April 25, 1997

Legislative & Political Week in Review

• Characterizing the State Board of Education as irrelevant to overall education policy, Sen. Bill Bullard (R-Milford) Tuesday proposed a constitutional amendment to abolish the eight-member board and transfer its constitutional powers to the state superintendent of public instruction. SJR J would require passage by a two-thirds majority in both legislative chambers and a majority vote of the Michigan electorate in November 1998.
• House Democrats made good on their pledge to enact their 90-day legislative agenda but not without a struggle. By a 55-52 margin, House Democrats mustered the bare minimum of votes needed to pass a measure they believe will improve the K–3 reading levels of students in 13 unaccredited state elementary schools. Final passage of the third-grade reading guarantee required affirmative votes from two GOP members—Reps. Mike Goschka (Brant) and Sue Rocca (Sterling Heights)—as two Democrats—Reps. Howard Wetters (Kawkawlin) and Tom Alley (West Branch)—sided with the minority.
• The House adopted its first two budget bills of the session, both deal with education. HB 4309 appropriates funds for higher education; as passed by the House, colleges and universities would garner an average increase of 5 percent over FY 1997. The bill doubles the governor’s proposed increase in the foundation allowance and comes in at $1.569 billion—$33 million over Engler’s recommendation. K-12 schools also stand to benefit from House largesse as members voted 71-35 to increase spending by $138 million over the governor’s spending target. The bulk of the extra money proposed in HB 4310, the school aid budget bill, is aimed at restoring cuts in adult education, increasing the foundation grant by $22, and adding $45 million for at-risk funding programs.
• Initiatives aimed at controlling the proliferation of highway billboards overall and banning tobacco product promotion by the outdoor advertising medium (SB 341) were offered by two Republican senators this week. Sponsored by Leon Stille (R-Spring Lake), the multi-bill package (SBs 445–445) would shore up existing state restrictions on billboard placement, permit additional oversight by local units of government, and encourage the preservation of scenic corridors. Increased fees on billboards would be used to fund the administrative costs of the package. Sen. Loren Bennett (R-Canton Township), sponsor of the tobacco billboard ban, said, "Cigarette advertising on radio and television was banned in 1971 and it’s time to ban other forums for these messengers of death."
• Governor Engler and Rep. James Agee (D-Muskegon) caused other headaches this week for the tobacco industry as they joined forces to unveil a proposal to make tobacco manufacturers responsible for affixing tax stamps on cigarette packs. The pending Agee legislation is at odds with another proposal (SB 101) currently in the House Tax Policy Committee that directs tobacco wholesalers in Michigan to apply the stamps and collect the 75-cent-per-pack tax.
• Tort reform, as applied to the state’s road system, was passed Wednesday on a straight party-line vote (22-16) in the Senate. Proponents of Senate Bill 306 argue it will bring greater efficiencies to the Michigan Department of Transportation and free up money for road repair now being paid out in "frivolous" lawsuits. The bill substantially limits the state’s liability in auto accidents occurring on Michigan highways and is a cornerstone of Senate and administration road repair plans.
• Sen. Jim Berryman (D-Adrian) meanwhile threw a new wrinkle into the road repair debate by proposing that revenue received from a proposed eight-cent-per-gallon fuel tax increase be used for specific road repair projects. He suggests that the Transportation Needs Study Committee of the Transportation Commission develop a priority list of critical repair and maintenance endeavors; items on the list would require subsequent approval by two-thirds of both the House and Senate.
• Conclusive evidence of sexual harassment was not found by the three-member panel charged with investigating allegations made against Sen. Henry Stallings (D-Detroit) by one of his former staff members. The panel did recommend, however, that the senator undergo interpersonal training and continue to keep his office functions under the control of the Senate Minority Leader John Cherry (D-Clio).