state virtually invented user-friendly voter registration. But the feds say registration in secretary of state branch offices isn’t enough; they want registration available in social service agencies and by mail.
• National columnist Robert Novak enthuses over Governor Engler in the current issue of American Spectator. Describing why Engler is his favorite potential presidential candidate, Novak’s four-page essay says Engler’s only flaw is his lack of handsomeness in a telegenic age.
• Congressional financial disclosure forms were released this week, identifying the state’s three millionaire lawmakers. Reps. Dick Chrysler (R-Brighton), Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), and Nick Smith (R-Addison) each reported assets and income topping $1 million.
• Newly elected UAW President Steve Yokich becomes the Michigan Democrats’ "new powerbroker," reports the Detroit News in a story that says party insiders hope Yokich will rein in AFL-CIO President Frank Garrison who "has handpicked Democratic candidates for a decade" and is "on a big losing streak" in doing so.