Insider Intelligence

This week an eleven-bill bipartisan package was introduced with the goal of increasing transparency in the executive and legislative branches.  Under the proposal, the executive branch would be subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the legislative branch would be subjected to a new, similar act, named the Legislative Open Records Act (LORA).  […]

According to numbers released this week by the Senate Fiscal Agency, December 2016’s net revenue totaled $2.1 billion, an increase of 13.3% from the prior year.  Revenue for the month was $134.1 million above the 2016 May consensus revenue estimates.  The agency credits higher than estimated sales tax collections, individual income tax payments, and Corporate […]

This week, the Senate passed a twenty-one bill package reforming the state’s criminal justice system.  Last year, the Senate passed similar legislation but it failed to pass the House before the end of the 2015-2016 legislative term.  The bills in the current package make several changes to the state’s system, including: A better system to […]

Following last week’s selection of Representative Sheldon Neeley (D-Flint) as Chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, the following legislators have been announced as the remaining leadership team: Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D-Detroit), Executive Vice Chair Senator Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield), First Vice Chair Representative Leslie Love (D-Detroit), Second Vice Chair Representative Erika Geiss (D-Taylor), Secretary Representative […]

It was announced this week that Governor Rick Snyder’s Chief of Staff, Jarrod Agen, is leaving and has taken a position as the communications director for Vice President Mike Pence and a deputy assistant to President Donald Trump.  Mr. Agen joined the Snyder administration in 2014 serving as communications director until his appointment as chief […]

It was announced this week that Jay Wortley, Michigan’s Chief Economist, is retiring, effective February 28.  Mr. Wortley has served in state government for thirty-six years, serving the last eighteen years in his current role.  During his tenure as a state employee, he has participated in all fifty-three of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conferences that […]

This week, Governor Rick Snyder announced three appointments to the State Officers Compensation Commission.  The commission is a seven-member board responsible for determining the salaries and expense allowances of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, members of the state Legislature, and Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court.  The newly appointed members are: […]

Below is a snapshot of some of the legislation that was introduced this week: HCR 1 – Extends the state of emergency in Fraser due to a sinkhole. HJR B – Creates a citizens redistricting commission. HB 4114 – Allows coding courses to meet the foreign language requirement. HB 4120 – Requires public schools to […]