October 8, 1999

Legislative & Political Week in Review

• The introduction by Republicans of House Bills 4905–6 and 4924, legislation to curb the power of the Attorney General’s office, looks like a partisan play for power—but is it? On the one hand, Jennifer Granholm has emerged as the Michigan Democrats’ most popular leader (and, arguably, their strongest candidate for governor in 2002), and it would certainly be in the Republicans’ best political interest to limit her scope of influence over the next three years. On the other hand, three factors indicate that we may be witnessing a genuine philosophical disagreement. First, the issue is not cut and dried; the basis on which Attorney General opinions have the force of law is in fact subject to dispute. Second, the Republicans presumably hope at some point to capture the office (although practically no one can remember the last time Michigan had a Republican AG), so any partisan advantage would be temporary. Finally, although House Speaker Chuck Perricone (R-Kalamazoo Twp.) is leading the charge on the issue, it’s important to remember that the idea was originally floated by Sen. Ken Sikkema (R-Grandville), one of the legislature’s most thoughtful and least partisan members.
• Republican legislators, however, appear to be doing their best to make the Attorney General issue look like a partisan power play. Less than a week after the legislation was introduced, the House Constitutional Law and Ethics Committee held a hearing during which committee chairman Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) exchanged unpleasantries with Granholm, at one point cutting off the AG’s microphone. Following the hearing, many legislators appeared to lose their enthusiasm for the legislation, fearing a political backlash. Sikkema said that legislation should be limited to the question of whether or not the AG can interpret the state constitution. The House package would also curtail the AG’s ability to file lawsuits.
• Presidential hopefuls are not the only ones getting an early start on the next election cycle. Rep. Mark Jansen (R-Grand Rapids) announced this week that he will run for Speaker in 2001. Jansen ran against Perricone in 1999 and is considered less confrontational than the current Speaker.
• The Senate Finance Committee this week approved legislation to assist Michigan’s poorest school districts with school construction and repair. Under SB 744, $30 million from the school aid fund would be used by the poorest third of districts (measured by per-pupil taxable value) or districts where at least one-half of the students are considered at-risk to pay interest on construction bonds. SB 774 is one of several efforts to reduce disparities in construction spending among districts; disparities in operational spending have already been greatly reduced by Proposal A.
• School voucher supporters are pushing ahead with their petition drive despite warnings from Governor Engler that the issue is a political loser. The Kids First! campaign has already gathered 50,000 of the 302,711 signatures required to put the issue on the ballot in 2000. Engler spokesman John Truscott suggested that the petition drive will be hurt by the news that few districts actually will have a low enough graduation rate to force them to offer vouchers.
• The ACLU has filed suit in federal court to block a Michigan law requiring all welfare recipients to undergo drug tests. The ACLU contends that the law violates constitutional prohibitions against unreasonable searches and that it effectively criminalizes poverty.
• The Senate voted down HB 4099, which required that the Friday before Labor Day be made a holiday in any school district beginning the school year before Labor Day. With five Senators off the floor, the vote tally was 18–15, but Senate leaders vowed to make another attempt to pass the bill on Thursday.