Insider Intelligence

The Michigan Constitution requires that the Legislature adjourns “without day” each year of a regular session.  Adjourning “without day” means that the Legislature has not set a day in which it will reconvene, therefore it’s the final adjournment of the year.  Sine die, Latin for “without day”, triggers many important events for the state Legislature.  […]

On Wednesday, the House passed a bipartisan package of legislation reforming the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). The reforms were first introduced as a response to findings of a workgroup that found several issues within the UIA.  The bill package will: Address identity theft by creating a “watchdog” position to investigate fraud Ensures claimants don’t […]

Yesterday, two special general elections were held to fill vacant House seats. In the 1st House District in SE Michigan, Democratic candidate Tenisha Yancey won with over 70% of the vote. This was not surprising, as this seat boasts a strong Democratic base.  Representative-elect Yancey is an attorney and former Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor. In […]

Yesterday, the House voted in support of a bill package ending driver responsibility fees and forgive outstanding fees. The fees are currently scheduled to be phased-out, however this proposal would speed up the date for removing such fees. Driver responsibility fees are assessed after a driver accumulates a certain number of points on their license […]

Often when I meet new legislators or staff for the first time, they ask me what is the one piece of advice that I would give to them as they start their new endeavors in the Legislature.  They are often seeking some sage piece of wisdom because I started my career B.T.L. (before term limits), […]

This week, Representative Ben Frederick (R-Owosso) introduced a resolution requiring the Michigan Legislature to present a balanced budget to the governor by July 1 each year.  The resolution has received bipartisan support, as members of both political parties signed as co-sponsors of the legislation. His proposal would amend the Michigan Constitution to establish the deadline […]

This week, the House Affordable Energy Caucus adopted a set of seven guiding principles and added a new member to the caucus.  The bipartisan caucus was officially formed last month with the goal of lowering energy costs in the state.  The adopted principles are: Energy policy should serve the collective interest of the energy-consuming, rate-paying […]

This week, Speaker Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt Twp.) Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, and Representative Lana Theis (R-Brighton) announced their plan to reform Michigan’s auto insurance system.  Michigan drivers pay the nation’s highest auto insurance premiums, averaging $2,400/year, nearly twice the national average.  Insurance rates are especially high in urban areas, including metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, […]