Michigan in Focus

Southwestern Michigan impacted by recent storms might be given a federal disaster declaration. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants President Joe Biden to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for four Michigan counties after the multiple tornadoes earlier this month. While Branch, Cass, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties have all received state disaster support, and preliminary estimates suggest a need for federal financial assistance.

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A small group of Michigan lawmakers want to crack down on illegal immigration. The Michigan House Freedom Caucus introduced a five-bill package and a resolution recently seeking to criminalize inaction on illegal immigration. State Reps. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix; Steve Carra, R-Three Rivers; Matt Maddock, R-Milford and James DeSana, R-Ash Township announced the package.

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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced a new “PitchMI” competition, where startups will compete for $100,000 in the style of the television show “Shark Tank.” The state will partner with other organizations to award the best pitch on improving transportation. Details on applying are expected soon. The competition is timely, since the state is nearing the close of a five-year, $3.5 billion bond issued in 2019 for highway reconstruction. With more electric vehicles driving, and many roads remaining in disrepair, it raises the question of if traditional gas taxes will be enough to sustain construction.

Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_758b96de-2299-11ef-bc2a-87578e1eefcd.html

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One Fair Wage isn't giving up on a higher minimum wage in Michigan, despite an October ruling that ended a chance to get the question before voters in 2024. Instead, the group is banking on a court case and lawmakers to push the state's non-tipped minimum wage eventually to $15 an hour. A 2024 ballot proposal to raise Michigan’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027, circulated by One Fair Wage, had collected more than 360,000 signatures. But the Republican-led Board of State Canvassers ruled in October the language of the petition varied from what was originally approved, accusing One Fair Wage of misleading voters.

Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_e29315f4-228f-11ef-a0c3-931b4556252f.html

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A bipartisan group of Michigan state representatives want to stop local delivery drivers from paying taxes twice. Reps. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn; Jimmie Wilson, D-Ypsilanti; Graham Filler, R-Duplain Township; and Jasper Martus, D-Flushing introduced HB 5745 and 5746 to eliminate a double sales tax on delivery companies like Instacart and Shipt. Under current Michigan law, local delivery companies pay a sales tax both when buying the product from the retailer and when they deliver to the consumer. 

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https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_7832abee-1d1b-11ef-a9e0-fb83b33aefb6.html 

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With border exposure and natural ports, Michigan Republicans want to change state law to make human smuggling illegal and criminalize harboring and transporting people who are or have entered the country illegally. There are no state-level criminal penalties for human smuggling. State Reps. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, and Gina Johnsen, R-Lake Odessa, recently introduced legislation that would criminalize bringing unauthorized people into Michigan. Harboring and transporting people living in or who have entered the country illegally would also become a state crime.

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https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_9976b486-1900-11ef-a316-b3a58d2713b7.html

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After a recent Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference, tensions remain between the Michigan Legislature and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. In February, the governor proposed an $80.7 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year. Since then, both the House and Senate have passed their own. After the CREC, a final vote in both chambers is necessary to finalize the budget before the July 1 deadline.

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https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_5bb74142-186f-11ef-91f4-73977fe5cf9c.html

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Insurance coverage for mental health and substance abuse treatments is now law in Michigan after Republicans and Democrats came together on legislation. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 27 on Tuesday, requiring insurance companies to cover both issues to the same degree as medical coverage. Inpatient, outpatient and emergency services, and prescribed medication all fall under the bill’s classification of treatment.

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https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_128aff76-17b7-11ef-985d-97ee4806f551.html

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 A Michigan lawmaker wants to restore what he calls a fur harvester licensed hunter’s right to hunt coyotes all year. State Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock recently introduced House Bill 5721 that he says would give that right back to hunters. The bill was created by a group of house Republicans after the Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted 4-2 to end the coyote hunting season from mid-April to mid-July, after it had been year-round from 2016 to 2020.

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Michigan House Democrats passed budget bills totaling nearly $81 billion – larger than Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recommendation. Republicans in the minority for the first time in 40 years decried the spending proposals as wasteful as Democrats said the budget would invest in all Michiganders. House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, welcomed the proposed budget.

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https://www.thecentersquare.com/michigan/article_62bede3c-0e0b-11ef-a747-abd578eaf622.html

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