Mich. Legislature to cast final votes before end of session

With six work days left for the state Legislature this year, there are several issues that could see action before the holiday break. There’s no telling which, if any, will be passed, however.

The Michigan House of Representatives and Senate will return to session Tuesday after a two-week fall break.

The Legislature has been largely inactive for the second half of the year, but there is potential for a lot of action before the final day of session, said Jack McHugh, a senior legislative analyst for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

“They could do a lot of damage,” he said.

Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, said measures that could see action include proposals to expand Detroit’s Cobo Center and create a light rail transit system on Detroit’s Woodward Avenue. He said a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan-supported health care reform bill and a statewide smoking ban also might be up for a vote.

With the Nov. 4 election decided, many outbound legislators might try to pass their pet initiatives while they still have the chance, Ballenger said.

“Legislators want to get little dog- and cat-bills passed that would build their legacy,” he said.

Although he won’t be leaving office at the end of the year, state Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, said he hopes to see action on two bills he has sponsored: The Mozelle Senior Medical Alert Act, which is scheduled for a Dec. 10 hearing, and a bill to protect children from being left alone in motor vehicles.

However, he said, it is likely one or both of them might be overlooked.

“There’s a whole host of things I’d like to see passed by the end of the year, but I don’t think they’re going to happen,” he said.

Ballenger said several other measures are likely to be taken up before the year ends, but many others will have to wait until next year.

“There is a lot of unfinished business in the Legislature right now that will need to be addressed at one point,” he said.

One issue that legislators and observers agreed will be decided upon before the year ends is the need for statewide budget cuts.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has warned that the state will need to cut spending, but she has not issued an executive order calling for cuts.

“She will have to issue an executive order by the end of the year,” Meadows said.

If Granholm calls for budget cuts, the House and Senate appropriations committees will make the final call for approval or rejection of the cuts.

Although most students were more worried about national economic problems than the state’s unbalanced budget, most said they realized cuts could be made.

Shavin Shahnawaz, a business administration graduate student, said he supports the cuts but hopes legislators make sure they’re not cutting vital programs.

“If it’s going to be some place which is going to actually be detrimental in the future … it doesn’t make sense to cut costs,” he said.