Cindy Gamrat shouldn't be on the ballot, say other legislators

The Michigan Secretary of State will not stop expelled Rep. Cindy Garmat from appearing on the ballot as she runs for re-election, but one of her opponents could still try.

Rep. Kurt Heise, an attorney who sat on the special committee that recommended expulsion for Gamrat and fellow Rep. Todd Courser, said Tuesday that the SOS determination is not binding and should be tested in court.

Article here (via mlive). 

Petition drive to make Michigan legislature part-time

Petition drives to transform Michigan to a part-time Legislature and reform the way petition drives are conducted were approved Thursday by the state Board of Canvassers.
The part-time Legislature petition would cut legislative sessions to 60 days a year and cut lawmakers pay in about half to $35,000 a year.

Article here. 

Medical Marijuana: two bills stalled in Michigan legislature

Supporters of medical marijuana were thrilled last year when two bills making it easier for people to buy a variety of medicinal cannabis — including edibles — passed the House of Representative with large bipartisan majorities.
But those cheers may turn to frustration as the two bills have stalled in the state Senate with no visible sign that they’ll move anytime soon.

Article here. 

Changes to Michigan law for child prostitution: Higher penalties.

The Michigan House has voted to increase the penalty for soliciting sex from a minor, making it a felony with a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Article here. 

A Year-in-Review of the Michigan Legislature.

Accomplishments this year include:
■ Establishing a hunt for up to 43 gray wolves in the Upper Peninsula, thwarting an anti-wolf hunt group’s efforts to get a repeal of the hunt on the 2014 ballot.
■ Adopting Common Core standards for education, which are a national set of expectations of what students need to know in order to be career- and college-ready when they leave high school. The standards were developed by the National Governors’ Association and have been adopted by 45 states.

Article here. 

Property Owners may face jail time in Michigan anti-blight bills

Michigan cities would have the tools to fight blight in quicker, more effective ways under a bill that passed the state Senate Thursday and are now on their way to Gov. Rick Snyder.

Article here. 

6 issues the Michigan legislature will likely address before the Holidays

The list:
1. Ban on traditional abortion insurance coverage.
2. Campaign finance reform.
3. Medical marijuana.
4. Education.
5. Medicaid expansion.
6. No fault insurance

Article here.

Michigan bill would make it easier to take your roadkill home.

Senate Bill 613 would allow a motorist to take the animal for eating and other uses, such as baiting, and keep a written record of where and when it was hit and get the salvage tag later. Finding appropriate authorities to provide a salvage tag after raccoon runovers and deer dents is inconvenient, Sen. Darwin Booher, (R-Evart) said, noting that road-killed animals sometimes stay put for weeks.

Article here.

Work and live in Michigan? Have student loans? Tax break time!

Students who stay in Michigan after graduation could be in line for a tax break on their student loan payments under a bill that advanced out of a state Senate committee on Wednesday.

Article here. 

The Michigan Senate is serious about medical marijuana: Senate OKs pharmacy sale of medical marijuana

A bill that would allow for the growing and sale of pharmaceutical grade marijuana at pharmacies in Michigan passed the state Senate Wednesday on a 22-16 vote.

The bill was lauded by supporters as a way to guarantee a safe, tested product for medical marijuana users. But opponents said it did nothing to address shortfalls in Michigan’s current medical marijuana law and would outsource production from home growers to out-of-state corporations.

article here.

Michigan Senate proposes higher penalties for animal abusers

Michigan lawmakers have voted to increase criminal penalties for people who abuse animals and extend the prohibition to include breeders and pet shop operators.

Article here.

More than 1,700 bills have been introduced in the State Legislature this year

Michigan law makers can't be accused of being lazy. But perhaps they are too eager to make new laws? The article has a brief summary of a few of the more interesting bills proposed this year in  Michigan.

Article here.

Late- night bars: Will they be able to open in Michigan?

For years, the Michigan Legislature has been looking at different versions of bills that would allow bars to stay open until 4am. So far, these measure have met with no success.

One senator is still trying to keep the bills alive. Article here.

Supporters of the bill say there will be economic benefits to bars that can stay open the later hours. Opponents worry that the bill will lead to more alcohol-related fatalities, among others.