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.
Tim Melton
LANSING — It’s not Shakespeare, but it’s drama nonetheless at the Capitol today.
House Democrats held a press conference at 12:30 p.m. to vent their frustrations with Senate Republicans who walked away from a joint House-Senate conference committee last night. The committee has been working to hammer out compromise legislation meant to fulfill the requirements of the federal “Race to the Top” grant application due Jan. 11. The grant could lead to as much as $400 million in federal cash for Michigan schools.
Democrats, lead by State Rep. Tim Melton of Auburn Hills, want to stick with House legislation which they say was written “from the federal guidelines,” while Republicans, lead by Sen. Wayne Kuipers of Holland, want to move the Senate version of the legislation.
Melton said he is ready to negotiate, but can’t negotiate with a “blank wall.” House Speaker Andy Dillon, a Redford Township Democrat, and Melton said House lawmakers are ready to stay in session until Dec. 31 “if need be.”
While Melton was lecturing reporters and special interest representatives about the “proper protocol” of who calls whom when negotiations fail, Dillon took out his cell phone and called Kuipers.
“Sen. Kuipers: This is the Speaker. How are you? [pause] Good. We’d like you to come back to the table to negotiate. [pause] Alright. [pause] My chair will meet with you [pause] I will meet with you first. [pause] OK I’ll be in my office. Right now. Right now I’m in my office.”
And with that, Dillon walked out of the Speaker’s Library and the press conference, followed by the assembled Democrats.
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