Insider Intelligence

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2017 was 4.2%, a decline of a half percentage point from the prior month.  Additionally, the rate is six-tenths of a percentage point lower than the May 2016.  Last month’s jobless rate was the lowest it’s been in Michigan since December 2000; however, labor force and employment levels […]

Under legislation recently introduced, Senate Bill 177 would require the Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) and all state agencies with procurement authority to use a bid scorecard system when awarding contracts worth $100,000 or more.  Under the bill, contract bids would be tallied based on the following: 10% on technical and critical performance […]

This week, Senator Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) and Representative Andy Schor (D-Lansing) introduced companion bills that would regulate advertising for medical marijuana and medical marijuana services. Senate Bill 463 and House Bill 4767 would effectively ban advertising on billboards for medical marijuana, medical marijuana dispensaries, and businesses that facilitate access to medical marijuana.  According to […]

This week, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) released their report on how to foster public trust in law enforcement throughout the state.  In October 2016, Governor Rick Snyder signed an executive directive, tasking the commission with producing a public report addressing the topic.  The commission established three workgroups and sought public input […]

Efforts to protect the Great Lakes will be discussed on a media roundtable conference call on Monday, June 19, between the Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana agriculture directors. Both the House and Senate have scheduled tentative session days next Tuesday – Thursday.

Below are some of the articles that the MLC lobby team has been reading this past week. We hope you find them as interesting and useful as we do.

The House voted to remove certain requirements for carrying a concealed pistol. The filing deadline was last week for the open 109th House District in the Upper Peninsula. A House committee reported legislation that would ban local governments from creating ‘sanctuary cities.’ The remaining conference committees reported their budgets for the upcoming 2017-2018 Fiscal Year. […]

On Tuesday, after much debate, the House of Representatives passed a four-bill package that removes the license and training requirements to carry a concealed pistol.  While the legislation retains the background check requirement, it removes other previsions that opponents stated were critical to ensure gun safety in Michigan.  Those who support the changes have stated […]