Sunday, November 08, 2009

Viewpoints

Politics Blog

Libby Spencer: Of course you've heard that after a marathon Saturday session, the House passed a health care … Continued

Washington Bureau Blog

Nick Assendelft: Michigan will receive a $363,609 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to make transit … Continued

Raging Bullard

George Bullard: So now there are a few more government/foundation initiatives to make education work for Detroit … Continued

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The Nov. 3 general election

Find continuing coverage of the candidates and issues on Metro Detroit ballots, along with resources for voters

State Politics

Michigan seeks $290M for neighborhood revitalization

Lansing -- The state has applied for $290 million in federal money to help tear down blighted buildings and revitalize neighborhoods in 12 cities including Detroit, Grand Rapids and Flint. - 11/08/2009

Michigan lures teachers to inner cities with $16.7M program

Governor Jennifer Granholm gives the thumbs up to students from University Preparatory Science & Math Middle School.

Michigan will be one of the first states to participate in a national program that overhauls the training of math and science teachers and encourages them to work in urban schools with the biggest problems. - 11/07/2009

Lawmaker trips questioned

Four Michigan congressmen took their wives on all-expense-paid domestic and international trips for work this year, raising questions among government watchdogs about the legal practice of outside groups paying for spouses' travel. - 11/07/2009

Audit: Some MDOT bridge checks fall short

The Mackinac Bridge, whose deck was resurfaced this year, is one of 10,000 Michigan bridges that should be inspected every two years.

Lansing -- Transportation officials failed to inspect some bridges, looked at deteriorating bridges less often than required by state law and did not check for erosion under bridges over rivers, Michigan's auditor said Friday. - 11/07/2009

Granholm, GOP still disagree on how to pay for education

From left, Melanie Brown, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Macomb Intermediate School Supt. Mike DeVault discuss school funding.

Clinton Township -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Thursday she'd sign a measure the House passed Thursday that would use stimulus money to help lessen school cuts. But whether it gets past the Senate is uncertain. - 11/06/2009

Former top lawmakers endorse Cherry for governor

The four former Democratic Speakers of the House dating back to 1975 today endorsed Lieutenant Gov. John Cherry for governor. The ex-lawmakers said Cherry's long-time service in the Legislature as well as his seven years as Gov. Granholm's lieutenant make him most qualified for the job. - 11/05/2009

State House bill would restore most of school aid money

Lansing -- Cuts to K-12 schools would be lessened under a supplemental school aid appropriations bill passed by the House today and headed to the Senate. - 11/05/2009

Political Insider

Democrats, GOP spin Mike Nofs' win in 19th District

Nofs, left, and Griffin

Republican and Democratic party leaders had vastly different takes on the significance of Tuesday's lopsided victory for the GOP in the state Senate race in the 19th District, which includes all of Calhoun County and most of Jackson County. - 11/05/2009

Governor asks Michigan Legislature to pass revenue-raising measures

Clinton Township -- Governor Jennifer Granholm said today she has asked the Legislature to pass three revenue-generating measures that will save $212 million in cuts for Michigan schools. It has one week to act. - 11/05/2009

Recall of 55 Michigan State Police on again

Lansing -- The on-again, off-again recall of 55 laid off State Police troopers is on again. - 11/05/2009

Funding question keeps 55 state troopers idled

Lansing -- The 55 laid-off State Police troopers who were to return to work next week under terms of the recently passed budget have been told not to report until state officials get a better handle on tax collections, aides to Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Wednesday. - 11/04/2009

State lawmaker pushes for same-sex marriage in Michigan

Lansing -- In the wake of Tuesday's passage of a gay rights ordinance in Kalamazoo, a state representative today introduced a plan to overturn Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage. - 11/04/2009

Monica Conyers' sentencing delayed until Jan. 15

Detroit -- The sentencing date for former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers has been pushed back to Jan. 15, according to documents filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit. - 11/04/2009

Michigan caseworkers afraid for lives due to delays in state aid

State social workers struggling with mounting welfare, food stamp and Medicaid caseloads said today they fear for their lives after being assaulted or threatened by frustrated recipients. - 11/04/2009

State agencies face 20% cut in next Mich. budget

Lansing -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm is "preparing for the worst" by asking state departments to cut their budgets by 20 percent for next year, aides said today. - 11/03/2009

National Politics

Michigan Democrats help health care bill squeak through House

Michigan's 15 House members split along party lines Saturday night on a health care bill vote that Rep. John Dingell said "will earn the respect and appreciation of Americans for generations to come." - 11/08/2009

Software cos. eye key patent case in Supreme Court

The roots of the dispute go back to 1997, when inventors Bernard Bilski and Rand Warsaw, above, tried to patent a method of hedging weather-related risk in energy prices.

Washington -- With the technology industry looking on, the Supreme Court on Monday will explore what types of inventions should be eligible for a patent in a pivotal case that could undermine such legal protections for software. - 11/08/2009

Obama says health care bill now in Senate's hands

Washington -- President Barack Obama said Sunday it was time for the Senate to "take the baton" on health care reform after the House passed its plan for overhauling the nation's health care system. - 11/08/2009

House approves health care bill

Washington -- In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous. - 11/07/2009

Health care vote may slip

Hoyer

Washington -- Amid intense lobbying by the Obama administration, House Democratic leaders struggled Friday for the final votes needed to pass sweeping health care legislation, offering fresh concessions to abortion opponents and working to ease concerns among Hispanic holdouts. - 11/07/2009

Jobless bill adds 20 weeks unemployment pay in Michigan

Washington -- President Barack Obama said new figures released Friday showing the national unemployment has hit the double-digit mark -- 10.2 percent -- are a sobering reminder of the challenges still facing the U.S. economy. - 11/07/2009

ACORN offices raided in New Orleans

An ACORN attorney said Friday's raid was prompted by allegations that former employees had removed or altered electronic documents.

New Orleans -- State investigators raided ACORN offices on Friday, taking away computer hard drives and documents as part of a probe into alleged embezzlement and tax fraud when the organization's national headquarters was based in New Orleans. - 11/07/2009

Michigan delegation debates health care bill on House floor

Peters

Washington -- As Democrats pushed their bill to overhaul the nation's health care system to the House floor on Saturday, Michigan Republicans slammed it while freshman Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, announced his support. - 11/07/2009

Obama to sign jobless benefit extension today

President Barack Obama is expected to sign into law today a bill that extends unemployment benefits for workers in Michigan and other hard-hit states as well as expands a popular tax credit that could boost home sales. - 11/06/2009

Protesters: Kill health care plan

Rep. John Culberson, R-Texas, throws the health care bill to the crowd Thursday on Capitol Hill in Washington. Thousands of protesters attended the rally.

Washington -- Chanting "Kill the bill," thousands of conservatives rallied at the Capitol on Thursday against the Democrats' health care overhaul plan, labeling it a government takeover of the nation's medical system. - 11/06/2009

Dems advance climate bill without Senate GOP

Washington -- Senate Democrats sidestepped a Republican boycott Thursday, pushing a climate bill out of committee in an early step on a long and contentious road to passage. - 11/06/2009

Relief close for Michigan's jobless

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., speaks as Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Max Baucus, D-Mont., Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., Jack Reed, D-R.I., listen at a news conference following the passage of the extension of unemployment benefits on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of Michigan's jobless workers who've run through their last unemployment benefits could see checks resume by mid-December if the House, as expected, passes an extra 20 weeks of benefits today for Michigan and other hard-hit states. - 11/05/2009

AARP endorsement gives House health bill a boost

Washington -- The second-ranking House Democrat predicted that historic health care legislation will be passed Saturday as the AARP, the nation's premier lobbying group for the elderly, announced it was signing on to the bill. - 11/05/2009

Senate Democrats advance climate bill without GOP

Washington -- Senate Democrats sidestepped a Republican boycott Thursday, pushing a climate bill out of committee in an early step on a long and contentious road to passage. - 11/05/2009

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