LSJ Blogs: Capitol Journal by Scott Davis

License to picket: Abortion fight may hit the roads

Michigan Senate Republicans are pushing a bill that seems to cross the line by encouraging pro-lifers to turn their license plate into a mobile, mini-picket.

There’s been no issue more divisive and wrenching than the nation’s debate over abortion – at least since the nation’s clash during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and earlier, its fight over slavery.

And while Michigan residents have had wide latitude to personalize their license plates in past years, this bill seems to blaze new ground by encouraging pro-lifers to send an organized public message, and funneling part of the license plate proceeds to Right to Life of Michigan, the state’s main pro-life group.

Under the legislation passed Tuesday by the Senate Transportation Committee, the license plate available for purchase would read “Choose Life,” along with other identifying numbers.

There may be a fairness issue at play. Why should pro-lifers be allowed by law to buy a state-approved pro-life plate, while there is no similar plate available for pro-choice advocates?

True, Republicans are controlling both legislative chambers, along with the governor’s office. To the winners, go the spoils. I get that.

But abortion is such an emotionally gut-wrenching  issue that I think state lawmakers shouldn’t play favorites here. Especially by putting their seal of approval on a politically charged license plate that funds an advocacy group seeking to change the law of the land.

News flash: Republican supports tax hike -- for inmates

Republicans are against higher taxes. That’s their mantra – especially nationally – and they generally do a good job sticking to it, no matter the direness of the straits.

But one Michigan lawmaker is making an exception that likely won’t cause an uproar among his GOP colleagues. State Rep. Anthony Forlini, a Harrison Township Republican, wants to impose a sales tax on inmates, Gongwer News reported.

Way back when, state officials decided prisoners didn’t need to pay the state sales tax on non-food items at the prison store – like the rest of us pay out in the free world. Perhaps, the thinking was prisoners should be cut a break because they make only token money by working a prison job (74 cents a day to start). And the prison store where inmates might buy shaving cream represents a captive economy.

But Forlini doesn’t believe prisoners deserve any tax break (and he may be right).  His bill was slated today for a vote in the House, and, if approved, it heads to the Senate.

The best news? The bill would generate about $400,000 annually – not exactly pocket change in a state that until recently was the very definition of fiscally strapped.

Interestingly, years ago, then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed a similar measure into law, but it was later rescinded after a prisoner pointed out that it was tie-barred to another bill she vetoed.

Why the hush-hush over state rep's arrest?

What’s the best play for a Michigan state lawmaker arrested on a charge of driving while impaired?

Why, release the information to the media more than a day later just after 5 p.m. Friday, when most journalists have filed their last story of the week and begun the trek to the nearest watering hole.

And when most police spokespersons have disappeared from the info grid.

That was the playbook state Rep. Bob Genetski followed when he finally disclosed Friday his arrest early Thursday by Michigan State University police. The Associated Press reported today that the Saugatuck Republican claimed he was pulled over for “driving slightly above the speed limit” while he was headed to a motel after leaving the state Capitol area.

Genetski claims he didn't think he was inebriated and passed a field sobriety test, but that the officer asked him to take a breath test anyway. Genetski said he refused and was subsequently arrested  and taken to Ingham County Jail.

Genetski said he took a breath test at the jail, showing a blood-alcohol of .066 percent. Michigan’s legal limit is .08 percent. He then was released from jail about 8 a.m. Thursday, according to Gongwer News.

Genetski said the incident was "humbling and eye-opening." The Associated Press was unable to reach MSU police today to confirm Genetski’s account or the status of the charge.

One almost can’t blame Genetski for the timing of the disclosure of his arrest. It’s part of a political playbook that goes back many generations, and is designed to give the representative more control over the story during a weekend news cycle.

Perhaps more troubling is that MSU police chose not to disclose the arrest to the media, despite the obvious public interest. True, it’s a relatively minor charge, but whenever a public official, particularly a state representative, is arrested, the public has a right to know.

Surely, that is taught by political science professors on campus. Maybe, someone needs a refresher course.

 

 

U-turn by state: Hungry families no longer must choose between a car and food

Some sanity has been restored to the state Department of Human Services’ criteria for awarding food stamps.

After months of criticism over a new DHS policy to apply an asset test for receiving food stamps, the state agency is notifying families that it is making the policy less draconian.

The main complaint was over the agency’s new policy to consider a car valued at $15,000 or more as income that would disqualify an applicant. But this never made much sense, since it would encourage families to ditch their vehicles to qualify for food.

And without a vehicle, parents had a much time tougher time to drive to a job and earn money to wean themselves from aid.

Finally, the light bulb went on at DHS, and agency officials realized this.

Undoubtedly, some children in Michigan will sleep with fuller bellies as a result.

Rossman-McKinney furious over Jones' 'hooker' comment

Once again, Sen. Rick Jones' mouth may land him into trouble.

 

This time, critics say, the Grand Ledge Republican stepped over the line when a verbal sparring between him and Lansing public relations powerhouse Kelly Rossman-McKinney led him to describe her work with a metaphor derived from the world's oldest profession.

 

"As an elected senator I am honored to fight on behalf of my constituents for the best public policy," Jones emailed MIRS, according to their subsequent report. "Unfortunately Kelly, like a 'hooker,' works for whichever client hires her -- policy be damned. She always gets worked up when I oppose her clients. Business must be tough. I find it funny that she took on a Republican partner."

 

Incensed at the comment, Rossman-McKinney, a co-founder of Truscott Rossman, fired off a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, demanding an apology from Jones.

 

"I generally don’t mind verbal attacks or insulting comments – again, it’s often part of our environment – but the statement  from Senator Jones’ was totally unsolicited by MIRS and so over the top in terms of content that it demands redress," Rossman-McKinney wrote.

Richardville spokeswoman Amber McCann decelined to comment. It's the second time in recent weeks Jones has come under such fire. In early December, Joan Fabiano, a mid-Michigan Tea Party leader, fired off a complaint to Richardville about Jones after he asked during an exchange on Facebook if she if she used “head meds."

Jones told MIRS he was surprised by Rossman-McKinney's reaction. "She took a shot at me. I took a shot back. It was meant in humor."

Lawmakers vote 12th hour to provide heating aid

With brutal winter storms likely around the corner, Michigan’s Legislature chose not to go “Full-Metal Scrooge” and ignore the state’s neediest citizens.

On the last day of its session this year, the Legislature on Thursday approved a plan to provide aid to protect low-income residents to prevent utility shut-offs. The plan raises $58 million to keep the heat on in these households.

Lawmakers needed to act because a state appeals court this year ruled the financing system used by Michigan's Low Income and Energy Efficiency Fund was not authorized to continue.

Congratulations to lawmakers for helping to avert a crisis among Michigan’s poor this winter and taking care of business. But the hard work is not finished. The bill passed Thursday is only temporary; now lawmakers must find a long-term solution to provide heating assistance.

Michigan House Republicans give Obama a Bronx cheer

For roughly two years, national healthcare reform has been the law of the land – the country’s first attempt to implement fairness, decency and cost controls in an often predatory, anti-consumer healthcare insurance industry.

You wouldn’t know that by Tuesday’s vote by Michigan’s Republican-controlled House.

In what amounted to a Bronx cheer, the House voted overwhelmingly to reject a $9.8 million federal grant to continue the planning and development of the MIHealth Marketplace, a health care exchange mandated by the federal law.

This seems like a classic tantrum – a child holding his breath in hopes of getting extra dessert at the dinner table. Except, as noted earlier, this is the law of the land. Nothing will change. Michigan still has to set up the health exchange.

Just Michigan now has less money to do it.

There really is no reason for this, except that House Republicans seem to hate what they call “Obamacare” with every fiber of their existence. I’ve seen some House Republicans casually dismiss the federal law as some kind of bizarre, Stalinist holdover from the Soviet Union.

This shows a real lack of understanding of what Stalinism or socialism is, or what the new reformed system is in the nation – a private industry system, with a few regulations and many of the same predatory, anti-consumer faults that existed in the previous private sector healthcare system.

Political posturing aside, we essentially have the same healthcare system as before. Keep holding your breath, Republicans. If you pass out, healthcare will be on the way – if you can afford it.

Jones finds himself in hot water with one Tea partier

State Sen. Rick Jones’ outspoken ways landed him in a little hot water.

That would be the hot water often served up by Michigan’s Tea Party.

This week, Joan Fabiano, a mid-Michigan Tea Party official, fired off a complaint about Jones to Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville after the Grand Ledge Republican asked her through Facebook if she used “head meds,” according to Gongwer News.

In return, Jones sent an apology letter Thursday to Fabiano. Fabiano and Jones had been communicating regarding Jones’ support for health exchange legislation.

"I apologize for the last communication," he wrote. "We've been communicating for years...it's become unproductive."

Jones encouraged Fabiano, who does not live in Jones’ district, to contact her own senator is she wishes to discuss legislation.

Amber McCann, spokeswoman for Richardville, said the matter is under review.

It was not the first time Jones has asked someone publicly about drug use. At a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting earlier this year, Jones asked a medical marijuana advocate who was testifying whether he was high on marijuana; the advocate seemed taken aback by the question.

Afterwards, Jones, a former law enforcement officer, said he was merely asking, because it seemed obvious to him the person was under the influence of some sort of drug.

Will Legislature rise to the challenge?

Two heating assistance plans being debated today in the state House and Senate may prove to be a key test of how the Republican-controlled Legislature addresses the needs of Michigan’s poorest citizens.

 So far, the Legislature, along with Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, has proven adept at passing legislation to reforming Michigan’s tax code and reducing unemployment benefits in an effort to make the state more business friendly.

Now, Republicans face a different challenge as they scramble to create a temporary fund to avert what may be a crisis this winter as Michigan’s poor and  unemployed runs out of money to pay for heat.

Almost nothing could put a greater stress on the state’s homeless shelters and non-profits this winter than having thousands of Michigan residents forced from their unheated homes.

The Senate plan would create a $58 million fund that would be funded by several sources including a surcharge on utility bills. The House plan would transfer $62 milllion in  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding to the state’s Emergency Relief Fund. Next year, some lawmakers are hoping to reach a more long-term solution to the problem.

With temperatures dropping outside daily – and a harsh winter ahead – one hopes that lawmakers move quickly to reach consensus and put a plan into place.

Michigan's system to create medical marijuana cards has gone to pot

For months, applicants for medical marijuana cards in Michigan have been complaining about long delays in getting their documentation.

Now we know why. One of the machines that makes or processes the cards has gone busto.

According to the Associated Press, Celeste Clarkson, a state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs compliance section manager, says an equipment malfunction has led to a backlog in printing about 20,000 medical marijuana cards.

Hey state officials. Let’s call in a technician to fix that machine. A good one.

Medically ill people out there are counting on their cards, and they shouldn’t have to wait around to fire up some relief.