Friday, April 30, 2010

Notes From the Underground 4/30/2010

Should get back to doing this.

MIRS:

Ed Retirement Negotiations Blow By Deadline
"Negotiations on the education retirement/early-out bill (SB 1227) slid into the weekend after House Democrats countered a Senate Republican proposal with one that tossed in a guaranteed health care provision."

Local Sheriff Says No To Ware's Liquor License Request
"The mountain Wayne County Commissioner Jewel WARE must climb to get a liquor license to operate the Red Rooster Bar in Idlewild got a little higher today when the Attorney General's office alerted the Liquor Control Commission (LCC) that Lake County law enforcement officials were not on board with the request."

Bishop, Dillon PACs Top Rankings
"Senate Majority Leader Mike BISHOP (R-Rochester) and House Speaker Andy DILLON (D-Redford) may not be the leaders of their respective chambers next term, but both raked more than $250,000 into their leadership political action committee (PAC) so far this election cycle."

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"I'd be more impressed if she was going to be on South Park."

-- Rep. Pete LUND (R-Shelby Twp.) on Gov. Jennifer GRANHOLM being scheduled to sign the texting while driving ban on the Oprah WINFREY Show.


I'd be more impressed if you guys didn't behave like a bunch of kindergartners, but I guess we can't all have what we want.

Gongwer:

SIDES SHOW SOME GIVE ON TEACHER RETIREMENT

House Democrats and Senate Republicans announced public counteroffers Thursday in their efforts to strike a deal on legislation designed to encourage higher-paid teachers to retire and shed costs in the K-12 public school system.

D.R.I.C. GETS CANADIAN FUNDING HELP AS PANEL OKS BILL

Lawmakers who have to decide in a month whether to move forward with the Detroit River International Crossing got an incentive - the top critic of the project called it a bribe - by the Canadian government on Thursday when they announced they would pay up to $550 million for the project's expenses on the Michigan side of the bridge.

HOMELESS SEX OFFENDERS LEGISLATION PASSES SENATE

Sex offenders who are homeless would have to register for the sex offender registry under bills unanimously passed Thursday by the Senate.

BUDGET COULD LEAVE SOME WEEDY LAKES

Lakeside residents hoping to cut back the weeds and snails might have to wait until fall for permission, officials told the House Appropriations Natural Resources Subcommittee.

MICH. RETAILERS OPTIMISTIC WITH HIGHER SALES

More Michigan retailers saw sales spike in March, with 48 percent reporting increased sales above the same time a year ago, according to the Michigan Retail Index.

HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME CUT RESTORED

The House passed a supplemental budget Thursday restoring the 4 percent funding cut hospitals and nursing homes took under Medicaid in the current fiscal year.