I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Thursday started the process that will almost certainly lead to even more cuts in per-pupil funding to public schools throughout the state unless the state legislature passes new revenue bills to replenish the School Aid Fund. The Detroit News reports:
Gov. Jennifer Granholm ordered another round of cuts to cash-starved public schools this afternoon, saying tax receipts that feed the school aid kitty are down due to the gasping economy and lawmakers have not approved enough revenue to support the education spending bill they passed earlier this month.
The cut amounts to $127 per student and will be subtracted from school aid payments starting in December.
The order takes effect unless the Legislature identifies and appropriates revenue to fill the shortfall and Granholm signs the measure within 30 days, according to the governor’s office.
This is being done because the state’s monthly revenue intake continues to go down, which may well necessitate more cuts during the fiscal year, but there seems to be disagreement on the revenue projections. State Treasurer Robert Kleine projects that the revenue will be down an additional $212 million during this fiscal year due to declining tax receipts. House Fiscal Agency Director Mitch Bean agrees on the same range of the shortfall.
Senate Fiscal Agency Director Gary Olson, on the other hand, has a rosier view of how much revenue will be taken in over the next few months and actually projects a surplus if the legislature follows through on previously-promised tax increases. He told the Senate in a memo that the governor should wait until January to start this process because they’ll have a clearer picture of revenue trends by then.
The Michigan Association of School Administrators put out an angry press release on Thursday afternoon blasting state leaders for putting Michigan students at risk:
“The legislature must put politics aside and find the funds needed to provide our children with the education they deserve” said William Mayes, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of School Administrators after hearing of the issuance of a proration letter. “
“We cannot allow an entire generation of school children to fail because of the legislature’s bickering and rivalry. The children we are serving did not choose this time to be in our schools. If we truly believe our children are the future, it is our responsibility to meet their needs. They have no other time. This is their time!” Mayes added. “Michigan students deserve better than this!”
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter