Insider Intelligence

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has undertaken a major reorganization of the department’s structure.  Under the new configuration, the Population Health and Community Services Administration will oversee the Office of Local Health Services and it will be renamed the Bureau of Health and Wellness.  This change moves it within the DHHS […]

On Tuesday, Governor Rick Snyder announced several senior staff changes within the executive office.  Elizabeth Clement, currently the governor’s deputy chief of staff and cabinet secretary, will become chief legal counsel.  Mike Zimmer director of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), will become the governor’s cabinet director, responsible for coordinating efforts with department […]

This week, several of the budget bills for the upcoming 2016-2017 Fiscal Year were reported from the Appropriations Committees.  All appropriations budgets have been reported from their subcommittees and are either waiting consideration from the full Appropriations Committees or have been reported to the House or Senate floor for consideration.  One major issues that arose […]

According to numbers released this week by the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March 2016 was 4.8%.  Despite the rate remaining the same as the prior month, total employment grew by 27,000, while the number of unemployed decreased by 1,000.  Last month’s rate, was 1.0% lower than the […]

The House and Senate passed a concurrent resolution approving Governor Rick Snyder’s request to extend the emergency declaration for the City of Flint and Genesee County through August 14.  The extension coincides with the federal emergency declaration extension and enables federal, state, and local partners to continue coordinated efforts.

Governor Rick Snyder has called for a special election to fill the 4th Senate District Seat, which was left vacant following the resignation of former State Senator Virgil Smith.  The special primary election will be held on August 2, 2016 and the special general election will be held on November 8, 2016.  The winner of […]

The House and Senate are scheduled to hold session Tuesday – Thursday. House and Senate Appropriations Committees will continue to hold hearings on the upcoming fiscal year budgets.

Dr. Agustin Arbulu was appointed to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission by Governor Rick Snyder in January of 2013 and held the office of Secretary until he was named department director in October 2015.  Before joining the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR), Dr. Arbulu was President of Metro Care Services, a home healthcare firm consisting […]