April 18, 1997

Legislative & Political Week in Review

• Not funny, thought the governor, as he peered at a photo of Oakland County Executive Brooks Patterson waist deep in an alleged pothole and holding a sign asking when the axle-buster might be repaired. Patterson maintains it was only a gag; he was really standing in a manhole. He was serious, however, when he subsequently announced that he will lead a group of business executives in an effort to place a gasoline tax initiative on the ballot in 1998 if the legislature doesn’t realistically address the gasoline tax issue on its own in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, after two reschedules, the governor and the legislative quadrant (majority and minority leaders in each chamber) will meet with congressional leaders in Washington on April 30 in an attempt to wrangle more federal transportation dollars for Michigan.
• Just back from spring break, the Senate Wednesday passed a measure (SB 208) to allow workers who receive tips to keep more of their earnings. Restaurant wait staff will be able to deduct up to $10,000 of tipped income. The loss to state revenue is expected to be $11.5 million. In passing the proposal 34–4, the Senate rejected other Democrat-sponsored amendments that would have cut taxes further.
• The House committee on tax policy has approved two new measures: HB 4144 will give college students a sales tax exemption on textbooks, and HB 4472 will allow local governments to add the cost of recovery to delinquent property taxes.
• Education programs and funding were on high on the agenda in House committees this week. The remaining bill on the House majority’s 90-day agenda, HB 4443—creating a third-grade reading guarantee—was passed by the House Education Committee on a 9–6, party-line vote; the $10-million program will provide unaccredited schools with the means to facilitate youngsters’ reading through smaller class size and enhanced parent involvement. The House Appropriations K–12 Subcommittee incorporated the reading-guarantee funding into the K–12 budget bill, along with increases in funding for the basic foundation allowance, At-Risk Pupil activities, adult education, and school readiness programs; as approved, the final budget tally is some $52.6 million over what the administration had proposed. The state’s universities scored well with the House Appropriations Higher Education subcommittee; members author-ized funding for the foundation allowance twice that proposed by the governor.
• The Detroit newspaper strike still smolders, and House Democrats jumped into it this week. HR 28, which passed by 59–47, urges the Detroit Newspaper Agency to accept its striking workers’ unconditional offer to return. The House also approved another resolution, HR 26, asking Congress to enact a prohibition against hiring permanent replacement workers for those on strike.
• To foster inmate education, the House has passed HB 4515, requiring prisoners to have a high school GED before they can receive parole; the bill passed overwhelmingly, 102–2.
• The Department of Community Health has released its new organization chart, which finalizes the consolidation of the former departments of Mental Health and Public Health. The new institutional structure also factors in the likely result of an exodus of long-serving employees under the current early retirement program. Dr. David Johnson will remain as chief medical executive but will assume the duties of acting chief executive of community public health as well. Mark Miller, former acting chief executive, will remain chief operating officer for the Department of Community Health. The Community Living, Children, and Families Bureau has been created to oversee mental-health service delivery to children and families.
• The State Board of Education, stymied by a mini-filibuster by Republican members, could not act this week on a revised mission statement; the item will be taken up again on May 15. Members did approve a lengthy, two-year action agenda but failed agree on a proposal to promote full-day, full-service schools.