News & Events
MNA Legislative Update #7
06.10.2011
Legislature Returns from Hiatus on the Island
After spending an extended weekend on Mackinac Island and taking some time off from actually legislating, Michigan’s senators and representatives got back to it this week. Unfortunately, they took up legislation that we have been keeping an eye on and it would appear that they are determined to move the next batch of bad bills through the process.
Governor Signs HB 4152
On Tuesday, June 7th, Governor Snyder signed HB 4152 into law. This bill will freeze wages and benefit levels of public employees after their collective bargaining agreement expires and there is no new contract in place. The legislation will also prevent public employees from getting step increases while their collective bargaining agreement remains expired. Retroactive pay increases to when the collective bargaining agreement expired are prohibited, as well. Governor Snyder’s spokesperson said that a public act number would likely be assigned to this bill on Wednesday, June 8th.
SB 7, HB 4572, and SJR-C
The House Oversight, Reform, and Ethics Committee continued to take testimony on these three pieces of legislation on Tuesday, June 7th. Because of the controversial nature of the bills, testimony has not ceased to pour in from those who are in support of and those who are against the legislation. We will continue to monitor their progress. It appears that the chairman of the committee, Tom McMillin – R, is simply biding his time and will soon take them all up for a vote.
House Health Policy
The House Health Policy Committee took up HB 4564, SB 333, and SB 350 on Thursday, June 9th. The bills address the need to regulate the sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. HB 4564 and SB 333 both outline the need for a state-wide sales tracking system. SB 350 prohibits the use of false identification when purchasing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The Congress on Public Policy took up this issue at a meeting earlier this year and voted to support legislation that regulates sales and prohibits the use of false identification. After hearing testimony from the bill sponsors, as well as supporters of the legislation, the committee chair announced that all three pieces of legislation would be voted on at next week’s meeting.
Helmet Law Repeal Moves Out of Committee
On Tuesday, June 7th, SB 291 passed out of committee with immediate effect. The bill will now go to the full Senate for a vote. SB 291 is sponsored by Senator Phil Pavlov – R. The bill will eliminate the law that says anyone over 21 must wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. The Congress on Public Policy took up the House version of this bill earlier in the year and voted NOT to support the legislation. Not wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle increases the number of traumatic head injuries that enter the ER. Call or write your state senator to tell them you do not support this legislation and that the number of traumatic brain injuries will start to increase if it is not against the law to go without a helmet.
Staying informed is critical, as well as getting involved at the local level. Get yourself out there, call or write your legislators, let us help you set up in district meetings with them, and take some time to go to their monthly coffee hours. It is imperative that we all get involved and stay involved with this process.
