As many of you know, the Legislature is winding down a bit for the summer (republicans have scheduled six session days between now and September). I wanted to touch base to draw your attention to a few issues that we worked on before recessing for our lighter schedule.
Medicaid Expansion
After the House passed legislation to expand Medicaid to low-income working residents in Michigan (see my floor speech at www.schor.housedems.com), I'm very disappointed to report that the Senate republicans recessed for the summer without taking a vote on this legislation (HB 4714).
As many of you have heard, resistance to taking the measure up for a vote was led by Tea Party supporters in the Senate. Rather than heed the recommendations of Governor Snyder (who cut a trip to Israel short to come back and work on getting Medicaid expansion passed), those individuals instead chose to let their hatred of the Affordable Care Act get in the way of providing health coverage to over 400,000 of Michigan's working residents. The Senate's refusal to take action on Medicaid expansion has jeopardized our state's ability to receive federal funds that would help us reduce uncompensated care, saving our state an estimated $300 million; save taxpayers millions in future Medicaid expenses; and bring an estimated $1.9 to $2 billion in new revenue to our state over a ten-year period, for a total of over $20.5 billion worth of new revenue for Michigan. I'm extremely frustrated that one of the proudest votes of my career as a State Representative was negated by a small minority of people who let their anger get in the way of what's best for our citizens. I remain committed to passing legislation to expand Medicaid in Michigan but am very disheartened about the Senate's recent refusal to take up the issue. The Senate is scheduled to return on July 3rd but it not planning to take any votes. I urge you to have your family and friends throughout Michigan contact republican senators to tell them to take a vote on HB 4714 when they return on July 3rd.
Revisions to Michigan Merit Curriculum Standards
The House recently took up House Bills 4465 and 4466-- both of which propose changes to our state's Merit Curriculum Standards.
HB 4465 would alter the current Michigan Merit Curriculum standards as they relate to Algebra II, foreign language and Physical Education by: (1) Establishing the option that career and technical education courses may be taken in place of Algebra II; (2) Allowing approved participation in extracurricular activities involving physical activities to count as a 1/2 credit toward health; and (3) Mandating that two foreign language credits must be earned, but can be substituted for technical education credits.
HB 4466 alters the current Michigan Merit Curriculum standards to: (1) Add Anatomy as a possible science credit alternative to either Chemistry or Physics; (2) Change certain current Personal Curriculum Guidelines; (3) Allow the Algebra II requirement to be completed as part of a CTE program; (4) Allow students that participate in a PC program to satisfy the math requirement with only three credits of math instead of 3.5; and (5) Develop a pupil's education plan so they must be informed that CTE courses are an option to fulfill many of the requirements.
While I'm generally hesitant to make changes to Michigan's Merit Curriculum standards, I voted for HBs 4465 and 4466 when they came before me on the House floor because I liked that they provided students with a broader set of options for fulfilling graduation requirements without eroding the overall quality of their high school curriculum. Both bills have been referred to the Senate's Education Committee where they will be taken up at the discretion of Committee Chair Pavlov.
Final Passage of Legislation Amending the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act
On June 19th, HB 4743 (which makes significant changes to the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act) was signed into law with immediate effect. It is now PA 65'13.
Before this bill was signed into law, local governments could not put any restrictions on the discharge, initiation, or use of consumer grade fireworks on the day or, day before, or day after a national holiday. HB 4743 changed that provision to allow municipalities to restrict the hours of use of consumer grade fireworks on the day or, day after, or day before a national holiday as follows:
• A city with a population of 50,000 or more OR a local unit of government located in a county with a population of 750,000 or more may enact local ordinates to restrict fireworks usage between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or between the hours or 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on New Year's Day;
• A city with a population of 50,000 or less OR a local unit of government located in a county with a population of 750,000 or less may enact local ordinates to restrict fireworks usage between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Among other things, the bill also addresses the fireworks safety fee for retailers, where the fee is distributed, and who is responsible for submitting the fee. The Senate substitute made a minor change to the bill to allow retailers which operate 25 or more retail locations to remit their fireworks safety fee in an aggregate form instead of on an individual store basis.
I was happy to support this bill when it came up for a vote and am confident that it will provide some important clarification and options for our local units of government as they consider measures to make our community a safe, enjoyable place for celebrations (especially those coming up this summer).
Repeal of the 90 Day Pre-Foreclosure Law
House Bills 4765 and 4766, which make changes to the state's 90-day pre-foreclosure law, have been passed by the House and the Senate and have been sent to Governor Snyder for his signature.
HB 4765 repeals the state's 90-day pre-foreclosure law as of January 9, 2014 (when the federal rules for mortgage servicing go into effect). Federal rules prohibit servicers from commencing the foreclosure process until a mortgage loan account is more than 120 days delinquent, which will give borrowers a reasonable amount of time to submit modification applications or seek foreclosure alternatives. HB 4766 would require certain lenders to comply with provisions requiring them to designate an agent to meet with a borrower to negotiate modifications. While I have some concerns about other foreclosure-related bills currently moving through the House and the Senate, I voted in favor of HBs 4765 and 4766 when they came before me for a vote on the House floor.
The House also passed Senate Bills 380 and 383.
SB 380 would extend the subset on the state's foreclosure prevention act (90-day pre-foreclosure law/mortgage loan modification law) through January 9th, 2014. Currently the Revised Judicature Act sets forth conditions that a party must satisfy to begin proceedings to foreclose a mortgage by advertisement. Under the mortgage loan modification program, the Act prohibits a party from beginning proceedings if a required notice has not been mailed to the borrower, if applicable time limits have not expired, or if the parties have agreed to modify the mortgage loan and the borrower is not in default. SB 380 extends the sunset on that requirement to January 9th, 2014. SB 383 would allow the purchaser of a property at a sheriff's sale to periodically inspect the property during the redemption period and to sue for possession if the homeowner damaged the property. The bill would also shorten the redemption period for certain abandoned properties.
I voted for SB 380 but against SB 383 because I had concerns about it allowing lenders to inspect houses without any notice to occupants (and without any limits). The bill also allows the redemption period to be completely eliminated if minor violations (such as broken windows) were reported. I am expecting (and hopeful) that this bill will be cleaned up a bit before it takes effect but simply couldn't support it in its current form. Both bills are currently awaiting Governor Snyder's signature.
My interest is revising Michigan's foreclosure laws lies in protecting both our families and our neighborhoods. Many people continue to grapple with the effects of our state's housing crisis (which is still a big problem in our community and state) and need the ability to negotiate with lenders before foreclosure. That being said, I don’t want to see people staying in houses rent-free, then stripping the house (cabinets, copper wire, appliances, etc.) and leaving a bare space that cannot be re-sold, which negatively affects the surrounding neighborhood and community. We need the law to ensure housing stability, safe communities, and economic recovery while also ensuring that we are not harming our citizens, home values, and neighborhoods. As such, I will continue to hear from all interested parties on foreclosure-related legislation.
Dissolution of School Districts
Many of you have heard about House Bills 4813 and 4815, which provide a mechanism by which a severely distressed school district can be dissolved and absorbed by neighboring districts.
HB 4813 amends the Revised School Code to outline the criteria under which a district can be deemed a candidate for dissolution as follows:
• The district lacks a population sufficient to serve the various district officer positions; OR
• The Superintendent and Treasurer determine that (a) The district either failed to submit a Debt Elimination Plan (DEP) when called upon to do so, or lacks the capability of implementing a DEP and lacks the capability of providing education services to its residents; AND (b) The district is not financially viable and is unable to provide K-12 education services for a full year and for the requisite number of hours.
Among other things, the Senate-passed substitute for HB 4813 makes intermediate school districts responsible for performing the functions and responsibilities of the dissolved district regarding debt repayment, managing ongoing sinking fund levies, etc. (as opposed to the House version which mandated that the receiving district which acquired the largest share of the SEV of the dissolved districted be tasked with those responsibilities).
HB 4815 amends the State School Aid Act to outline the various ways in which taxes, lingering financial obligations, and other matters are to be handled in the event of a school district's dissolution and absorption of that district by other entities. The bill provides $2.7 million to fully fund the foundation allowances of the receiving districts in order to replace the local school operating revenue from the dissolved district, which would be diverted to pay the dissolved district's debt. The receiving district would continue to receive its current per pupil foundation allowance for all students (including those received from the dissolved district). The bill also holds that the intermediate school district must act as the board of the dissolved district for the purposes of resolving debts, taxation, millage proposals and the like. It outlines that residents of the dissolved district cannot be made to pay taxes at the higher rate of the receiving district (if applicable), presumably until being provided with a chance to vote. The bill also excludes using the taxable value of residences as part of the new district's overall estimates while those within the dissolved district continue to satisfy debt obligations.
While these bills were originally introduced to address situations of financial stress in about 55 school districts with smaller populations, the legislation was narrowed to only affect Inkster and Nuena Vista (which actually ran out of money this year). I am generally opposed to measures that remove parents’ (and local school officials’) input and say from determining how to best serve their children's educational needs. I also had concerns that we were only addressing these two school districts and not looking at the entire problem by enacting a more comprehensive solution. Finally, I recognize that dramatic state cuts to education over recent years are one of the biggest factors putting schools in financial distress. Now, instead of re-funding our schools, we're embracing measures like dissolving them. The Legislature cannot continue to create problems and then punish those who cannot cope with them. As such, I voted against both bills when they came before me for consideration. Despite some strong opposition, both bills were passed by the House and Senate and have been sent to Governor Snyder for his signature.
House Subcommittee on Common Core
As I noted in my last e-newsletter, I have a number of reservations about the fact that this year's omnibus budget (HB 4328) included language prohibiting the Michigan Department of Education and local schools across Michigan from implementing the Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessments, which were adopted statewide in 2010 and have been successfully implemented by our local school districts since then.
Michigan's local school districts have spent hundreds of hours planning and implementing the high-quality Common Core Standards to empower their students to be career and college-ready. Language included in HB 4328 would leave school boards, administrators, teachers, and parents with no clear direction on how to continue planning their locally-developed curricula to meet state standards that have were thoroughly vetted by citizens (including teachers, parents, students, school administrators, and post-secondary educators) when they were adopted three years ago. Members of the Michigan Legislature provided input and commentary on the construction of the standards at that time. Even worse, the State Board of Education has warned that unless the Legislature takes affirmative action on Common Core and Smarter Balance, every school in Michigan will fail to meet Adequate Yearly Progress standards, jeopardizing important federal funding for our students. While there are a number of opinions about whether or not Michigan's Common Core State Standards are good for our schools, for our children, for our businesses, and for our state's economic future, one thing is certain: it would be tremendously problematic for us to reverse course now, three years after we've established Common Core as a standard in our schools and have invested much into implementing those standards.
I'm pleased to share that I have been named to a special bipartisan House subcommittee (The Subcommittee on Common Core) recently assembled to determine the future of Common Core in our state. We'll be meeting throughout the summer to address this important issue and I anticipate working closely with our local school districts, education associations, and others to ensure that we take action in the best interests of our schools and students.
Schor Legislation
House Bill 4478 (Passed the House on 6.13) - Signature Stamp Legislation
I am thrilled to share that my first bill passed the House on June 13th! As many of you know, House Bill 4478 allows a voter who is unable to sign his or her name on an election document to execute the election document where a signature is required either by making his or her mark or by using a signature stamp. This legislation is in response to an issue that arose in a local mid-Michigan community. Under current law, a person can make his/her mark but cannot use a voter stamp. At its hearing, the bill was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Disability Right Coalition, the Michigan Municipal League, AARP (Michigan), GCSI, the Association of County Clerks, and the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks. The bill passed the House unanimously and is now in the Senate for review and consideration. Special thanks to all of the community members and stakeholders who had a hand in getting the bill moved through the House!
House Bill 4800 - Judicial Foreclosure
In an attempt to address foreclosure fraud, I introduced HB 4800 which amends the Revised Judicature Act to allow for judicial foreclosure proceedings when a lender engages in one or more of the following 'bad practices:'
(1) Purposely failing to record mortgages or assignments on mortgages;
(2) Advising mortgagors not to make payments on mortgages; or
(3) Placing false signatures on mortgage foreclosure documents
While most of our lenders are good actors and playing vital roles in Michigan's recovery, we must allow our residents to have recourse and to delay foreclosure actions if they are put into foreclosure due to unscrupulous acts initiated by bad actors. It's important for us to prevent lenders from engaging in behaviors and lending practices that ultimately harm Michigan's homeowners. I have requested that this consumer protection bill be taken up along with the other foreclosure-related bills being considered in the House and am hopeful that it will be included in evolving conversation on this issue. HB 4800 has been referred to the House's Financial Services Committee where it will be taken up at the discretion of Committee Chair Callton.
House Bill 4844 - Pre-Labor Day School Start Date
Under current Michigan law, our K-12 schools are required to commence their academic year after Labor Day. HB 4844 proposes to gives our schools the option of starting before Labor Day (if they so choose). My intent in introducing HB 4844 is to grant our local school districts more autonomy to set the fall start date for their students. Knowing that every one of Michigan's school districts is unique, I believe that we ought to empower our locals to make decisions that best fit the needs of their individual students and communities.
My bill does not require schools to start earlier; it only provides them with the option of commencing their academic years before Labor Day if they decide it is in the best interest of their students to do so. To ensure that my legislation doesn't impact travelers' Labor Day plans (a very important weekend for Michigan's tourism industry!), my bill stipulates that schools may not be in session the Friday preceding Labor Day. HB 4844 has been referred to the House Tourism Committee where it will be taken up at the discretion of Committee Chair Pettalia.
House Resolution 163 - Microenterprise Month
House Resolution 163 declares October 2013 as Microenterprise Month in the state of Michigan—a move that I was asked to make by the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM). As many of you know, microenterprises are businesses with five or fewer employees. Today, they are actually responsible for 17% of Michigan's employment and provide jobs for approximately 969,584 of our citizens. Microenterprises continue to be essential to Michigan’s economic development and recovery from the Great Recession, which is one of the reasons I introduced HR 163.
House Resolution 192 -Harvest Gathering Month
House Resolution 192 declares October 2013 as Harvest Gather Month in the state of Michigan. Currently, 18% of Michigan residents regularly face hunger in their households while 23% of our state's children do not have a consistent source of health and nutritious food. The Food Bank Council of Michigan has successfully served the State of Michigan for some time by trying to alleviate hunger through the 'Michigan Harvest Gathering'. The Harvest Gathering has made significant impacts in alleviating hunger throughout our state's recent economically challenging years. HR 192 not only calls attention to the Food Bank Council's tremendous efforts but attempts to remind all residents of the hunger issues still facing so many of our citizens.
I continue to work with a variety of stakeholders on drafting legislation to address issues facing our community and state. I plan to continue working on and introducing legislation throughout the summer, too. I invite you to stay up to speed on all of my legislative action on my website (www.schor.housedems.com). For an up-to-date list of all legislative I've sponsored and co-sponsored to date, click on the below links:
Sponsored Legislation
Co-Sponsored Legislation
Other House Bills
A number of other bills have been passed by the House that directly impact Michigan's residents. I've included information about a notable few below.
HB 4668 (passed the House on 6.5) - Restructuring of Hunting and Fishing Fee Licenses
HB 4668 restructures hunting and fishing fee licenses in Michigan and increases certain fees (as proposed by the Governor). The license changes would take effect on March 1, 2014, and sunset on March 1, 2019. A substitute for this bill was passed by the Senate and has been returned to the House for reconsideration.
HB 4629 (passed the House on 6.6) - Amendment to the Highway Advertising Act
HB 4269 amends the Highway Advertising Act, including, but not limited to: requiring a new permit process and other restrictions for digital billboards; addressing enforcement issues related to nonconforming billboards and other issues to ensure compliance with federal requirements; and amending procedures and penalties related to vegetation management in the vicinity of billboards. HB 4629 has been referred to the Senate Transportation Committee.
SB 27 (passed the House on 6.11) - Allow Merchants to Sell Beer Growlers
SB 27 will allow eligible merchants, such as a restaurant or bar, to fill and sell growlers with beer for off-premises consumption under certain conditions. The bill was also passed by the Senate and has been presented to Governor Snyder for his signature.
SB 79 (passed the House on 6.11) - Provision to Conduct Wine Tastings at Farmer's Markets
SB 79 and SB 279 provide for a farmer's market permit to allow a qualified small wine maker to conduct wine tastings and sell wine at farmer's markets. HB 79 was also passed by the Senate and has been presented to Governor Snyder for his signature.
HB 4768 (passed the House on 6.11) - Prohibition of the DEQ from Establishing or Enforcing the Amount of Sodium in Groundwater
HB 4768 adds a section to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality from establishing or enforcing an effluent limitation for the amount or concentration of sodium in groundwater or a groundwater discharge. This bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Environment, and Great Lakes.
HBs 4529 and 4530 (passed the House on 6.13) - Creation of a Permanent Commission to Improve Criminal Defense
HB 4529 creates a permanent, state-funded commission to improve criminal defense for indigent defendants in Michigan while HB 4530 revises how counsel is appointed for indigents. HB 4529 was also passed by the Senate and has been sent to Governor Snyder for his signature. HB 4530 is currently passage by the full Senate.
HB 4272 (passed the House on 6.19) - Requirement that all K-12 Schools Implement a Cardiac Emergency Plan
HB 4272 requires that all K-12 schools adopt and implement a Cardiac Emergency Plan for their school and mandates that cardiac emergency response drills be conducted regularly. These drills my take the place of a single mandated fire drill over the course of a school year. HB 4272 is currently in the Senate's Education Committee.
HB 4307 (passed the House on 6.20) - Elimination of a Requirement that a Special Election be Held when a County Commission Vacancy Occurs in an Odd-Numbered Year
HB 4307 eliminates a requirement that a special election be held when a county commission vacancy occurs in an odd-numbered year. The bill would allow for the vacancy to be filled by appointment by a county commission. If an appointment is not made within 30 days, the vacancy will be filled by a special election. After agreeing to changes the Senate made to this bill, the House passed it and sent it to Governor Snyder for his signature.
HB 4439 (passed the House on 6.20) - Waiver of Recreation Passport Fee
HB 4297 waives the recreation passport fee for veterans purchasing military specialty license plates. After agreeing to changes the Senate made to this bill, the House passed it and sent it to Governor Snyder for his signature.
Community Update/Events
Coffee and Tea with Andy
My next 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' gathering is scheduled for Monday, August 5th, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center (located at 5825 Wise Road here in Lansing). We'll be meeting in the building's Community Room that morning.
These gatherings are a great opportunity for me to share news about what's going on at the Capitol and gather your thoughts and concerns about our community. Hearing from you helps me better represent the interests of Lansing and Lansing Township in the Michigan House, so I hope you’ll consider joining in what promises to be another productive discussion.
My 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' schedule for the rest of 2013 is below.
Saturday, October 26
The Avenue Café (formerly Gone Wired)
2021 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing
Monday, December 2
Letts Community Center
1220 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing
For a full list of events happening in and around our community in the coming weeks, click here.
Thank you very much for your interest in my legislative activity. I look forward to keeping you updated on what's happening in the House and invite you to stay in touch with my office via phone (517-373-0826), e-mail (andyschor@house.mi.gov), or by stopping in to visit (we're located in office 1087 of the Anderson House Office Building, located at 124 North Capitol Avenue in Lansing) to share your thoughts or if we can be of any assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Andy Schor
State Representative, 68th District
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Early June 2013 E-News Update
As many of you have heard, Michigan's Legislature has been busy addressing a variety of issues in recent weeks. Most notably, we've taken a number of steps toward finalizing our state budget that I wanted to take a moment to draw your attention to.
Budget Bills
I reported in my last e-newsletter that the House had passed both of its omnibus budget bills: House Bill 4228 and House Bill 4328. Since then, the House has adopted and passed the versions of those bills that were reported out of the Conference Committee process. I expect they will be finalized and signed into law in the next week or so.
House Bill 4228 (Conference Report Passed House on 5.28) - School Aid Omnibus Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014
As I noted in my last update, HB 4228 includes the budgets for school aid, higher education, and community colleges for fiscal year 2013-2014. The Conference Committee's report of this bill passed the House on May 28th on a vote of 65-43. It was then adopted by the Senate (on a vote of 25-12) and has been sent to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
I was disappointed to have to vote against the final version of HB 4228 when it came before me, but the bill simply didn't include the increases for our students that were promised by Governor Snyder. Lansing Public Schools will only see a $6 per pupil increase under the latest version of this bill when factoring in retirement legacy costs. A $6 increase is not nearly enough after recent cuts from the Legislature and Governor ($200 per pupil were cut from 2011-2013). While I was glad to see the lowest-funded schools receive boosted state support through the Conference Committee's version of HB 4228, I'm frustrated that our urban schools-- many who have been subjected to intense scrutiny and criticism, including state takeover by the Educational Achievement Authority-- aren't seeing the increased support they need. What's worse, many charter schools will see larger increases than Lansing Public Schools will (generally around $58 per pupil in Ingham County). With a nearly $700 million state budget surplus this year, I believe that our public education students should be our priority and our budget does not reflect that. As such, I voted against this budget.
For what it's worth, HB 4228 does at least preserves the governor's recommended funding for the Great Start Readiness program (the House had reduced that increase in its initial version of the bill). That said, this budget is still a long way from the direction I think we ought to be heading as a state when it comes to supporting our schools. We clearly have a long way to go.
House Bill 4328 (Conference Report Passed House on 5.28) - General Omnibus Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014
House Bill 4328 provides appropriations for the following state departments: LARA, Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Community Health, Corrections, Department of Education, Department of Environmental Quality, General Government, Department of Health Services, Judiciary, Michigan State Police, and the Department of Transportation. The Conference Committee report on HB 4328 passed the House on a vote of 63-46.
I voted against this bill on the House floor because of the number of measures HB 4328 did not include-- most notably, support for Medicaid expansion. I remain frustrated at Republicans' resistance of Medicaid expansion, which, as many of you know, would allow us to extend health coverage to 400,000 currently uninsured Michigan residents. Those funds have the potential to reduce uncompensated care and will save our state an estimated $300 million; save taxpayers millions in future Medicaid expenses; and bring an estimated $1.9 to $2 billion in new revenue to our state over a ten-year period, for a total of over $20.5 billion worth of new revenue for Michigan. I could not in good conscience support a budget bill that didn't include funds for a program that our state's citizens overwhelmingly want us to expand. (It's worth noting, though, that the Michigan Competitiveness Committee is still in the midst of working on an alternative Medicaid expansion bill-- HB 4714-- which sets a number of conditions for expanding Medicaid to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. I have some concerns about the bill as it stands but will continue to be closely involved as a member of that committee in efforts to make the bill more palatable).
My other primary concern with the Conference Committee's version of HB 4328 was the inclusion of language that presents a significant problem for our school districts. As passed by the House, the bill includes language prohibiting the Michigan Department of Education and local schools across Michigan from implementing the Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessments, which were adopted statewide in 2010 and have been successfully implemented by our local school districts since then. Michigan's local school districts have spent hundreds of hours planning and implementing the high-quality Common Core Standards to empower their students to be career and college-ready. Language included in HB 4328 would leave school boards, administrators, teachers, and parents with no clear direction on how to continue planning their locally-developed curricula to meet state standards that have were thoroughly vetted by citizens (including teachers, parents, students, school administrators, and post-secondary educators) when they were adopted three years ago. Members of the Michigan Legislature also provided input and commentary on the construction of the standards at that time. I believe that Michigan's Common Core State Standards are good for our schools, for our children, for our businesses, and for our state's economic future.
All that being said, there were a few positive changes that came out of the Conference Committee process for this bill.
To begin, I was thrilled to see support re-instated for an expansion of the Healthy Kids Dental program. That expansion will enable children in 78 of Michigan's 83 counties (including Ingham, Ottawa, and Washtenaw) to be eligible for assistance through Healthy Kids Dental, a tremendous program piloted through Delta Dental and the Department of Community Health that continues to improve the dental health of many of our most at-need citizens. The Conference Committee's version of HB 4328 also included $500,000 worth of support for Meals on Wheels; funds for autism programs at Central University, Eastern University, Oakland University, and Western Michigan University; funds for mental health and substance abuse support for veterans; enough support to keep all of our corrections and juvenile justice facilities open; a (very) small increase in statutory revenue sharing for our communities; $4.9 million to support the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University; replacement funding for energy assistance for low-income citizens; support for expansion of specialty (sobriety, drug, mental health, and veterans) courts; a small increase in transportation funding (compared to our current year); and support for Amtrack services.
I was disappointed to have to oppose this bill with so many good things in it, but I believe that the omission of Medicaid expansion and damaging language on Common Core will have a very drastic negative impact on our state, our residents, and our children.
It's important to point out that HB 4328 hasn't yet been adopted by the Senate. I remain hopeful that my colleagues in that chamber will address some of the most concerning aspects of the bill before sending it to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
To see the comments I gave on the House floor related to this bill, click here.
Schor Legislation
Elections Bills
I'm excited to share that three more of my bills were granted hearings this month. House Bills 4477, 4478, and 4479 were all taken up in the House's Ethics and Elections Committee.
House Bill 4477 would allow a voter to take a photograph of himself or herself (but not a photo of his/her ballot) in a polling place. Last cycle, several voters took pictures of themselves voting and inserting their ballots into the voting machine and then put those photos on Facebook. According to the Secretary of State's rules and interpretation of election law, this is actually illegal. In this day of social media, people should be excited about voting and should be allowed to take pictures of themselves doing just that. I exempted pictures of the actual ballot but believe that pictures of the act of voting should be allowed.
House Bill 4479 corrects an inequity in campaign finance law that currently prevents a candidate from paying a late filing fee for their annual statement using candidate committee funds. Currently, candidate committee funds can be used for all other late filing fees, but not for the annual statement. At the request of my county clerk, my bill eliminates that prohibition and allows a candidate to pay that fee using candidate committee funds.
Finally, House Bill 4478 allows a voter who is unable to sign his or her name on an election document to execute the election document where a signature is required either by making his or her mark or by using a signature stamp. This legislation is in response to an issue that arose in a local mid-Michigan community. Under current law, a person can make his/her mark but cannot use a voter stamp. At its hearing, the bill was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Disability Right Coalition, the Michigan Municipal League, AARP (Michigan), GCSI, the Association of County Clerks, and the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks.
This bill was actually passed by the Ethics and Elections Committee unanimously and without amendment on May 21st. It now heads to the House floor for a vote by the full chamber.
HR 145, EMS Week Resolution
I introduced House Resolution 145 to declare May 19-25th, 2013 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week in the State of Michigan. It was a pleasure to help recognize the vital public services our hard-working EMS personnel provide to Michigan's citizens-- especially our residents who experience sudden illness or injury. Our state wouldn't be what it is without the first responders, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics (many who volunteer their time) who stand ready to provide compassionate, lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. HR 145 was adopted by the House on May 16th.
I continue to work with a variety of stakeholders on drafting legislation to address issues facing our community and state. I expect to introduce legislation dealing with foreclosure and a few other issues in the coming weeks and look forward to working on and introducing legislation over the summer, too. I invite you to stay up to speed on all of my legislative action on my website (www.schor.housedems.com). For an up-to-date list of all legislative I've sponsored and co-sponsored to date, click on the below links:
Sponsored Legislation
Co-Sponsored Legislation
Other House Bills
A number of other bills have been passed by the House that directly impact Michigan's residents. I've included information about a notable few below.
HB 4363 (passed the House on 5.16) - Prohibition of Public Officials from Voting or Communicating through Electronic Devices when Absent
HB 4363 would prohibit public officials from voting or participating in deliberations of a public body through electronic or telephonic means when they are physically absent from a meeting.
HB 4283 (passed the House on 5.16) - Use of Certain Rifles During Firearm Deer Season
HB 4283 would allow the use of certain specific rifles during the regular firearm deer season in the area that is currently restricted to only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain types of pistols.
HB 4168 (passed the House on 5.16) - Elimination that County Sheriffs Euthanize Unlicensed Dogs
HB 4168 eliminates the requirement that a county sheriff euthanize unlicensed dogs.
HB 4156 (passed the House on 5.22) - Special Volunteer License for Retired Nurses
HB 4156 amends the Public Health Code to create a Special Volunteer License for retired nurses. A nurse who provides care under this Special Volunteer License would not be liable in a civil action for personal injury or death proximately caused by professional negligence or malpractice of the individual if certain conditions are met.
SB 57 (passed the House on 5.23) - Extension of the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)
SB 57 expands the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) to include lands not utilized for traditional or production agriculture such as land used for forest management. Content of SB 57 is identical to that of HB 4324. This bill has since been sent to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
HB 4743 (passed the House on 5.28) - Amendment to the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act
HB 4743 allows local units of government to enact an ordinance prohibiting the discharge, initiation or use of consumer grade fireworks anytime between the hours of 12 AM to 8 AM on the day of, day before and day after a national holiday. The bill also addresses the fireworks safety fee for retailers, where the fee is distributed, and who is responsible for submitting the fee.
Misc.
Lansing School District Summer Newsletter
The Lansing School District recently released its Summer Newsletter (it's available online here). Be sure to check it out for news about the latest happenings and progress being made in our school district.
Capital Area Health Alliance's 'Choosing Health' Initiative
As some of you have already seen, I recently filmed a short public service announcement with Capital Area Health Alliance (CAHA) Executive Director Valerie Glesnes-Anderson and Ingham County Health Department Director and Health Officer Dr. Renee Canady about Michigan's Health and Wellness '4 X 4 Tool.' That tool promotes healthy lifestyles by encouraging physical activity, developing healthy eating habits, preventing substance abuse and tobacco use, and promoting mental health. CAHA is one of six organizations that received Michigan Department of Community Health grant funding to implement and support the Michigan Health and Wellness 4x4 Plan with an engagement, awareness and outreach campaign in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. Watch for the segment on local cable stations and read about CAHA's 'Choosing Health!' Rally in my Community Update.
Community Update/Events
Coffee and Tea with Andy
My next 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' gathering is scheduled for Saturday, June 22nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Flap Jack Waverly, located at 1601 S. Waverly Road here in Lansing. These gatherings are a great opportunity for me to share news about what's going on at the Capitol and gather your thoughts and concerns about our community. Hearing from you helps me better represent the interests of Lansing and Lansing Township in the Michigan House, so I hope you’ll consider joining in what promises to be another productive discussion.
My 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' schedule for the rest of 2013 is below. We also expect to have some special community meetings on issues like the budget which will be announced separately. The set schedule is as follows:
Monday, August 5
Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center (Community Room)
5825 Wise Road, Lansing
Saturday, October 26
The Avenue Café (formerly Gone Wired)
2021 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing
Monday, December 2
Letts Community Center
1220 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing
For a full list of events happening in and around our community in the coming weeks, click here.
Thank you very much for your interest in my legislative activity. I look forward to keeping you updated on what's happening in the House and invite you to stay in touch with my office via phone (517-373-0826), e-mail (andyschor@house.mi.gov), or by stopping in to visit (we're located in office 1087 of the Anderson House Office Building, located at 124 North Capitol Avenue in Lansing) to share your thoughts or if we can be of any assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Andy Schor
State Representative, 68th District
Budget Bills
I reported in my last e-newsletter that the House had passed both of its omnibus budget bills: House Bill 4228 and House Bill 4328. Since then, the House has adopted and passed the versions of those bills that were reported out of the Conference Committee process. I expect they will be finalized and signed into law in the next week or so.
House Bill 4228 (Conference Report Passed House on 5.28) - School Aid Omnibus Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014
As I noted in my last update, HB 4228 includes the budgets for school aid, higher education, and community colleges for fiscal year 2013-2014. The Conference Committee's report of this bill passed the House on May 28th on a vote of 65-43. It was then adopted by the Senate (on a vote of 25-12) and has been sent to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
I was disappointed to have to vote against the final version of HB 4228 when it came before me, but the bill simply didn't include the increases for our students that were promised by Governor Snyder. Lansing Public Schools will only see a $6 per pupil increase under the latest version of this bill when factoring in retirement legacy costs. A $6 increase is not nearly enough after recent cuts from the Legislature and Governor ($200 per pupil were cut from 2011-2013). While I was glad to see the lowest-funded schools receive boosted state support through the Conference Committee's version of HB 4228, I'm frustrated that our urban schools-- many who have been subjected to intense scrutiny and criticism, including state takeover by the Educational Achievement Authority-- aren't seeing the increased support they need. What's worse, many charter schools will see larger increases than Lansing Public Schools will (generally around $58 per pupil in Ingham County). With a nearly $700 million state budget surplus this year, I believe that our public education students should be our priority and our budget does not reflect that. As such, I voted against this budget.
For what it's worth, HB 4228 does at least preserves the governor's recommended funding for the Great Start Readiness program (the House had reduced that increase in its initial version of the bill). That said, this budget is still a long way from the direction I think we ought to be heading as a state when it comes to supporting our schools. We clearly have a long way to go.
House Bill 4328 (Conference Report Passed House on 5.28) - General Omnibus Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014
House Bill 4328 provides appropriations for the following state departments: LARA, Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Community Health, Corrections, Department of Education, Department of Environmental Quality, General Government, Department of Health Services, Judiciary, Michigan State Police, and the Department of Transportation. The Conference Committee report on HB 4328 passed the House on a vote of 63-46.
I voted against this bill on the House floor because of the number of measures HB 4328 did not include-- most notably, support for Medicaid expansion. I remain frustrated at Republicans' resistance of Medicaid expansion, which, as many of you know, would allow us to extend health coverage to 400,000 currently uninsured Michigan residents. Those funds have the potential to reduce uncompensated care and will save our state an estimated $300 million; save taxpayers millions in future Medicaid expenses; and bring an estimated $1.9 to $2 billion in new revenue to our state over a ten-year period, for a total of over $20.5 billion worth of new revenue for Michigan. I could not in good conscience support a budget bill that didn't include funds for a program that our state's citizens overwhelmingly want us to expand. (It's worth noting, though, that the Michigan Competitiveness Committee is still in the midst of working on an alternative Medicaid expansion bill-- HB 4714-- which sets a number of conditions for expanding Medicaid to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. I have some concerns about the bill as it stands but will continue to be closely involved as a member of that committee in efforts to make the bill more palatable).
My other primary concern with the Conference Committee's version of HB 4328 was the inclusion of language that presents a significant problem for our school districts. As passed by the House, the bill includes language prohibiting the Michigan Department of Education and local schools across Michigan from implementing the Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessments, which were adopted statewide in 2010 and have been successfully implemented by our local school districts since then. Michigan's local school districts have spent hundreds of hours planning and implementing the high-quality Common Core Standards to empower their students to be career and college-ready. Language included in HB 4328 would leave school boards, administrators, teachers, and parents with no clear direction on how to continue planning their locally-developed curricula to meet state standards that have were thoroughly vetted by citizens (including teachers, parents, students, school administrators, and post-secondary educators) when they were adopted three years ago. Members of the Michigan Legislature also provided input and commentary on the construction of the standards at that time. I believe that Michigan's Common Core State Standards are good for our schools, for our children, for our businesses, and for our state's economic future.
All that being said, there were a few positive changes that came out of the Conference Committee process for this bill.
To begin, I was thrilled to see support re-instated for an expansion of the Healthy Kids Dental program. That expansion will enable children in 78 of Michigan's 83 counties (including Ingham, Ottawa, and Washtenaw) to be eligible for assistance through Healthy Kids Dental, a tremendous program piloted through Delta Dental and the Department of Community Health that continues to improve the dental health of many of our most at-need citizens. The Conference Committee's version of HB 4328 also included $500,000 worth of support for Meals on Wheels; funds for autism programs at Central University, Eastern University, Oakland University, and Western Michigan University; funds for mental health and substance abuse support for veterans; enough support to keep all of our corrections and juvenile justice facilities open; a (very) small increase in statutory revenue sharing for our communities; $4.9 million to support the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University; replacement funding for energy assistance for low-income citizens; support for expansion of specialty (sobriety, drug, mental health, and veterans) courts; a small increase in transportation funding (compared to our current year); and support for Amtrack services.
I was disappointed to have to oppose this bill with so many good things in it, but I believe that the omission of Medicaid expansion and damaging language on Common Core will have a very drastic negative impact on our state, our residents, and our children.
It's important to point out that HB 4328 hasn't yet been adopted by the Senate. I remain hopeful that my colleagues in that chamber will address some of the most concerning aspects of the bill before sending it to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
To see the comments I gave on the House floor related to this bill, click here.
Schor Legislation
Elections Bills
I'm excited to share that three more of my bills were granted hearings this month. House Bills 4477, 4478, and 4479 were all taken up in the House's Ethics and Elections Committee.
House Bill 4477 would allow a voter to take a photograph of himself or herself (but not a photo of his/her ballot) in a polling place. Last cycle, several voters took pictures of themselves voting and inserting their ballots into the voting machine and then put those photos on Facebook. According to the Secretary of State's rules and interpretation of election law, this is actually illegal. In this day of social media, people should be excited about voting and should be allowed to take pictures of themselves doing just that. I exempted pictures of the actual ballot but believe that pictures of the act of voting should be allowed.
House Bill 4479 corrects an inequity in campaign finance law that currently prevents a candidate from paying a late filing fee for their annual statement using candidate committee funds. Currently, candidate committee funds can be used for all other late filing fees, but not for the annual statement. At the request of my county clerk, my bill eliminates that prohibition and allows a candidate to pay that fee using candidate committee funds.
Finally, House Bill 4478 allows a voter who is unable to sign his or her name on an election document to execute the election document where a signature is required either by making his or her mark or by using a signature stamp. This legislation is in response to an issue that arose in a local mid-Michigan community. Under current law, a person can make his/her mark but cannot use a voter stamp. At its hearing, the bill was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Disability Right Coalition, the Michigan Municipal League, AARP (Michigan), GCSI, the Association of County Clerks, and the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks.
This bill was actually passed by the Ethics and Elections Committee unanimously and without amendment on May 21st. It now heads to the House floor for a vote by the full chamber.
HR 145, EMS Week Resolution
I introduced House Resolution 145 to declare May 19-25th, 2013 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week in the State of Michigan. It was a pleasure to help recognize the vital public services our hard-working EMS personnel provide to Michigan's citizens-- especially our residents who experience sudden illness or injury. Our state wouldn't be what it is without the first responders, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics (many who volunteer their time) who stand ready to provide compassionate, lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. HR 145 was adopted by the House on May 16th.
I continue to work with a variety of stakeholders on drafting legislation to address issues facing our community and state. I expect to introduce legislation dealing with foreclosure and a few other issues in the coming weeks and look forward to working on and introducing legislation over the summer, too. I invite you to stay up to speed on all of my legislative action on my website (www.schor.housedems.com). For an up-to-date list of all legislative I've sponsored and co-sponsored to date, click on the below links:
Sponsored Legislation
Co-Sponsored Legislation
Other House Bills
A number of other bills have been passed by the House that directly impact Michigan's residents. I've included information about a notable few below.
HB 4363 (passed the House on 5.16) - Prohibition of Public Officials from Voting or Communicating through Electronic Devices when Absent
HB 4363 would prohibit public officials from voting or participating in deliberations of a public body through electronic or telephonic means when they are physically absent from a meeting.
HB 4283 (passed the House on 5.16) - Use of Certain Rifles During Firearm Deer Season
HB 4283 would allow the use of certain specific rifles during the regular firearm deer season in the area that is currently restricted to only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain types of pistols.
HB 4168 (passed the House on 5.16) - Elimination that County Sheriffs Euthanize Unlicensed Dogs
HB 4168 eliminates the requirement that a county sheriff euthanize unlicensed dogs.
HB 4156 (passed the House on 5.22) - Special Volunteer License for Retired Nurses
HB 4156 amends the Public Health Code to create a Special Volunteer License for retired nurses. A nurse who provides care under this Special Volunteer License would not be liable in a civil action for personal injury or death proximately caused by professional negligence or malpractice of the individual if certain conditions are met.
SB 57 (passed the House on 5.23) - Extension of the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)
SB 57 expands the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) to include lands not utilized for traditional or production agriculture such as land used for forest management. Content of SB 57 is identical to that of HB 4324. This bill has since been sent to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
HB 4743 (passed the House on 5.28) - Amendment to the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act
HB 4743 allows local units of government to enact an ordinance prohibiting the discharge, initiation or use of consumer grade fireworks anytime between the hours of 12 AM to 8 AM on the day of, day before and day after a national holiday. The bill also addresses the fireworks safety fee for retailers, where the fee is distributed, and who is responsible for submitting the fee.
Misc.
Lansing School District Summer Newsletter
The Lansing School District recently released its Summer Newsletter (it's available online here). Be sure to check it out for news about the latest happenings and progress being made in our school district.
Capital Area Health Alliance's 'Choosing Health' Initiative
As some of you have already seen, I recently filmed a short public service announcement with Capital Area Health Alliance (CAHA) Executive Director Valerie Glesnes-Anderson and Ingham County Health Department Director and Health Officer Dr. Renee Canady about Michigan's Health and Wellness '4 X 4 Tool.' That tool promotes healthy lifestyles by encouraging physical activity, developing healthy eating habits, preventing substance abuse and tobacco use, and promoting mental health. CAHA is one of six organizations that received Michigan Department of Community Health grant funding to implement and support the Michigan Health and Wellness 4x4 Plan with an engagement, awareness and outreach campaign in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. Watch for the segment on local cable stations and read about CAHA's 'Choosing Health!' Rally in my Community Update.
Community Update/Events
Coffee and Tea with Andy
My next 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' gathering is scheduled for Saturday, June 22nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Flap Jack Waverly, located at 1601 S. Waverly Road here in Lansing. These gatherings are a great opportunity for me to share news about what's going on at the Capitol and gather your thoughts and concerns about our community. Hearing from you helps me better represent the interests of Lansing and Lansing Township in the Michigan House, so I hope you’ll consider joining in what promises to be another productive discussion.
My 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' schedule for the rest of 2013 is below. We also expect to have some special community meetings on issues like the budget which will be announced separately. The set schedule is as follows:
Monday, August 5
Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center (Community Room)
5825 Wise Road, Lansing
Saturday, October 26
The Avenue Café (formerly Gone Wired)
2021 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing
Monday, December 2
Letts Community Center
1220 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing
For a full list of events happening in and around our community in the coming weeks, click here.
Thank you very much for your interest in my legislative activity. I look forward to keeping you updated on what's happening in the House and invite you to stay in touch with my office via phone (517-373-0826), e-mail (andyschor@house.mi.gov), or by stopping in to visit (we're located in office 1087 of the Anderson House Office Building, located at 124 North Capitol Avenue in Lansing) to share your thoughts or if we can be of any assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Andy Schor
State Representative, 68th District
Monday, May 6, 2013
May 2013 E-News
As many of you have heard, Michigan's Legislature has been busy addressing a variety of issues in recent weeks. Most notably, we've taken a number of steps toward finalizing our state budget that I wanted to take a moment to draw your attention to.
Budget Bills
I reported in my last e-newsletter that the House had passed both of its omnibus budget bills: House Bill 4228 and House Bill 4328. Since then, the House has adopted and passed the versions of those bills that were reported out of the Conference Committee process. I expect they will be finalized and signed into law in the next week or so.
House Bill 4228 (Conference Report Passed House on 5.28) - School Aid Omnibus Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014
As I noted in my last update, HB 4228 includes the budgets for school aid, higher education, and community colleges for fiscal year 2013-2014. The Conference Committee's report of this bill passed the House on May 28th on a vote of 65-43. It was then adopted by the Senate (on a vote of 25-12) and has been sent to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
I was disappointed to have to vote against the final version of HB 4228 when it came before me, but the bill simply didn't include the increases for our students that were promised by Governor Snyder. Lansing Public Schools will only see a $6 per pupil increase under the latest version of this bill when factoring in retirement legacy costs. A $6 increase is not nearly enough after recent cuts from the Legislature and Governor ($200 per pupil were cut from 2011-2013). While I was glad to see the lowest-funded schools receive boosted state support through the Conference Committee's version of HB 4228, I'm frustrated that our urban schools-- many who have been subjected to intense scrutiny and criticism, including state takeover by the Educational Achievement Authority-- aren't seeing the increased support they need. What's worse, many charter schools will see larger increases than Lansing Public Schools will (generally around $58 per pupil in Ingham County). With a nearly $700 million state budget surplus this year, I believe that our public education students should be our priority and our budget does not reflect that. As such, I voted against this budget.
For what it's worth, HB 4228 does at least preserves the governor's recommended funding for the Great Start Readiness program (the House had reduced that increase in its initial version of the bill). That said, this budget is still a long way from the direction I think we ought to be heading as a state when it comes to supporting our schools. We clearly have a long way to go.
House Bill 4328 (Conference Report Passed House on 5.28) - General Omnibus Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014
House Bill 4328 provides appropriations for the following state departments: LARA, Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Community Health, Corrections, Department of Education, Department of Environmental Quality, General Government, Department of Health Services, Judiciary, Michigan State Police, and the Department of Transportation. The Conference Committee report on HB 4328 passed the House on a vote of 63-46.
I voted against this bill on the House floor because of the number of measures HB 4328 did not include-- most notably, support for Medicaid expansion. I remain frustrated at Republicans' resistance of Medicaid expansion, which, as many of you know, would allow us to extend health coverage to 400,000 currently uninsured Michigan residents. Those funds have the potential to reduce uncompensated care and will save our state an estimated $300 million; save taxpayers millions in future Medicaid expenses; and bring an estimated $1.9 to $2 billion in new revenue to our state over a ten-year period, for a total of over $20.5 billion worth of new revenue for Michigan. I could not in good conscience support a budget bill that didn't include funds for a program that our state's citizens overwhelmingly want us to expand. (It's worth noting, though, that the Michigan Competitiveness Committee is still in the midst of working on an alternative Medicaid expansion bill-- HB 4714-- which sets a number of conditions for expanding Medicaid to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. I have some concerns about the bill as it stands but will continue to be closely involved as a member of that committee in efforts to make the bill more palatable).
My other primary concern with the Conference Committee's version of HB 4328 was the inclusion of language that presents a significant problem for our school districts. As passed by the House, the bill includes language prohibiting the Michigan Department of Education and local schools across Michigan from implementing the Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessments, which were adopted statewide in 2010 and have been successfully implemented by our local school districts since then. Michigan's local school districts have spent hundreds of hours planning and implementing the high-quality Common Core Standards to empower their students to be career and college-ready. Language included in HB 4328 would leave school boards, administrators, teachers, and parents with no clear direction on how to continue planning their locally-developed curricula to meet state standards that have were thoroughly vetted by citizens (including teachers, parents, students, school administrators, and post-secondary educators) when they were adopted three years ago. Members of the Michigan Legislature also provided input and commentary on the construction of the standards at that time. I believe that Michigan's Common Core State Standards are good for our schools, for our children, for our businesses, and for our state's economic future.
All that being said, there were a few positive changes that came out of the Conference Committee process for this bill.
To begin, I was thrilled to see support re-instated for an expansion of the Healthy Kids Dental program. That expansion will enable children in 78 of Michigan's 83 counties (including Ingham, Ottawa, and Washtenaw) to be eligible for assistance through Healthy Kids Dental, a tremendous program piloted through Delta Dental and the Department of Community Health that continues to improve the dental health of many of our most at-need citizens. The Conference Committee's version of HB 4328 also included $500,000 worth of support for Meals on Wheels; funds for autism programs at Central University, Eastern University, Oakland University, and Western Michigan University; funds for mental health and substance abuse support for veterans; enough support to keep all of our corrections and juvenile justice facilities open; a (very) small increase in statutory revenue sharing for our communities; $4.9 million to support the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University; replacement funding for energy assistance for low-income citizens; support for expansion of specialty (sobriety, drug, mental health, and veterans) courts; a small increase in transportation funding (compared to our current year); and support for Amtrack services.
I was disappointed to have to oppose this bill with so many good things in it, but I believe that the omission of Medicaid expansion and damaging language on Common Core will have a very drastic negative impact on our state, our residents, and our children.
It's important to point out that HB 4328 hasn't yet been adopted by the Senate. I remain hopeful that my colleagues in that chamber will address some of the most concerning aspects of the bill before sending it to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
To see the comments I gave on the House floor related to this bill, click here.
Schor Legislation
Elections Bills
I'm excited to share that three more of my bills were granted hearings this month. House Bills 4477, 4478, and 4479 were all taken up in the House's Ethics and Elections Committee.
House Bill 4477 would allow a voter to take a photograph of himself or herself (but not a photo of his/her ballot) in a polling place. Last cycle, several voters took pictures of themselves voting and inserting their ballots into the voting machine and then put those photos on Facebook. According to the Secretary of State's rules and interpretation of election law, this is actually illegal. In this day of social media, people should be excited about voting and should be allowed to take pictures of themselves doing just that. I exempted pictures of the actual ballot but believe that pictures of the act of voting should be allowed.
House Bill 4479 corrects an inequity in campaign finance law that currently prevents a candidate from paying a late filing fee for their annual statement using candidate committee funds. Currently, candidate committee funds can be used for all other late filing fees, but not for the annual statement. At the request of my county clerk, my bill eliminates that prohibition and allows a candidate to pay that fee using candidate committee funds.
Finally, House Bill 4478 allows a voter who is unable to sign his or her name on an election document to execute the election document where a signature is required either by making his or her mark or by using a signature stamp. This legislation is in response to an issue that arose in a local mid-Michigan community. Under current law, a person can make his/her mark but cannot use a voter stamp. At its hearing, the bill was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Disability Right Coalition, the Michigan Municipal League, AARP (Michigan), GCSI, the Association of County Clerks, and the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks.
This bill was actually passed by the Ethics and Elections Committee unanimously and without amendment on May 21st. It now heads to the House floor for a vote by the full chamber.
HR 145, EMS Week Resolution
I introduced House Resolution 145 to declare May 19-25th, 2013 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week in the State of Michigan. It was a pleasure to help recognize the vital public services our hard-working EMS personnel provide to Michigan's citizens-- especially our residents who experience sudden illness or injury. Our state wouldn't be what it is without the first responders, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics (many who volunteer their time) who stand ready to provide compassionate, lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. HR 145 was adopted by the House on May 16th.
I continue to work with a variety of stakeholders on drafting legislation to address issues facing our community and state. I expect to introduce legislation dealing with foreclosure and a few other issues in the coming weeks and look forward to working on and introducing legislation over the summer, too. I invite you to stay up to speed on all of my legislative action on my website (www.schor.housedems.com). For an up-to-date list of all legislative I've sponsored and co-sponsored to date, click on the below links:
Sponsored Legislation
Co-Sponsored Legislation
Other House Bills
A number of other bills have been passed by the House that directly impact Michigan's residents. I've included information about a notable few below.
HB 4363 (passed the House on 5.16) - Prohibition of Public Officials from Voting or Communicating through Electronic Devices when Absent
HB 4363 would prohibit public officials from voting or participating in deliberations of a public body through electronic or telephonic means when they are physically absent from a meeting.
HB 4283 (passed the House on 5.16) - Use of Certain Rifles During Firearm Deer Season
HB 4283 would allow the use of certain specific rifles during the regular firearm deer season in the area that is currently restricted to only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain types of pistols.
HB 4168 (passed the House on 5.16) - Elimination that County Sheriffs Euthanize Unlicensed Dogs
HB 4168 eliminates the requirement that a county sheriff euthanize unlicensed dogs.
HB 4156 (passed the House on 5.22) - Special Volunteer License for Retired Nurses
HB 4156 amends the Public Health Code to create a Special Volunteer License for retired nurses. A nurse who provides care under this Special Volunteer License would not be liable in a civil action for personal injury or death proximately caused by professional negligence or malpractice of the individual if certain conditions are met.
SB 57 (passed the House on 5.23) - Extension of the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)
SB 57 expands the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) to include lands not utilized for traditional or production agriculture such as land used for forest management. Content of SB 57 is identical to that of HB 4324. This bill has since been sent to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
HB 4743 (passed the House on 5.28) - Amendment to the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act
HB 4743 allows local units of government to enact an ordinance prohibiting the discharge, initiation or use of consumer grade fireworks anytime between the hours of 12 AM to 8 AM on the day of, day before and day after a national holiday. The bill also addresses the fireworks safety fee for retailers, where the fee is distributed, and who is responsible for submitting the fee.
Misc.
Lansing School District Summer Newsletter
The Lansing School District recently released its Summer Newsletter (it's available online here). Be sure to check it out for news about the latest happenings and progress being made in our school district.
Capital Area Health Alliance's 'Choosing Health' Initiative
As some of you have already seen, I recently filmed a short public service announcement with Capital Area Health Alliance (CAHA) Executive Director Valerie Glesnes-Anderson and Ingham County Health Department Director and Health Officer Dr. Renee Canady about Michigan's Health and Wellness '4 X 4 Tool.' That tool promotes healthy lifestyles by encouraging physical activity, developing healthy eating habits, preventing substance abuse and tobacco use, and promoting mental health. CAHA is one of six organizations that received Michigan Department of Community Health grant funding to implement and support the Michigan Health and Wellness 4x4 Plan with an engagement, awareness and outreach campaign in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. Watch for the segment on local cable stations and read about CAHA's 'Choosing Health!' Rally in my Community Update.
Community Update/Events
Coffee and Tea with Andy
My next 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' gathering is scheduled for Saturday, June 22nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Flap Jack Waverly, located at 1601 S. Waverly Road here in Lansing. These gatherings are a great opportunity for me to share news about what's going on at the Capitol and gather your thoughts and concerns about our community. Hearing from you helps me better represent the interests of Lansing and Lansing Township in the Michigan House, so I hope you’ll consider joining in what promises to be another productive discussion.
My 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' schedule for the rest of 2013 is below. We also expect to have some special community meetings on issues like the budget which will be announced separately. The set schedule is as follows:
Monday, August 5
Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center (Community Room)
5825 Wise Road, Lansing
Saturday, October 26
The Avenue Café (formerly Gone Wired)
2021 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing
Monday, December 2
Letts Community Center
1220 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing
For a full list of events happening in and around our community in the coming weeks, click here.
Thank you very much for your interest in my legislative activity. I look forward to keeping you updated on what's happening in the House and invite you to stay in touch with my office via phone (517-373-0826), e-mail (andyschor@house.mi.gov), or by stopping in to visit (we're located in office 1087 of the Anderson House Office Building, located at 124 North Capitol Avenue in Lansing) to share your thoughts or if we can be of any assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Andy Schor
State Representative, 68th District
Budget Bills
I reported in my last e-newsletter that the House had passed both of its omnibus budget bills: House Bill 4228 and House Bill 4328. Since then, the House has adopted and passed the versions of those bills that were reported out of the Conference Committee process. I expect they will be finalized and signed into law in the next week or so.
House Bill 4228 (Conference Report Passed House on 5.28) - School Aid Omnibus Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014
As I noted in my last update, HB 4228 includes the budgets for school aid, higher education, and community colleges for fiscal year 2013-2014. The Conference Committee's report of this bill passed the House on May 28th on a vote of 65-43. It was then adopted by the Senate (on a vote of 25-12) and has been sent to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
I was disappointed to have to vote against the final version of HB 4228 when it came before me, but the bill simply didn't include the increases for our students that were promised by Governor Snyder. Lansing Public Schools will only see a $6 per pupil increase under the latest version of this bill when factoring in retirement legacy costs. A $6 increase is not nearly enough after recent cuts from the Legislature and Governor ($200 per pupil were cut from 2011-2013). While I was glad to see the lowest-funded schools receive boosted state support through the Conference Committee's version of HB 4228, I'm frustrated that our urban schools-- many who have been subjected to intense scrutiny and criticism, including state takeover by the Educational Achievement Authority-- aren't seeing the increased support they need. What's worse, many charter schools will see larger increases than Lansing Public Schools will (generally around $58 per pupil in Ingham County). With a nearly $700 million state budget surplus this year, I believe that our public education students should be our priority and our budget does not reflect that. As such, I voted against this budget.
For what it's worth, HB 4228 does at least preserves the governor's recommended funding for the Great Start Readiness program (the House had reduced that increase in its initial version of the bill). That said, this budget is still a long way from the direction I think we ought to be heading as a state when it comes to supporting our schools. We clearly have a long way to go.
House Bill 4328 (Conference Report Passed House on 5.28) - General Omnibus Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014
House Bill 4328 provides appropriations for the following state departments: LARA, Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Community Health, Corrections, Department of Education, Department of Environmental Quality, General Government, Department of Health Services, Judiciary, Michigan State Police, and the Department of Transportation. The Conference Committee report on HB 4328 passed the House on a vote of 63-46.
I voted against this bill on the House floor because of the number of measures HB 4328 did not include-- most notably, support for Medicaid expansion. I remain frustrated at Republicans' resistance of Medicaid expansion, which, as many of you know, would allow us to extend health coverage to 400,000 currently uninsured Michigan residents. Those funds have the potential to reduce uncompensated care and will save our state an estimated $300 million; save taxpayers millions in future Medicaid expenses; and bring an estimated $1.9 to $2 billion in new revenue to our state over a ten-year period, for a total of over $20.5 billion worth of new revenue for Michigan. I could not in good conscience support a budget bill that didn't include funds for a program that our state's citizens overwhelmingly want us to expand. (It's worth noting, though, that the Michigan Competitiveness Committee is still in the midst of working on an alternative Medicaid expansion bill-- HB 4714-- which sets a number of conditions for expanding Medicaid to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. I have some concerns about the bill as it stands but will continue to be closely involved as a member of that committee in efforts to make the bill more palatable).
My other primary concern with the Conference Committee's version of HB 4328 was the inclusion of language that presents a significant problem for our school districts. As passed by the House, the bill includes language prohibiting the Michigan Department of Education and local schools across Michigan from implementing the Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessments, which were adopted statewide in 2010 and have been successfully implemented by our local school districts since then. Michigan's local school districts have spent hundreds of hours planning and implementing the high-quality Common Core Standards to empower their students to be career and college-ready. Language included in HB 4328 would leave school boards, administrators, teachers, and parents with no clear direction on how to continue planning their locally-developed curricula to meet state standards that have were thoroughly vetted by citizens (including teachers, parents, students, school administrators, and post-secondary educators) when they were adopted three years ago. Members of the Michigan Legislature also provided input and commentary on the construction of the standards at that time. I believe that Michigan's Common Core State Standards are good for our schools, for our children, for our businesses, and for our state's economic future.
All that being said, there were a few positive changes that came out of the Conference Committee process for this bill.
To begin, I was thrilled to see support re-instated for an expansion of the Healthy Kids Dental program. That expansion will enable children in 78 of Michigan's 83 counties (including Ingham, Ottawa, and Washtenaw) to be eligible for assistance through Healthy Kids Dental, a tremendous program piloted through Delta Dental and the Department of Community Health that continues to improve the dental health of many of our most at-need citizens. The Conference Committee's version of HB 4328 also included $500,000 worth of support for Meals on Wheels; funds for autism programs at Central University, Eastern University, Oakland University, and Western Michigan University; funds for mental health and substance abuse support for veterans; enough support to keep all of our corrections and juvenile justice facilities open; a (very) small increase in statutory revenue sharing for our communities; $4.9 million to support the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University; replacement funding for energy assistance for low-income citizens; support for expansion of specialty (sobriety, drug, mental health, and veterans) courts; a small increase in transportation funding (compared to our current year); and support for Amtrack services.
I was disappointed to have to oppose this bill with so many good things in it, but I believe that the omission of Medicaid expansion and damaging language on Common Core will have a very drastic negative impact on our state, our residents, and our children.
It's important to point out that HB 4328 hasn't yet been adopted by the Senate. I remain hopeful that my colleagues in that chamber will address some of the most concerning aspects of the bill before sending it to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
To see the comments I gave on the House floor related to this bill, click here.
Schor Legislation
Elections Bills
I'm excited to share that three more of my bills were granted hearings this month. House Bills 4477, 4478, and 4479 were all taken up in the House's Ethics and Elections Committee.
House Bill 4477 would allow a voter to take a photograph of himself or herself (but not a photo of his/her ballot) in a polling place. Last cycle, several voters took pictures of themselves voting and inserting their ballots into the voting machine and then put those photos on Facebook. According to the Secretary of State's rules and interpretation of election law, this is actually illegal. In this day of social media, people should be excited about voting and should be allowed to take pictures of themselves doing just that. I exempted pictures of the actual ballot but believe that pictures of the act of voting should be allowed.
House Bill 4479 corrects an inequity in campaign finance law that currently prevents a candidate from paying a late filing fee for their annual statement using candidate committee funds. Currently, candidate committee funds can be used for all other late filing fees, but not for the annual statement. At the request of my county clerk, my bill eliminates that prohibition and allows a candidate to pay that fee using candidate committee funds.
Finally, House Bill 4478 allows a voter who is unable to sign his or her name on an election document to execute the election document where a signature is required either by making his or her mark or by using a signature stamp. This legislation is in response to an issue that arose in a local mid-Michigan community. Under current law, a person can make his/her mark but cannot use a voter stamp. At its hearing, the bill was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Disability Right Coalition, the Michigan Municipal League, AARP (Michigan), GCSI, the Association of County Clerks, and the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks.
This bill was actually passed by the Ethics and Elections Committee unanimously and without amendment on May 21st. It now heads to the House floor for a vote by the full chamber.
HR 145, EMS Week Resolution
I introduced House Resolution 145 to declare May 19-25th, 2013 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week in the State of Michigan. It was a pleasure to help recognize the vital public services our hard-working EMS personnel provide to Michigan's citizens-- especially our residents who experience sudden illness or injury. Our state wouldn't be what it is without the first responders, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics (many who volunteer their time) who stand ready to provide compassionate, lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. HR 145 was adopted by the House on May 16th.
I continue to work with a variety of stakeholders on drafting legislation to address issues facing our community and state. I expect to introduce legislation dealing with foreclosure and a few other issues in the coming weeks and look forward to working on and introducing legislation over the summer, too. I invite you to stay up to speed on all of my legislative action on my website (www.schor.housedems.com). For an up-to-date list of all legislative I've sponsored and co-sponsored to date, click on the below links:
Sponsored Legislation
Co-Sponsored Legislation
Other House Bills
A number of other bills have been passed by the House that directly impact Michigan's residents. I've included information about a notable few below.
HB 4363 (passed the House on 5.16) - Prohibition of Public Officials from Voting or Communicating through Electronic Devices when Absent
HB 4363 would prohibit public officials from voting or participating in deliberations of a public body through electronic or telephonic means when they are physically absent from a meeting.
HB 4283 (passed the House on 5.16) - Use of Certain Rifles During Firearm Deer Season
HB 4283 would allow the use of certain specific rifles during the regular firearm deer season in the area that is currently restricted to only shotguns, muzzleloaders, and certain types of pistols.
HB 4168 (passed the House on 5.16) - Elimination that County Sheriffs Euthanize Unlicensed Dogs
HB 4168 eliminates the requirement that a county sheriff euthanize unlicensed dogs.
HB 4156 (passed the House on 5.22) - Special Volunteer License for Retired Nurses
HB 4156 amends the Public Health Code to create a Special Volunteer License for retired nurses. A nurse who provides care under this Special Volunteer License would not be liable in a civil action for personal injury or death proximately caused by professional negligence or malpractice of the individual if certain conditions are met.
SB 57 (passed the House on 5.23) - Extension of the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP)
SB 57 expands the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) to include lands not utilized for traditional or production agriculture such as land used for forest management. Content of SB 57 is identical to that of HB 4324. This bill has since been sent to Governor Snyder for his final approval and signature.
HB 4743 (passed the House on 5.28) - Amendment to the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act
HB 4743 allows local units of government to enact an ordinance prohibiting the discharge, initiation or use of consumer grade fireworks anytime between the hours of 12 AM to 8 AM on the day of, day before and day after a national holiday. The bill also addresses the fireworks safety fee for retailers, where the fee is distributed, and who is responsible for submitting the fee.
Misc.
Lansing School District Summer Newsletter
The Lansing School District recently released its Summer Newsletter (it's available online here). Be sure to check it out for news about the latest happenings and progress being made in our school district.
Capital Area Health Alliance's 'Choosing Health' Initiative
As some of you have already seen, I recently filmed a short public service announcement with Capital Area Health Alliance (CAHA) Executive Director Valerie Glesnes-Anderson and Ingham County Health Department Director and Health Officer Dr. Renee Canady about Michigan's Health and Wellness '4 X 4 Tool.' That tool promotes healthy lifestyles by encouraging physical activity, developing healthy eating habits, preventing substance abuse and tobacco use, and promoting mental health. CAHA is one of six organizations that received Michigan Department of Community Health grant funding to implement and support the Michigan Health and Wellness 4x4 Plan with an engagement, awareness and outreach campaign in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. Watch for the segment on local cable stations and read about CAHA's 'Choosing Health!' Rally in my Community Update.
Community Update/Events
Coffee and Tea with Andy
My next 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' gathering is scheduled for Saturday, June 22nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Flap Jack Waverly, located at 1601 S. Waverly Road here in Lansing. These gatherings are a great opportunity for me to share news about what's going on at the Capitol and gather your thoughts and concerns about our community. Hearing from you helps me better represent the interests of Lansing and Lansing Township in the Michigan House, so I hope you’ll consider joining in what promises to be another productive discussion.
My 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' schedule for the rest of 2013 is below. We also expect to have some special community meetings on issues like the budget which will be announced separately. The set schedule is as follows:
Monday, August 5
Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center (Community Room)
5825 Wise Road, Lansing
Saturday, October 26
The Avenue Café (formerly Gone Wired)
2021 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing
Monday, December 2
Letts Community Center
1220 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing
For a full list of events happening in and around our community in the coming weeks, click here.
Thank you very much for your interest in my legislative activity. I look forward to keeping you updated on what's happening in the House and invite you to stay in touch with my office via phone (517-373-0826), e-mail (andyschor@house.mi.gov), or by stopping in to visit (we're located in office 1087 of the Anderson House Office Building, located at 124 North Capitol Avenue in Lansing) to share your thoughts or if we can be of any assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Andy Schor
State Representative, 68th District
Friday, March 22, 2013
March 2013 E-News
I hope you're enjoying the first few days of spring (even if it has felt much more like winter)! I'm getting in touch today to update you on what's been happening at the Capitol since my last e-newsletter.
Legislative Update
A number of bills have been passed by the House that directly impact Michigan's residents. I've included information about a notable few below.
SB 60 (Passed House on 2.21) - Firearms Dealers
Senate Bill 60 amends the handgun licensure law (PA 377 of 2012) to revise the definition of 'federally licensed firearms dealer.' As written, PA 377 of 2012 exempts federally licensed firearms dealers from having to comply with state handgun licensure requirements. For example, federally licensed firearms dealers are not required to obtain a license to purchase, carry, possess, use, or transport a pistol. Similarly, an individual who purchases a pistol from a federally licensed firearms dealer is not required to obtain a license. Senate Bill 60 amends Public Act 377 of 2012 to modify the definition of 'federally licensed firearms dealer' to mean the following:
- Before December 18, 2012, an individual who holds a type 01 dealer license under 18 USC 923.
- Beginning December 18, 2012, a person (individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity) licensed to sell firearms under 18 USC 923.
Although I voted against SB 60 when it came before the House, it passed on a vote of 75-34. It has since been signed into law by Governor Snyder.
HB 4111 (Passed House on 2.28) - Health Care Exchange
This bill is a FY 2013 multi-departmental supplemental that appropriates over $30 million in federal health exchange funding. That funding will support our state's efforts to establish a cooperative healthcare exchange with the federal government as called for under the Affordable Care Act. Under our state partnership exchange, Michigan will work with the federal government to operate plan management and consumer assistance activities. This will require us to provide customer assistance in managing the Navigator program (which will be used to educate consumers about the exchange); assure coordination with the federal exchange; plan management activities, including collecting and analyzing health plan information and monitoring and providing oversight of plans; and fund contractual services to assist with planning, designing, and implementing technology-related interfaces and systems. The funding provided through HB 4111 is incredibly important to initiating this activity, which will move us forward in establishing what I believe is a much-needed healthcare exchange. I was proud to support this bill when it came before the House, where it passed on a vote of 78-31. Unfortunately, because the Senate refused to take up this legislation, Michigan will be forced to turn back the $30 million, give up the right to control our own exchange, and be placed into a federally-run health exchange.
SBs 61 and 62 (Passed House on 2.28) - Blue Cross Blue Shield Legislation
Senate Bills 61 and 62 allow for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) to move from a charitable nonprofit to a mutual nonprofit disability insurer. SB 61 also creates a Michigan Health Endowment Fund through which BCBSM will contribute up to $1.56 billion over 18 years to fulfill its social mission.
I was very proud to introduce and pass an important amendment to SB 61. My amendment corrected an inadvertent oversight in the bill that would have resulted in BCBSM not paying property taxes on a number of its properties throughout Michigan until 2015, including the Capitol Avenue Building on 232 S. Capitol Avenue here in Lansing. The understanding between all involved parties, including Blue Cross, was that they would start paying those property taxes in 2014. On top of ensuring that the City of Lansing would receive nearly $600,000 in property taxes from BCBSM next year, my amendment ensured that a number of other communities would benefit from Blue Cross' property tax payments. In fact, the 10 buildings that Blue Cross owns in Michigan are expected to net almost $4 million in property tax payments in 2014 that will directly benefit communities throughout the state. Detroit alone will see $2.5 million in property tax revenue next year thanks to my amendment.
I supported an amendment to this legislation that would have restored funding to Medigap. However, I was disappointed that the Republican majority defeated that amendment, which would have provided much-needed support to many of our Medicare-eligible residents (including many of our seniors). I would have liked to see the final version of this legislation include Medigap coverage, but voted for the legislation because of the important impact the bills would have on the City of Lansing (among other communities in the state). I also believe that, with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, BCBSM needs to be on an equal playing field with other insurers. I am hopeful that Medigap funding can be restored before 2016 when it is scheduled to expire. These bills were signed into law by Governor Snyder just this week.
SB 48 (Passed House on 3.7) - Bear Petting
SB 48 amends the Large Carnivore Act to allow members of the public to have close and/or direct contact with bear cubs less than 36 weeks old or weighing up to 90 pounds. This bill was called the "bear petting" bill.
A number of my constituents contacted me about opposing this bill, which I spoke against when it came before my colleagues and I on the House floor. I took that opportunity to voice the concerns I heard from constituents and stakeholders for several weeks leading up to this bill's passage. Among those concerns was feedback from leaders at Lansing's Potter Park Zoo, who I met with to review information they compiled with peer AZA-certified zoos around Michigan regarding the danger to the animals and public most affected by the passage of SB 48. The zoo's leaders also shared evidence provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that cites a number of violations incurred by the Oswald Bear Ranch, the business at the center of this legislation. Despite presenting that evidence on the House floor and speaking with a number of colleagues about the dangers surrounding SB 48, the bill was passed by a vote of 56-52. This bill has since been presented to Governor Snyder for his signature and final approval.
HB 4042 (Passed House on 3.14) - No Benefits to Deceased
House Bill 4042 would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to perform monthly data matches with the U.S. Social Security Death Index to determine whether an individual receiving assistance is deceased (and then terminate benefits, accordingly). This bill, which I supported, passed the House on a 109-1 vote and is currently being reviewed in the Senate.
HB 4307 (Passed House on 3.14) - County Commissioner Special Election
House Bill 4307 amends Public Act 261 of 1966 (which governs the apportionment of county boards of commissioners) to eliminate a requirement that a special election be held when a county commission vacancy occurs in an odd-numbered year. The bill would allow for the vacancy to be filled by appointment by a county commission. Under the bill, if the appointment is not made within 30 days, the vacancy would then be filled by a special election. I supported HB 4307's passage because it represents an important cost savings and because I recognize that running four times in one year (as one of our Ingham County Commissioners had to do) is just too much. This bill, which passed the House on a vote of 75-35 is now in the Senate for review.
HBs 4093 and 4131 (Passed House on 3.20) - .08 Blood Alcohol Content
House Bill 5093 amends several sections of the Michigan Vehicle Code to maintain our 0.08 threshold for drunken driving offenses and remove sunset language that would revert it back to 0.10. Its companion bill, HB 4131, amends the Code of Criminal Code of Procedure to maintain the 0.08 BAC threshold contained in the sentencing guidelines scoring instructions. It also removes sunset language reverting the BAC back to 0.10 on October 1, 2013. I was happy to support both bills when they came before me for a vote. Both passed the House unanimously and have been transmitted to the Senate for review.
SB 233 (Passed House on 3.20) - Emergency Funding for Dredging Projects (and Other Emergencies)
Senate Bill 233 (H-1) is a FY 13 supplemental that includes funding for Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) projects, dredging projects, and a study of sentencing guidelines. Broadly, the bill appropriates $44.5 million Gross ($11.5 million GF, $32.8 million restricted).
As passed, the bill includes funding for dredging projects that is emergency funding, $10 million of which came from the General Fund. I introduced an amendment to this bill addressing another emergency our state is currently facing-- support for our communities. My amendment would have increased statutory revenue sharing by $10 million. I felt that if there is an emergency for dredging that allows us to pull $10 million from the General Fund, we should also be addressing the emergencies associated with lower tax collection (thanks to lower property values) and state disinvestment in revenue sharing over recent years that communities all over the state are facing. Unfortunately, my amendment was defeated. Amendments were also introduced and defeated that would have dedicated more money to K-12 education and addressed issues with the State Waterways Fund. While I do believe that we need to address dredging (and voted for this bill), I am disappointed that all of these amendments were defeated by the House Republicans. SB 233 has been sent back to the Senate with some small changes for final approval in that chamber.
HB 4127 (Passed House on 3.21) - GPS Tracking of Criminals
This bill amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow a judge or magistrate to order a defendant charged with an assaultive crime to carry or wear a global positioning system (GPS) device as a condition of release on bail. I co-sponsored this bill after consulting with several Ingham County Circuit Court Judges when it was introduced.
Public Act 192 of 2008 (known as "Mary's Law") amended the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow the court to order a defendant charged with domestic violence to carry or wear a GPS device as a condition of release on bail. In making the determination to order the defendant (accused of domestic violence) to wear or carry a GPS devise, the court must consider the likelihood that the defendant's participation in GPS monitoring would deter him or her from seeking to kill, physically injure, stalk, or otherwise threaten the victim prior to trial. With the informed consent of the victim, the court could also order the defendant to provide the victim with an electronic receptor devise capable of receiving the GPS information from the defendant's devise, notifying the victim if the defendant is located within a proximity to the victim as determined by the court. The victim has the right not to participate in this type of GMP monitoring. A defendant may only be released if he or she agrees to pay the cost of the devise and any monitoring of the device, or agrees to perform community service work in lieu of the cost.
HB 4127 would extend the above provisions to defendants accused of assaultive crimes. I am happy that this moved quickly through the House and that I was able to support its passage. I hope that this legislation will be taken up soon in the Senate so that our judges have more options in situations like these.
HB 4277 (Passed House on 3.21) - Conditional Liquor Licenses
House Bill 4277 allows the Liquor Control Commission (LCC) to approve or deny a conditional liquor license for applicants seeking (1) to transfer ownership of or interest in an exciting license at the same location to sell liquor for consumption on or off the premises, or (2) an initial liquor license except for a resort or resort economic development or within a city redevelopment project area or development district and for a specially designated distributor license or for sale for consumption on the premises. I introduced an amendment to HB 4277 when it came before the House Regulatory Reform Committee and to the House floor for a vote that would have required the LCC to give local governments notice when an application for a conditional license was received. The local government would then have the opportunity to file an objection to the application. Unfortunately, my amendment was defeated by the House Republicans both times I brought it up. This bill, which was passed by the House on a 109-1 vote, has been sent to the Senate for review and approval.
HB 4369 (Passed House on 3.21) - Educational Achievement Authority
House Bill 4369 establishes the Education Achievement Authority (EAA) in statute. This alarming bill would allow governor's appointees to take over up to 50 public schools (including several potential schools in Lansing) deemed by arbitrary, flawed rankings to be in the state's bottom five percent. One of the last-minute amendments to HB 4369 allows school boards that oversee a school in that bottom five percent to put that school under the oversight of its regional intermediate school district to handle the responsibilities and functions the EAA would otherwise take on.
Several of my colleagues introduced amendments to this bill, which would have required EAA schools to have the same testing standards as public schools, require parent groups at EAA schools, require the EAA to hold monthly public meetings just like public school boards, limit the terms of EAA members to 4 years, prohibit EAA schools from converting schools to for-profit charters, put the EAA under the State Board of Education, require the State School Board to decide which schools are EAA schools, require EAA be subject to FOIA, add a sunset to the legislation, prevent court shopping, and do an educational and organizational audit, among other things. Unfortunately, all of these reasonable amendments were rejected by House Republicans.
I spoke out against this bill when it came before my colleagues and I on the House floor to voice the number of concerns about its provisions that I heard from community members and constituents in the days and weeks leading up to its passage. My comments were as follows:
Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today about the effect this legislation will have on the schools and the students in my school district, the Lansing Public Schools.
Lansing is unique. Eastern High School in the Lansing School District is home to students who speak dozens of languages because they are recent immigrants. Walk the halls and listen to international students from the Congo, Burma, Nepal - the world. Eastern must teach these students to learn a new language and then teach them how to learn. These kids are great and want to learn and be productive students here in Michigan. In Lansing, diversity is an asset. But to the state and the EAA, those new students must pass the same tests given to other more naturally privileged kids - or our Lansing students are considered a failure.
Governor Snyder talks about the need for immigrants here in Michigan and the importance of having communities that are welcoming to all in order to attract talent and bring jobs to Michigan. Well I say to my colleagues, I agree with the Governor. When these children come to America, we need them to succeed and lead, but the road to success can be bumpy. Lansing knows how to embrace diversity and make students successful - but it takes time, and it takes an investment - not fewer resources directed toward education and schools being taken over under legislation like this.
Lansing does have students with challenges. We have a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds…some middle class and some lower income working families. Our new superintendent and our school board are in the process of working through those problems to help our students. They have priority schools, and have chosen the transformation model - one of the four allowed under Race to the Top legislation. Now, this legislation - HB 4369 - will have them taken over by an unaccountable authority. Eastern High School replaced its principal and has complied with the eleven other requirements. The problem is not that the school district is missing the mark…it is that the mark keeps changing!
Lansing schools are complying with current law and helping more and more students succeed, and now the law is poised to change again. EAA does not use the same metrics or assessment instruments to determine student achievement as do the schools that are currently identified as 'priority' schools. The EAA reform model is not comprehensive nor does it consider the “whole child,” as it only focuses on content mastery. There are no options for extra-curricular activities like sports, band, orchestra, visual/performing arts, career/technical education, special education, English-language learners, etc. EAA is not required to employ highly qualified teachers like No Child Left Behind is. Under No Child Left Behind, all public schools are required to use highly qualified teachers. So again, we are asking for something different from our schools and our children.
Additionally, the No Child Left Behind Act already has in place a provision for state takeover of schools by the Michigan Department of Education and the State Board of Education, who are elected representatives of the public. This EAA legislation will create a parallel educational bureaucracy when we already have a state education agency. So, we know the State Department of Education is accountable to the people and the elected school board. And to the US Department of Education is, too, because it is required to follow NCLB requirements. But we don't know who the EAA is accountable to.
This bill also fails to include an in-depth audit of existing issues in the school buildings and districts with concerning performances, and it takes away our local communities' ability to establish education policy, direct curriculum, and manage community resources. Even worse, it allows for these activities without providing any substantive local controls to establish standards, create missions and goals, monitor performance, or audit the finances of new schools created by HB 4369.
Finally, I want to note that I am very disappointed that the Republican majority in the Michigan House of Representatives REJECTED several common-sense amendments that attempted to fix some of the many problems in this bill. Those amendments include:
- Requiring EAA schools to have the same testing standards as public schools;
- Requiring parent groups at EAA schools;
- Require the EAA to hold monthly public meetings just like public school boards;
- Limiting the terms of EAA members to 4 years;
- Prohibiting EAA schools from converting schools to for-profit charters;
- Putting the EAA under the State Board of Education;
- Requiring the State School Board to decide which schools are EAA schools;
- Requiring the EAA be subject to FOIA;
- Adding a sunset to the legislation;
- Preventing court shopping; and
- Performing an educational and organizational audit
Instead of passing this legislation, we need to focus on helping our local schools do better. This legislation is not good for the students or parents in Lansing or in other Michigan schools, and I hope you will join me in voting to reject it.
Unfortunately, this bill passed the House on a vote of 57-53. It now heads to the Senate for review.
For a list of all legislation that has passed the House and the Senate, visit www.legislature.mi.gov and select the 'Daily Intro/Passed/Enrolled' link underneath the 'Legislative Activity' header on the site's home page.
Introduced Legislation
I continue to be hard at work assembling legislation and have introduced five more bills since my last update.
HB 4367
This bill proposes to allow split and/or mixed ticket voting in primary elections in Michigan. As I campaigned in my Democratic primary, I heard from many people that wanted to vote in my race as well as in the Republican Party primary; there was a great deal of frustration about only being able to cast votes for candidates on one party's primary election ballot. Michigan's voters should not be limited to voting for candidates in only one party's primary-- I believe they should have the chance to decide who they want to come out of a race regardless of which party's primary that individual contest is in.
HB 4417
HB 4479 is part of a legislative package concerning digital court records. My bill repeals certain provisions related to district courts retaining paper copies of judgment records and registries.
HB 4477
HB 4477 would allow a voter to take a photograph of himself or herself (but not a photo of his/her ballot) in a polling place. Last cycle, a number of voters took pictures of themselves voting and inserting their ballots into the voting machine and then put those photos on Facebook. According to the Secretary of State's rules and interpretation of election law, such action is actually illegal. In this day of social media, I think people should be excited about voting and should be allowed to take pictures of themselves doing just that.
HB 4478
This bill would allow a voter who is unable to sign his or her name on an election document to execute the election document where a signature is required either by making his or her mark or by using a signature stamp. As some of you know, this legislation is in response to an issue that arose in a local community during last November's election cycle. Under current law, a person can make his/her mark but cannot use a voter stamp, which I think we need to change. I'd like to encourage voting and make it easier for all engaged citizens to participate in the electoral process.
HB 4479
This bill corrects an inequality in campaign finance law that currently prevents a candidate from paying a late fee for their annual statement using campaign committee funds. Currently, candidate committee funds can be used for all other late filing fees, but not for the annual statement. At the request of our county clerk, my bill eliminates that prohibition and allows a candidate to pay that fee using candidate committee funds.
For an up-to-date list of all legislative I've sponsored and co-sponsored to date, click on the below links:
Sponsored Legislation
Co-Sponsored Legislation
Community Update/Events
Coffee and Tea with Andy
My next 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' gathering is scheduled for Monday, April 8th, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Gier Community Center, located at 2400 Hall Street in Lansing. These gatherings are a great opportunity for me to share news about what's going on at the Capitol and gather your thoughts and concerns about our community. Hearing from you helps me better represent the interests of Lansing and Lansing Township in the Michigan House, so I hope you’ll consider joining in what promises to be another productive discussion.
My 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' schedule for the rest of 2013 is below. We also expect to have some special community meetings on issues like the budget which will be announced separately. The set schedule is as follows:
Saturday, June 22
Flap Jack Waverly
1601 S. Waverly Road, Lansing
Monday, August 5
Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center (Community Room)
5825 Wise Road, Lansing
Saturday, October 26
The Avenue Café (formerly Gone Wired)
2021 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing
Monday, December 2
Letts Community Center
1220 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing
For a full list of events happening in and around our community in the coming weeks, click here.
Thank you very much for your interest in my legislative activity. I look forward to keeping you updated on what's happening in the House and invite you to stay in touch with my office via phone (517.373.0826), e-mail (andyschor@house.mi.gov), or by stopping in to visit (we're located in office 1087 of the Anderson House Office Building, located at 124 North Capitol Avenue in Lansing) to share your thoughts or if we can be of any assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Andy Schor
State Representative, 68th District
Legislative Update
A number of bills have been passed by the House that directly impact Michigan's residents. I've included information about a notable few below.
SB 60 (Passed House on 2.21) - Firearms Dealers
Senate Bill 60 amends the handgun licensure law (PA 377 of 2012) to revise the definition of 'federally licensed firearms dealer.' As written, PA 377 of 2012 exempts federally licensed firearms dealers from having to comply with state handgun licensure requirements. For example, federally licensed firearms dealers are not required to obtain a license to purchase, carry, possess, use, or transport a pistol. Similarly, an individual who purchases a pistol from a federally licensed firearms dealer is not required to obtain a license. Senate Bill 60 amends Public Act 377 of 2012 to modify the definition of 'federally licensed firearms dealer' to mean the following:
- Before December 18, 2012, an individual who holds a type 01 dealer license under 18 USC 923.
- Beginning December 18, 2012, a person (individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity) licensed to sell firearms under 18 USC 923.
Although I voted against SB 60 when it came before the House, it passed on a vote of 75-34. It has since been signed into law by Governor Snyder.
HB 4111 (Passed House on 2.28) - Health Care Exchange
This bill is a FY 2013 multi-departmental supplemental that appropriates over $30 million in federal health exchange funding. That funding will support our state's efforts to establish a cooperative healthcare exchange with the federal government as called for under the Affordable Care Act. Under our state partnership exchange, Michigan will work with the federal government to operate plan management and consumer assistance activities. This will require us to provide customer assistance in managing the Navigator program (which will be used to educate consumers about the exchange); assure coordination with the federal exchange; plan management activities, including collecting and analyzing health plan information and monitoring and providing oversight of plans; and fund contractual services to assist with planning, designing, and implementing technology-related interfaces and systems. The funding provided through HB 4111 is incredibly important to initiating this activity, which will move us forward in establishing what I believe is a much-needed healthcare exchange. I was proud to support this bill when it came before the House, where it passed on a vote of 78-31. Unfortunately, because the Senate refused to take up this legislation, Michigan will be forced to turn back the $30 million, give up the right to control our own exchange, and be placed into a federally-run health exchange.
SBs 61 and 62 (Passed House on 2.28) - Blue Cross Blue Shield Legislation
Senate Bills 61 and 62 allow for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) to move from a charitable nonprofit to a mutual nonprofit disability insurer. SB 61 also creates a Michigan Health Endowment Fund through which BCBSM will contribute up to $1.56 billion over 18 years to fulfill its social mission.
I was very proud to introduce and pass an important amendment to SB 61. My amendment corrected an inadvertent oversight in the bill that would have resulted in BCBSM not paying property taxes on a number of its properties throughout Michigan until 2015, including the Capitol Avenue Building on 232 S. Capitol Avenue here in Lansing. The understanding between all involved parties, including Blue Cross, was that they would start paying those property taxes in 2014. On top of ensuring that the City of Lansing would receive nearly $600,000 in property taxes from BCBSM next year, my amendment ensured that a number of other communities would benefit from Blue Cross' property tax payments. In fact, the 10 buildings that Blue Cross owns in Michigan are expected to net almost $4 million in property tax payments in 2014 that will directly benefit communities throughout the state. Detroit alone will see $2.5 million in property tax revenue next year thanks to my amendment.
I supported an amendment to this legislation that would have restored funding to Medigap. However, I was disappointed that the Republican majority defeated that amendment, which would have provided much-needed support to many of our Medicare-eligible residents (including many of our seniors). I would have liked to see the final version of this legislation include Medigap coverage, but voted for the legislation because of the important impact the bills would have on the City of Lansing (among other communities in the state). I also believe that, with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, BCBSM needs to be on an equal playing field with other insurers. I am hopeful that Medigap funding can be restored before 2016 when it is scheduled to expire. These bills were signed into law by Governor Snyder just this week.
SB 48 (Passed House on 3.7) - Bear Petting
SB 48 amends the Large Carnivore Act to allow members of the public to have close and/or direct contact with bear cubs less than 36 weeks old or weighing up to 90 pounds. This bill was called the "bear petting" bill.
A number of my constituents contacted me about opposing this bill, which I spoke against when it came before my colleagues and I on the House floor. I took that opportunity to voice the concerns I heard from constituents and stakeholders for several weeks leading up to this bill's passage. Among those concerns was feedback from leaders at Lansing's Potter Park Zoo, who I met with to review information they compiled with peer AZA-certified zoos around Michigan regarding the danger to the animals and public most affected by the passage of SB 48. The zoo's leaders also shared evidence provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that cites a number of violations incurred by the Oswald Bear Ranch, the business at the center of this legislation. Despite presenting that evidence on the House floor and speaking with a number of colleagues about the dangers surrounding SB 48, the bill was passed by a vote of 56-52. This bill has since been presented to Governor Snyder for his signature and final approval.
HB 4042 (Passed House on 3.14) - No Benefits to Deceased
House Bill 4042 would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to perform monthly data matches with the U.S. Social Security Death Index to determine whether an individual receiving assistance is deceased (and then terminate benefits, accordingly). This bill, which I supported, passed the House on a 109-1 vote and is currently being reviewed in the Senate.
HB 4307 (Passed House on 3.14) - County Commissioner Special Election
House Bill 4307 amends Public Act 261 of 1966 (which governs the apportionment of county boards of commissioners) to eliminate a requirement that a special election be held when a county commission vacancy occurs in an odd-numbered year. The bill would allow for the vacancy to be filled by appointment by a county commission. Under the bill, if the appointment is not made within 30 days, the vacancy would then be filled by a special election. I supported HB 4307's passage because it represents an important cost savings and because I recognize that running four times in one year (as one of our Ingham County Commissioners had to do) is just too much. This bill, which passed the House on a vote of 75-35 is now in the Senate for review.
HBs 4093 and 4131 (Passed House on 3.20) - .08 Blood Alcohol Content
House Bill 5093 amends several sections of the Michigan Vehicle Code to maintain our 0.08 threshold for drunken driving offenses and remove sunset language that would revert it back to 0.10. Its companion bill, HB 4131, amends the Code of Criminal Code of Procedure to maintain the 0.08 BAC threshold contained in the sentencing guidelines scoring instructions. It also removes sunset language reverting the BAC back to 0.10 on October 1, 2013. I was happy to support both bills when they came before me for a vote. Both passed the House unanimously and have been transmitted to the Senate for review.
SB 233 (Passed House on 3.20) - Emergency Funding for Dredging Projects (and Other Emergencies)
Senate Bill 233 (H-1) is a FY 13 supplemental that includes funding for Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) projects, dredging projects, and a study of sentencing guidelines. Broadly, the bill appropriates $44.5 million Gross ($11.5 million GF, $32.8 million restricted).
As passed, the bill includes funding for dredging projects that is emergency funding, $10 million of which came from the General Fund. I introduced an amendment to this bill addressing another emergency our state is currently facing-- support for our communities. My amendment would have increased statutory revenue sharing by $10 million. I felt that if there is an emergency for dredging that allows us to pull $10 million from the General Fund, we should also be addressing the emergencies associated with lower tax collection (thanks to lower property values) and state disinvestment in revenue sharing over recent years that communities all over the state are facing. Unfortunately, my amendment was defeated. Amendments were also introduced and defeated that would have dedicated more money to K-12 education and addressed issues with the State Waterways Fund. While I do believe that we need to address dredging (and voted for this bill), I am disappointed that all of these amendments were defeated by the House Republicans. SB 233 has been sent back to the Senate with some small changes for final approval in that chamber.
HB 4127 (Passed House on 3.21) - GPS Tracking of Criminals
This bill amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow a judge or magistrate to order a defendant charged with an assaultive crime to carry or wear a global positioning system (GPS) device as a condition of release on bail. I co-sponsored this bill after consulting with several Ingham County Circuit Court Judges when it was introduced.
Public Act 192 of 2008 (known as "Mary's Law") amended the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow the court to order a defendant charged with domestic violence to carry or wear a GPS device as a condition of release on bail. In making the determination to order the defendant (accused of domestic violence) to wear or carry a GPS devise, the court must consider the likelihood that the defendant's participation in GPS monitoring would deter him or her from seeking to kill, physically injure, stalk, or otherwise threaten the victim prior to trial. With the informed consent of the victim, the court could also order the defendant to provide the victim with an electronic receptor devise capable of receiving the GPS information from the defendant's devise, notifying the victim if the defendant is located within a proximity to the victim as determined by the court. The victim has the right not to participate in this type of GMP monitoring. A defendant may only be released if he or she agrees to pay the cost of the devise and any monitoring of the device, or agrees to perform community service work in lieu of the cost.
HB 4127 would extend the above provisions to defendants accused of assaultive crimes. I am happy that this moved quickly through the House and that I was able to support its passage. I hope that this legislation will be taken up soon in the Senate so that our judges have more options in situations like these.
HB 4277 (Passed House on 3.21) - Conditional Liquor Licenses
House Bill 4277 allows the Liquor Control Commission (LCC) to approve or deny a conditional liquor license for applicants seeking (1) to transfer ownership of or interest in an exciting license at the same location to sell liquor for consumption on or off the premises, or (2) an initial liquor license except for a resort or resort economic development or within a city redevelopment project area or development district and for a specially designated distributor license or for sale for consumption on the premises. I introduced an amendment to HB 4277 when it came before the House Regulatory Reform Committee and to the House floor for a vote that would have required the LCC to give local governments notice when an application for a conditional license was received. The local government would then have the opportunity to file an objection to the application. Unfortunately, my amendment was defeated by the House Republicans both times I brought it up. This bill, which was passed by the House on a 109-1 vote, has been sent to the Senate for review and approval.
HB 4369 (Passed House on 3.21) - Educational Achievement Authority
House Bill 4369 establishes the Education Achievement Authority (EAA) in statute. This alarming bill would allow governor's appointees to take over up to 50 public schools (including several potential schools in Lansing) deemed by arbitrary, flawed rankings to be in the state's bottom five percent. One of the last-minute amendments to HB 4369 allows school boards that oversee a school in that bottom five percent to put that school under the oversight of its regional intermediate school district to handle the responsibilities and functions the EAA would otherwise take on.
Several of my colleagues introduced amendments to this bill, which would have required EAA schools to have the same testing standards as public schools, require parent groups at EAA schools, require the EAA to hold monthly public meetings just like public school boards, limit the terms of EAA members to 4 years, prohibit EAA schools from converting schools to for-profit charters, put the EAA under the State Board of Education, require the State School Board to decide which schools are EAA schools, require EAA be subject to FOIA, add a sunset to the legislation, prevent court shopping, and do an educational and organizational audit, among other things. Unfortunately, all of these reasonable amendments were rejected by House Republicans.
I spoke out against this bill when it came before my colleagues and I on the House floor to voice the number of concerns about its provisions that I heard from community members and constituents in the days and weeks leading up to its passage. My comments were as follows:
Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today about the effect this legislation will have on the schools and the students in my school district, the Lansing Public Schools.
Lansing is unique. Eastern High School in the Lansing School District is home to students who speak dozens of languages because they are recent immigrants. Walk the halls and listen to international students from the Congo, Burma, Nepal - the world. Eastern must teach these students to learn a new language and then teach them how to learn. These kids are great and want to learn and be productive students here in Michigan. In Lansing, diversity is an asset. But to the state and the EAA, those new students must pass the same tests given to other more naturally privileged kids - or our Lansing students are considered a failure.
Governor Snyder talks about the need for immigrants here in Michigan and the importance of having communities that are welcoming to all in order to attract talent and bring jobs to Michigan. Well I say to my colleagues, I agree with the Governor. When these children come to America, we need them to succeed and lead, but the road to success can be bumpy. Lansing knows how to embrace diversity and make students successful - but it takes time, and it takes an investment - not fewer resources directed toward education and schools being taken over under legislation like this.
Lansing does have students with challenges. We have a wide variety of socio-economic backgrounds…some middle class and some lower income working families. Our new superintendent and our school board are in the process of working through those problems to help our students. They have priority schools, and have chosen the transformation model - one of the four allowed under Race to the Top legislation. Now, this legislation - HB 4369 - will have them taken over by an unaccountable authority. Eastern High School replaced its principal and has complied with the eleven other requirements. The problem is not that the school district is missing the mark…it is that the mark keeps changing!
Lansing schools are complying with current law and helping more and more students succeed, and now the law is poised to change again. EAA does not use the same metrics or assessment instruments to determine student achievement as do the schools that are currently identified as 'priority' schools. The EAA reform model is not comprehensive nor does it consider the “whole child,” as it only focuses on content mastery. There are no options for extra-curricular activities like sports, band, orchestra, visual/performing arts, career/technical education, special education, English-language learners, etc. EAA is not required to employ highly qualified teachers like No Child Left Behind is. Under No Child Left Behind, all public schools are required to use highly qualified teachers. So again, we are asking for something different from our schools and our children.
Additionally, the No Child Left Behind Act already has in place a provision for state takeover of schools by the Michigan Department of Education and the State Board of Education, who are elected representatives of the public. This EAA legislation will create a parallel educational bureaucracy when we already have a state education agency. So, we know the State Department of Education is accountable to the people and the elected school board. And to the US Department of Education is, too, because it is required to follow NCLB requirements. But we don't know who the EAA is accountable to.
This bill also fails to include an in-depth audit of existing issues in the school buildings and districts with concerning performances, and it takes away our local communities' ability to establish education policy, direct curriculum, and manage community resources. Even worse, it allows for these activities without providing any substantive local controls to establish standards, create missions and goals, monitor performance, or audit the finances of new schools created by HB 4369.
Finally, I want to note that I am very disappointed that the Republican majority in the Michigan House of Representatives REJECTED several common-sense amendments that attempted to fix some of the many problems in this bill. Those amendments include:
- Requiring EAA schools to have the same testing standards as public schools;
- Requiring parent groups at EAA schools;
- Require the EAA to hold monthly public meetings just like public school boards;
- Limiting the terms of EAA members to 4 years;
- Prohibiting EAA schools from converting schools to for-profit charters;
- Putting the EAA under the State Board of Education;
- Requiring the State School Board to decide which schools are EAA schools;
- Requiring the EAA be subject to FOIA;
- Adding a sunset to the legislation;
- Preventing court shopping; and
- Performing an educational and organizational audit
Instead of passing this legislation, we need to focus on helping our local schools do better. This legislation is not good for the students or parents in Lansing or in other Michigan schools, and I hope you will join me in voting to reject it.
Unfortunately, this bill passed the House on a vote of 57-53. It now heads to the Senate for review.
For a list of all legislation that has passed the House and the Senate, visit www.legislature.mi.gov and select the 'Daily Intro/Passed/Enrolled' link underneath the 'Legislative Activity' header on the site's home page.
Introduced Legislation
I continue to be hard at work assembling legislation and have introduced five more bills since my last update.
HB 4367
This bill proposes to allow split and/or mixed ticket voting in primary elections in Michigan. As I campaigned in my Democratic primary, I heard from many people that wanted to vote in my race as well as in the Republican Party primary; there was a great deal of frustration about only being able to cast votes for candidates on one party's primary election ballot. Michigan's voters should not be limited to voting for candidates in only one party's primary-- I believe they should have the chance to decide who they want to come out of a race regardless of which party's primary that individual contest is in.
HB 4417
HB 4479 is part of a legislative package concerning digital court records. My bill repeals certain provisions related to district courts retaining paper copies of judgment records and registries.
HB 4477
HB 4477 would allow a voter to take a photograph of himself or herself (but not a photo of his/her ballot) in a polling place. Last cycle, a number of voters took pictures of themselves voting and inserting their ballots into the voting machine and then put those photos on Facebook. According to the Secretary of State's rules and interpretation of election law, such action is actually illegal. In this day of social media, I think people should be excited about voting and should be allowed to take pictures of themselves doing just that.
HB 4478
This bill would allow a voter who is unable to sign his or her name on an election document to execute the election document where a signature is required either by making his or her mark or by using a signature stamp. As some of you know, this legislation is in response to an issue that arose in a local community during last November's election cycle. Under current law, a person can make his/her mark but cannot use a voter stamp, which I think we need to change. I'd like to encourage voting and make it easier for all engaged citizens to participate in the electoral process.
HB 4479
This bill corrects an inequality in campaign finance law that currently prevents a candidate from paying a late fee for their annual statement using campaign committee funds. Currently, candidate committee funds can be used for all other late filing fees, but not for the annual statement. At the request of our county clerk, my bill eliminates that prohibition and allows a candidate to pay that fee using candidate committee funds.
For an up-to-date list of all legislative I've sponsored and co-sponsored to date, click on the below links:
Sponsored Legislation
Co-Sponsored Legislation
Community Update/Events
Coffee and Tea with Andy
My next 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' gathering is scheduled for Monday, April 8th, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Gier Community Center, located at 2400 Hall Street in Lansing. These gatherings are a great opportunity for me to share news about what's going on at the Capitol and gather your thoughts and concerns about our community. Hearing from you helps me better represent the interests of Lansing and Lansing Township in the Michigan House, so I hope you’ll consider joining in what promises to be another productive discussion.
My 'Coffee and Tea with Andy' schedule for the rest of 2013 is below. We also expect to have some special community meetings on issues like the budget which will be announced separately. The set schedule is as follows:
Saturday, June 22
Flap Jack Waverly
1601 S. Waverly Road, Lansing
Monday, August 5
Alfreda Schmidt Southside Community Center (Community Room)
5825 Wise Road, Lansing
Saturday, October 26
The Avenue Café (formerly Gone Wired)
2021 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing
Monday, December 2
Letts Community Center
1220 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing
For a full list of events happening in and around our community in the coming weeks, click here.
Thank you very much for your interest in my legislative activity. I look forward to keeping you updated on what's happening in the House and invite you to stay in touch with my office via phone (517.373.0826), e-mail (andyschor@house.mi.gov), or by stopping in to visit (we're located in office 1087 of the Anderson House Office Building, located at 124 North Capitol Avenue in Lansing) to share your thoughts or if we can be of any assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Andy Schor
State Representative, 68th District
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Schor Amendment Nets $600,000 for Lansing and $4 million for locals, Blue Cross Bills, Health Exchange, Committee Action, Fundraiser Thanks, Preview for Next Week
Before I get into the action of the week, please remember that this Thursday at 6 pm the House Democrats will bring our "Real State of the State" listening tour to the Lansing area. As part of an effort for my colleagues to hear from constituents about the issues that concern them the most, the Michigan House Democrats will be hosting a series of town halls across the state. The Real State of the State Listening Tour will be in mid-Michigan on March 7 at the Delta Township District Library at 6:00 p.m. The goal is to hear from Michiganders about their problems at the grassroots level so we can create more effective policy here in Lansing. I hope to see you there!
This week was a particularly exciting week for me. While reviewing the Blue Cross Blue Shield legislation (which I will discuss in depth below), I found an error that would have cost Lansing $600,000, Detroit $2.5 million, and cities throughout Michigan a total of $4 million in 2014. Once BCBSM becomes converts to a mutual, they will be paying property taxes. While they intend to pay in 2014, the language in the legislation would have had them paying state taxes starting in 2014 and local taxes starting in 2015. In local government, an entity has to be a taxpayer on December 31st in order to pay taxes in the next year. The legislation had indicated a January 1, 2014 date and needed to indicate that BCBSM is a taxpayer as of December 31, 2013 for purposes of local taxation. While this was an inadvertent mistake, it would have cost Lansing $600,000, Detroit $2.5 million, and other cities with Blue Cross properties a substantial amount. I was able to work with BCBSM and the Republican majority to pass an amendment that would fix this problem. You can read more about this in an excellent Mlive article here.
On the floor this week, we considered two major pieces of legislation. As mentioned above, we considered the conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBSM) from a special charitable designation to a mutual insurance company. This needed to be done because of provisions in the national Affordable Care Act. BCBSM was formerly the insurer of last resort and had to take anyone that wanted to be insured. Because this would create higher costs for them, they had a special tax exempt status. Under the Affordable Care Act, all insurance companies have to insure people in this manner so BCBSM no longer needs that designation. They wanted to be classified the same as other non-profit insurance companies and asked for this change. The change would also have them paying taxes to locals and the state ($600,000 to Lansing every year) which will be helpful to those budgets. The one major concern that was raised dealt with coverage for seniors and the disabled. Currently BCBSM covers something called Medigap, which is supplemental health insurance plans sold to Medicare beneficiaries in the United States that provide coverage for medical expenses not or only partially covered by Medicare. Medigap's name is derived from the notion that it exists to cover the difference or "gap" between the expenses reimbursed by Medicare and the total amount charged. BCBSM charges small businesses a certain percentage that is used for this Medigap program. That assessment will go away. BCBSM will create a fund to cover these Medigap subsidies, but there are concerns that not all seniors will receive dollars from this fund and that there will be a means test to decide which seniors receive dollars. Additionally, there were concerns that disabled people will not be covered. Rep. Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) won a successful amendment to allow the fund to be used for disabled people. There were still concerns, though, that the fund is not enough to cover all seniors. Rep. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) proposed an amendment to increase the dollars for seniors. This amendment was rejected by the Republican majority. I was supportive of that amendment. When the bill finally came up, I decided to vote for it because of the positive tax dollars for Lansing and because I am hopeful that it will create competition that will stabilize or reduce health care prices in the future. I am disappointed that we could not boost the amount for seniors, but I felt that voting for this is the best thing for my district and constituents. The final vote was 92-18. The bills are expected to be concurred in by the Senate next week and go to the Governor for his expected signature.
The second major piece of legislation will create a state-federal partnership that will create and run a Health Exchange in Michigan. The bill accepts $30.67 million in federal grant money to set up a federal-state partnership to create the federally mandated health insurance exchange under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The dollars will be available until January 17, 2014, and will be used to create an online health care exchange by October 1, when enrollment would begin. The exchanges, which allow residents to compare different health insurance providers, become effective January 1, 2014. The bill still has to be considered and passed by the Senate to take effect. HB 4111 passed 78-31. I support the creation of the health exchanges which will provide health insurance subsidies to people making between 133% to 400% of the federal poverty rate, and voted for these bills because we should accept the federal dollars to do this. I would prefer to see a state-run exchange, but the Republicans in the Legislature rejected that last year. The next-best option is for a state-federal partnership. If that had been rejected, the federal government would have imposed something on Michigan.
I had all three of my committees meet this month. In Regulatory Reform, we passed legislation that will create regulation and licensing for amateur mixed martial arts (see previous blog). We made the changes that all agreed to and they passed unanimously. We also passed legislation dealing with redeeming soda pop cans. Under current law, people can be fined (and receive jail time in extreme circumstances) if they redeem cans from out of state. This will add to the law any "attempt" to redeem cans. The bills passed committee and will be heard on the House floor soon. I supported the bills as a reasonable addition to the law to protect our borders and prevent people from scamming the system. Two members of the committee raised objections to the possibility of jail time because of the extreme expenses that we have in our jails now. In Ethics and Elections, we passed HB 4307 which allows County Commissions to fill a vacancy. Under current law, if there is a vacancy in the odd year then an appointment is made and an election is held at the next possible election date (February, May, August, or November); if there is a vacancy in the even year, an appointment is made which stays until the end of the year. The odd year provision has proven costly. In Ingham County a few years ago, we had a situation like this where a person had to run four times in the even year (special primary in February, special general in May, regular primary in August, regular general in November). This proved costly for the City of East Lansing, and really was too many elections for one person in a year. This bill only had a hearing and will come up for a vote this Tuesday. I am planning to support it. Also up for a hearing was HB 4169-71, which eliminate city and township boards of canvassers and transfer the functions to county boards of canvassers. This would provide savings for local communities. Apparently, many municipalities have already done this but not all because their are charter limitations that are hard to remove. The municipal and county clerks supported this. They also said that counties and locals both have to canvas the same votes at the same precincts, and the current law is duplicitive. Rep. Heise (R-Northville) raised concerns that this should be optional for a community because some local boards work well. This will be voted on this Tuesday as well. In Competitiveness, we heard a presentation from the Enterprise Group of Jackson, which has a school to teach manufacturing to children. It seems to be very successful.
Finally, thanks to everyone that came or contributed to my fundraiser on Thursday! We had a tremendous turnout and it showed the incredible support that I have in my first few months as a State Representative. I will keep this momentum going, and appreciate the contributions and support that I have received! If you still want to contribute, you can do so at www.andyschor.com or by sending a check to Friends of Andy Schor, PO Box 13073, Lansing, MI 48901.
Next week could be a busy one, with the possibility of the House and Senate considering one of many proposals to increase funding for transportation and roads. Stay tuned...
This week was a particularly exciting week for me. While reviewing the Blue Cross Blue Shield legislation (which I will discuss in depth below), I found an error that would have cost Lansing $600,000, Detroit $2.5 million, and cities throughout Michigan a total of $4 million in 2014. Once BCBSM becomes converts to a mutual, they will be paying property taxes. While they intend to pay in 2014, the language in the legislation would have had them paying state taxes starting in 2014 and local taxes starting in 2015. In local government, an entity has to be a taxpayer on December 31st in order to pay taxes in the next year. The legislation had indicated a January 1, 2014 date and needed to indicate that BCBSM is a taxpayer as of December 31, 2013 for purposes of local taxation. While this was an inadvertent mistake, it would have cost Lansing $600,000, Detroit $2.5 million, and other cities with Blue Cross properties a substantial amount. I was able to work with BCBSM and the Republican majority to pass an amendment that would fix this problem. You can read more about this in an excellent Mlive article here.
On the floor this week, we considered two major pieces of legislation. As mentioned above, we considered the conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBSM) from a special charitable designation to a mutual insurance company. This needed to be done because of provisions in the national Affordable Care Act. BCBSM was formerly the insurer of last resort and had to take anyone that wanted to be insured. Because this would create higher costs for them, they had a special tax exempt status. Under the Affordable Care Act, all insurance companies have to insure people in this manner so BCBSM no longer needs that designation. They wanted to be classified the same as other non-profit insurance companies and asked for this change. The change would also have them paying taxes to locals and the state ($600,000 to Lansing every year) which will be helpful to those budgets. The one major concern that was raised dealt with coverage for seniors and the disabled. Currently BCBSM covers something called Medigap, which is supplemental health insurance plans sold to Medicare beneficiaries in the United States that provide coverage for medical expenses not or only partially covered by Medicare. Medigap's name is derived from the notion that it exists to cover the difference or "gap" between the expenses reimbursed by Medicare and the total amount charged. BCBSM charges small businesses a certain percentage that is used for this Medigap program. That assessment will go away. BCBSM will create a fund to cover these Medigap subsidies, but there are concerns that not all seniors will receive dollars from this fund and that there will be a means test to decide which seniors receive dollars. Additionally, there were concerns that disabled people will not be covered. Rep. Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) won a successful amendment to allow the fund to be used for disabled people. There were still concerns, though, that the fund is not enough to cover all seniors. Rep. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) proposed an amendment to increase the dollars for seniors. This amendment was rejected by the Republican majority. I was supportive of that amendment. When the bill finally came up, I decided to vote for it because of the positive tax dollars for Lansing and because I am hopeful that it will create competition that will stabilize or reduce health care prices in the future. I am disappointed that we could not boost the amount for seniors, but I felt that voting for this is the best thing for my district and constituents. The final vote was 92-18. The bills are expected to be concurred in by the Senate next week and go to the Governor for his expected signature.
The second major piece of legislation will create a state-federal partnership that will create and run a Health Exchange in Michigan. The bill accepts $30.67 million in federal grant money to set up a federal-state partnership to create the federally mandated health insurance exchange under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
The dollars will be available until January 17, 2014, and will be used to create an online health care exchange by October 1, when enrollment would begin. The exchanges, which allow residents to compare different health insurance providers, become effective January 1, 2014. The bill still has to be considered and passed by the Senate to take effect. HB 4111 passed 78-31. I support the creation of the health exchanges which will provide health insurance subsidies to people making between 133% to 400% of the federal poverty rate, and voted for these bills because we should accept the federal dollars to do this. I would prefer to see a state-run exchange, but the Republicans in the Legislature rejected that last year. The next-best option is for a state-federal partnership. If that had been rejected, the federal government would have imposed something on Michigan.
I had all three of my committees meet this month. In Regulatory Reform, we passed legislation that will create regulation and licensing for amateur mixed martial arts (see previous blog). We made the changes that all agreed to and they passed unanimously. We also passed legislation dealing with redeeming soda pop cans. Under current law, people can be fined (and receive jail time in extreme circumstances) if they redeem cans from out of state. This will add to the law any "attempt" to redeem cans. The bills passed committee and will be heard on the House floor soon. I supported the bills as a reasonable addition to the law to protect our borders and prevent people from scamming the system. Two members of the committee raised objections to the possibility of jail time because of the extreme expenses that we have in our jails now. In Ethics and Elections, we passed HB 4307 which allows County Commissions to fill a vacancy. Under current law, if there is a vacancy in the odd year then an appointment is made and an election is held at the next possible election date (February, May, August, or November); if there is a vacancy in the even year, an appointment is made which stays until the end of the year. The odd year provision has proven costly. In Ingham County a few years ago, we had a situation like this where a person had to run four times in the even year (special primary in February, special general in May, regular primary in August, regular general in November). This proved costly for the City of East Lansing, and really was too many elections for one person in a year. This bill only had a hearing and will come up for a vote this Tuesday. I am planning to support it. Also up for a hearing was HB 4169-71, which eliminate city and township boards of canvassers and transfer the functions to county boards of canvassers. This would provide savings for local communities. Apparently, many municipalities have already done this but not all because their are charter limitations that are hard to remove. The municipal and county clerks supported this. They also said that counties and locals both have to canvas the same votes at the same precincts, and the current law is duplicitive. Rep. Heise (R-Northville) raised concerns that this should be optional for a community because some local boards work well. This will be voted on this Tuesday as well. In Competitiveness, we heard a presentation from the Enterprise Group of Jackson, which has a school to teach manufacturing to children. It seems to be very successful.
Finally, thanks to everyone that came or contributed to my fundraiser on Thursday! We had a tremendous turnout and it showed the incredible support that I have in my first few months as a State Representative. I will keep this momentum going, and appreciate the contributions and support that I have received! If you still want to contribute, you can do so at www.andyschor.com or by sending a check to Friends of Andy Schor, PO Box 13073, Lansing, MI 48901.
Next week could be a busy one, with the possibility of the House and Senate considering one of many proposals to increase funding for transportation and roads. Stay tuned...
Monday, February 18, 2013
Fundraiser, Regulatory Reform and Competitiveness Committees, House Session, Coffee/Tea Hours, Dem Listening Tour, Community Events/Updates
Happy President’s Day! I hope everyone had a great weekend.
First, before diving into the issues, I wanted to announce my first FUNDRAISER of the year! While the campaign just ended last year, campaigning never really ends. I have already heard of a Democratic primary opponent for my re-election next year (that’s right…just a month in the job and this person wants to challenge me already!). Additionally, I continue to talk to constituents and residents, and many times that must be done through campaign resources. So, I hope you will be able to join me at my first fundraiser of the year. Or, if you are not in the Lansing area, I hope you will be willing to contribute to my re-election effort.
If you are in the area, you can come to the Michigan Municipal League office (208 N Capitol Ave, 1st Floor) on February 28th for breakfast from 8 – 9:30 am. Should be a great time! Please RSVP to andy.schor@gmail.com or call me at 517-618-1666.
If you are not in the area and are willing to contribute, or if you cannot make it that day, please go to www.andyschor.com and click on the donate button. Or you can mail a check to PO Box 13073, Lansing, MI 48901.
Now, for the legislative stuff…
I had two committees meet last week. The first was the Regulator Reform committee. As you may recall, this committee deals with all regulated industries. We first heard a presentation from the Office of Regulator Reform. Regulatory Reform. They discussed administrative rules, and how the office is trying to reduce the number of rules. There are about 20,000 regulatory rules, and the office is trying to remove those rules that don't make sense or make Michigan anti-competitive. The Regulator Reform committee will be reviewing legislation dealing with these rules which are recommendations from the several "administrative rules committees" that met last year. Some I will agree with, and some I will not. Personally, I want to reduce unnecessary and redundant rules and help Michigan's competitiveness and economic development, but I don't want to lessen safety and public health for residents.
After the presentation, we heard testimony on bills that would create new regulations for the new sport of Mixed Martial Arts. The irony was not lost on committee members that after hearing of the reduction in regulation, we were considering bills that would create new regulations! These bills, sponsored by Rep. Harvey Santana (D-Detroit) are a reintroduction of bills that passed the House last year when sponsored by Rep. Dave Agema (R-74th District). These bills would create new regulations for amateur mixed martial arts competitions and would create licensing, regulations, violations, an advisory committee, and a fund. They also create penalties for violations of the act. There are no standards now for this sport and its promoters, and we heard some real horror stories. There have been many mismatches of fighters, and fighters of different skills required to fight, which have led to serious injuries of the fighters. There is no medical availability for wound treatment, very limited requirements for insurance, and very real dangers for the fighters. Several of the fighters testified and gave examples of the dangerous situations. While they realized that they choose to fight, they pointed out that there should still be precautions just like other sports. There were questions from committee members about age of fighters and substance abuse. Both will be addressed in the bills. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs testified neutral. They asked to require an ambulance presence during the event, a doctor ringside, an age limit of 18,and prevention of a fighter fighting multiple times in a day (possibly only if there was injury). They also asked to have professionals and amateurs regulated in the same act. There was no testimony in opposition to the bills, and we expect to pass this legislation out of committee tomorrow.
My second committee that met was the Competitiveness Committee. This was an organizational meeting, where we found out that the committee would be broken up into three workgroups to review areas of competition in Michigan. The Democrats expressed opposition to the fact that these workgroups would be meeting privately without public comment. The Republican Vice Chair of the committee said that this was a way for members to express their opinions and work on issues that can be recommended to the entire committee then discussed in public. These workgroups will be meeting until early April then, presumably, will be coming back to the full committee for discussion. I was assigned to the workgroup to discuss "what Michigan must do to become a top jobs provider and
magnet for retaining/attracting business and talent." According to the Chair's document, this includes: regional jobs hub, attracting jobs providers to Michigan, relocation consultants, creating positive
economic environment, cost of energy, getting people to come back to Michigan, why are people leaving, competition vs. collaboration, border issues with Indiana and Canada, impact of regional tax variances, German model for skilled trades, workforce development, money following students, importance of internships, cross-cultural talent magnet, talent retention, vocational issues, and importance of education. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas (legislative or otherwise) regarding the above issues, please send them my way. I plan to bring to the table placemaking and talent attraction/retention.
In House session, we passed our first two bills. The first bill was non-controversial and dealt with regulations of security alarm companies. Our second bill was a tax bill that needed a date change to become effective now instead of April 1st. We also started working up a bill dealing with ensuring that sex offenders are on the public list (SB 44). I expect that this bill will come up this week, and will report more on it after debate and a vote.
My first Coffee and Tea with Andy was held on Saturday at The Avenue (formerly Gone Wired Café). It went very well! We had about 20 people there and had great conversations about upcoming legislation coming in the House of Representatives. We also discussed some of my first bills introduced. Great comments and great questions! The next Coffee and Tea with Andy will be Monday, April 8 at the Gier Community Center (2400 Hall Street, Lansing). But before that, there will be a House Democratic Caucus Listening Tour event (called “The Real State of the State”) at the Delta Township Library (5130 Davenport Drive) on March 7th from 6-7 pm. It will be hosted by Rep. Theresa Abed, Rep. Sam Singh, and me. I hope everyone will try to be there to share what you think the priorities should be for our state!
As many of you know, I do an e-newsletter from my State Representative office. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to share community events in that official newsletter (which I think is ridiculous). But those are the House rules as set by the majority party. I do my best to list many of these community events on facebook daily (www.facebook.com/andyschor) and I hope everyone has subscribed (“liked”) my facebook page. I will also list them below.
As always, you can email my office at andyschor@gmail.com or call at 517-373-0826!
Andy
Community Update/Events
Volunteer Nominations for the 2013 Governor's Service Award
The Michigan Community Service Commission is currently accepting nominations for the 2013
Governor's Service Award. To nominate an outstanding individual, organization, or business committed
to service and volunteerism, call 517.335.4295 or visit www.michigan.gov/volunteer. Eight awards
will be presented by the Michigan Community Service Commission in various categories reflecting the
diversity of volunteers in our state at this summer's Governor's Service Awards celebration. Note that
the deadline for nominations is Friday, March 1st.
Annual Backpack Drive
Lansing Community College's Sign Language/Interpreter Program is currently accepting gently used
backpack and large duffle bag donations to help meet basic school needs of deaf children in third world
countries. Donations can be dropped off at Lansing Community College's Gannon Building, located at
500 N. Grand Avenue, through Friday, March 1st. For more information, call 517.483.1546 or e-mail is-
asl@lcc.edu.
Westside Neighborhood Association Scholarships
The Westside Neighborhood Association is currently seeking applications for two $1,000 scholarships
scheduled to be awarded in the 2013/2014 academic year. For more information about how to apply,
visit: http://wnalansing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-WNA-Scholarship.pdf. Note that
applications are due for submission no later than Friday, March 1st.
Military Officers Association Scholarships
The Capital Area Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America's expanded scholarship program
is currently offering a number of scholarship grants in blocks of $1,000 to $1,250 and book allowances of
$
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Lansing Alumnae Chapter Scholarship
The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Lansing Alumnae Chapter is currently accepting applications for
its annual scholarship, which it awards to deserving Lansing-area high school seniors. For information
about submitting an application for the scholarship, visit www.lansingalumnaedeltas.org. All
applications are due on April 15th.
Capitol Area District Library Mid-Day Movies
Every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., the Downtown Lansing Branch of the Capital Area District Library (located
at 401 S. Capitol Avenue), hosts a free movie viewing in its auditorium. To find out each week's film
selection or for more information, call 517.367.6363.
Free Tax Assistance from AARP
This year, the AARP is once again providing free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers with low to
moderate incomes through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. In 2012, 1,067 AARP Foundation
Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 75,000 Michigan residents file their federal, state, and local tax
returnshttp://www.aarp.org
Volunteers Needed for American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is currently seeking Cancer Resource Center volunteers in our area.
Volunteers will be asked to commit to work a minimum of eight hours per month at Sparrow Regional
Cancer center in Lansing. Interested individuals should contact Julie Renner for more information or to
sign up to volunteer. She can be reached at 517.664.1361.
Flu Season is Here
As most of you know, we're in the midst of a touch flu season. If you have the flu, stay home and follow
your doctor's recommendations to help prevent the spread of the flu. If you don't have the flu, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services recommends that everyone six months of age and older gets
a flu shot. To find a location offering flu vaccines near you, visit http://flushot.healthmap.org/?address.
First, before diving into the issues, I wanted to announce my first FUNDRAISER of the year! While the campaign just ended last year, campaigning never really ends. I have already heard of a Democratic primary opponent for my re-election next year (that’s right…just a month in the job and this person wants to challenge me already!). Additionally, I continue to talk to constituents and residents, and many times that must be done through campaign resources. So, I hope you will be able to join me at my first fundraiser of the year. Or, if you are not in the Lansing area, I hope you will be willing to contribute to my re-election effort.
If you are in the area, you can come to the Michigan Municipal League office (208 N Capitol Ave, 1st Floor) on February 28th for breakfast from 8 – 9:30 am. Should be a great time! Please RSVP to andy.schor@gmail.com or call me at 517-618-1666.
If you are not in the area and are willing to contribute, or if you cannot make it that day, please go to www.andyschor.com and click on the donate button. Or you can mail a check to PO Box 13073, Lansing, MI 48901.
Now, for the legislative stuff…
I had two committees meet last week. The first was the Regulator Reform committee. As you may recall, this committee deals with all regulated industries. We first heard a presentation from the Office of Regulator Reform. Regulatory Reform. They discussed administrative rules, and how the office is trying to reduce the number of rules. There are about 20,000 regulatory rules, and the office is trying to remove those rules that don't make sense or make Michigan anti-competitive. The Regulator Reform committee will be reviewing legislation dealing with these rules which are recommendations from the several "administrative rules committees" that met last year. Some I will agree with, and some I will not. Personally, I want to reduce unnecessary and redundant rules and help Michigan's competitiveness and economic development, but I don't want to lessen safety and public health for residents.
After the presentation, we heard testimony on bills that would create new regulations for the new sport of Mixed Martial Arts. The irony was not lost on committee members that after hearing of the reduction in regulation, we were considering bills that would create new regulations! These bills, sponsored by Rep. Harvey Santana (D-Detroit) are a reintroduction of bills that passed the House last year when sponsored by Rep. Dave Agema (R-74th District). These bills would create new regulations for amateur mixed martial arts competitions and would create licensing, regulations, violations, an advisory committee, and a fund. They also create penalties for violations of the act. There are no standards now for this sport and its promoters, and we heard some real horror stories. There have been many mismatches of fighters, and fighters of different skills required to fight, which have led to serious injuries of the fighters. There is no medical availability for wound treatment, very limited requirements for insurance, and very real dangers for the fighters. Several of the fighters testified and gave examples of the dangerous situations. While they realized that they choose to fight, they pointed out that there should still be precautions just like other sports. There were questions from committee members about age of fighters and substance abuse. Both will be addressed in the bills. The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs testified neutral. They asked to require an ambulance presence during the event, a doctor ringside, an age limit of 18,and prevention of a fighter fighting multiple times in a day (possibly only if there was injury). They also asked to have professionals and amateurs regulated in the same act. There was no testimony in opposition to the bills, and we expect to pass this legislation out of committee tomorrow.
My second committee that met was the Competitiveness Committee. This was an organizational meeting, where we found out that the committee would be broken up into three workgroups to review areas of competition in Michigan. The Democrats expressed opposition to the fact that these workgroups would be meeting privately without public comment. The Republican Vice Chair of the committee said that this was a way for members to express their opinions and work on issues that can be recommended to the entire committee then discussed in public. These workgroups will be meeting until early April then, presumably, will be coming back to the full committee for discussion. I was assigned to the workgroup to discuss "what Michigan must do to become a top jobs provider and
magnet for retaining/attracting business and talent." According to the Chair's document, this includes: regional jobs hub, attracting jobs providers to Michigan, relocation consultants, creating positive
economic environment, cost of energy, getting people to come back to Michigan, why are people leaving, competition vs. collaboration, border issues with Indiana and Canada, impact of regional tax variances, German model for skilled trades, workforce development, money following students, importance of internships, cross-cultural talent magnet, talent retention, vocational issues, and importance of education. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas (legislative or otherwise) regarding the above issues, please send them my way. I plan to bring to the table placemaking and talent attraction/retention.
In House session, we passed our first two bills. The first bill was non-controversial and dealt with regulations of security alarm companies. Our second bill was a tax bill that needed a date change to become effective now instead of April 1st. We also started working up a bill dealing with ensuring that sex offenders are on the public list (SB 44). I expect that this bill will come up this week, and will report more on it after debate and a vote.
My first Coffee and Tea with Andy was held on Saturday at The Avenue (formerly Gone Wired Café). It went very well! We had about 20 people there and had great conversations about upcoming legislation coming in the House of Representatives. We also discussed some of my first bills introduced. Great comments and great questions! The next Coffee and Tea with Andy will be Monday, April 8 at the Gier Community Center (2400 Hall Street, Lansing). But before that, there will be a House Democratic Caucus Listening Tour event (called “The Real State of the State”) at the Delta Township Library (5130 Davenport Drive) on March 7th from 6-7 pm. It will be hosted by Rep. Theresa Abed, Rep. Sam Singh, and me. I hope everyone will try to be there to share what you think the priorities should be for our state!
As many of you know, I do an e-newsletter from my State Representative office. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to share community events in that official newsletter (which I think is ridiculous). But those are the House rules as set by the majority party. I do my best to list many of these community events on facebook daily (www.facebook.com/andyschor) and I hope everyone has subscribed (“liked”) my facebook page. I will also list them below.
As always, you can email my office at andyschor@gmail.com or call at 517-373-0826!
Andy
Community Update/Events
Volunteer Nominations for the 2013 Governor's Service Award
The Michigan Community Service Commission is currently accepting nominations for the 2013
Governor's Service Award. To nominate an outstanding individual, organization, or business committed
to service and volunteerism, call 517.335.4295 or visit www.michigan.gov/volunteer. Eight awards
will be presented by the Michigan Community Service Commission in various categories reflecting the
diversity of volunteers in our state at this summer's Governor's Service Awards celebration. Note that
the deadline for nominations is Friday, March 1st.
Annual Backpack Drive
Lansing Community College's Sign Language/Interpreter Program is currently accepting gently used
backpack and large duffle bag donations to help meet basic school needs of deaf children in third world
countries. Donations can be dropped off at Lansing Community College's Gannon Building, located at
500 N. Grand Avenue, through Friday, March 1st. For more information, call 517.483.1546 or e-mail is-
asl@lcc.edu.
Westside Neighborhood Association Scholarships
The Westside Neighborhood Association is currently seeking applications for two $1,000 scholarships
scheduled to be awarded in the 2013/2014 academic year. For more information about how to apply,
visit: http://wnalansing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2013-WNA-Scholarship.pdf. Note that
applications are due for submission no later than Friday, March 1st.
Military Officers Association Scholarships
The Capital Area Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America's expanded scholarship program
is currently offering a number of scholarship grants in blocks of $1,000 to $1,250 and book allowances of
$
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Lansing Alumnae Chapter Scholarship
The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Lansing Alumnae Chapter is currently accepting applications for
its annual scholarship, which it awards to deserving Lansing-area high school seniors. For information
about submitting an application for the scholarship, visit www.lansingalumnaedeltas.org. All
applications are due on April 15th.
Capitol Area District Library Mid-Day Movies
Every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., the Downtown Lansing Branch of the Capital Area District Library (located
at 401 S. Capitol Avenue), hosts a free movie viewing in its auditorium. To find out each week's film
selection or for more information, call 517.367.6363.
Free Tax Assistance from AARP
This year, the AARP is once again providing free tax assistance and preparation for taxpayers with low to
moderate incomes through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. In 2012, 1,067 AARP Foundation
Tax-Aide volunteers helped more than 75,000 Michigan residents file their federal, state, and local tax
returnshttp://www.aarp.org
Volunteers Needed for American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is currently seeking Cancer Resource Center volunteers in our area.
Volunteers will be asked to commit to work a minimum of eight hours per month at Sparrow Regional
Cancer center in Lansing. Interested individuals should contact Julie Renner for more information or to
sign up to volunteer. She can be reached at 517.664.1361.
Flu Season is Here
As most of you know, we're in the midst of a touch flu season. If you have the flu, stay home and follow
your doctor's recommendations to help prevent the spread of the flu. If you don't have the flu, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services recommends that everyone six months of age and older gets
a flu shot. To find a location offering flu vaccines near you, visit http://flushot.healthmap.org/?address.
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