Insider Intelligence

On Thursday morning it was announced that the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the state’s waiver to the Healthy Michigan Program.  Under the program, the eligibility to receive Medicaid was expanded to include those with an income between 100%-133% of the poverty level, something allowed under the Federal Affordable Care Act.  However, […]

This week the House passed and the Senate concurred in a package of bills that would provide a fifteen year tax exemption for data centers in Michigan from the General Sales Tax Act and the Use Tax Act.  The impetus behind the legislation was to incentivize Switch to build a billion dollar data center in […]

Recall petitions filed against Governor Rick Snyder and Senator Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) were denied this week by the Board of State Canvassers.  An individual filed the petition against Senator Schmidt due to the Senator’s vote on increasing road funding.  However, the petition language failed because it didn’t factually state clearly the reason for the […]

Under legislation signed by the Governor in 2014, on January 1, 2106 the minimum wage rate in Michigan will increase from $8.15 to $8.50 for hourly employees and from $3.10 to $3.23 for tipped employees.  Under PA 138 of 2014, there will be two additional increases to the minimum wage.  On January 1, 2017 the […]

The Michigan Department of Transportation is requesting public input on their five-year transportation program.  Comments must be received by January 11, 2016.  For more information and to view the full 2016-2020 draft plan, please visit www.michigan.gov/mdot5yearplan.

This week, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced a program that would provide funding to local communities for the purchase of residential recycling carts.  The program is part of the initiative put forth by Governor Rick Snyder to double residential recycling rates.  It is believed that switching from recycling bins to carts increases the […]

This week, Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation that would repeal several outdated state laws.  Examples of the outdated laws repealed include cursing in front of women or children, playing the national anthem out of tune, and refusing to help fight a forest fire.  The Governor stated “Modernizing state government is an ongoing effort, I appreciate […]

The MLC office will be closed from December 24 – January 1 for the holidays, returning Monday, January 4, 2016. The Legislature has adjourned for 2015.  The next scheduled session day is January 13, 2016. The next addition of the MLC newsletter will be published on January 8, 2016.