Great Lakes Politics

The Michigan House of Representatives voted on Thursday to repeal the 1995 law that gave the pharmaceutical industry almost complete immunity from any lititgation surrounding their products.  House Bill 4044 was introduced by State Representative Mike Simpson (D-65, Liberty Township) was passed by a vote of 70-39.

The National Association of Manufacturers had previously refered to the Simpson bill as "threatening Michigan jobs with extinction."  MichBio was also very critical of this proposal; again arguing that it would hurt Michigan's economy.

I have to say that NAM  and MichBio were right about this one.  If this bill eventually becomes law, every single one of the new jobs that were created in the Great Lakes State as a result of it will certainly be lost.  Michigan residents will also likely lose the huge discounts in drug prices that happened as a result of Merck and others saving billions of dollars in settlement claims.

Oh, wait!  I forgot.

There weren't any new jobs created in Michigan when we have the drug companies this kind of immunity and our medicines didn't get any cheaper.

Of course, it is always a possiblity that the pharmaceutical industry could relocate a large number of their jobs outside of Michigan.  You know, to one of those other states that doesn't give immunity from litigation or cash to help them grow their business.

Posted by fnemecek at 01:27 PM | Permalink

State Representative-elect Mike Simpson (D, Liberty Township) announced his intention last week to introduce a bill that would repeal Michigan's near-total immunity for drug manufacturers against any lawsuits.  The bill will be introduced sometime next year, after Mr. Simpson takes office.

Michigan is the only state in the union that grants such immunity to drug manufacturers or to any industry.  The immunity for drug companies became highly controversial after it was shown that Merck & Company had engaged in deceptive marketing practices for its drug, Vioxx, and the discovery that long-term use of it could lead to heart-attacks and strokes.

Defenders of the immunity argue that allowing people to sue drug manufacturers who make dangerous drugs is bad for Michigan's economy.  To refute that, I would simply point out where Michigan's economy was before the ban in 1996 and where it is today in 2006.

I'm not arguing that this immunity for the manufacturers of dangerous drugs is the cause of Michigan's sagging economy, but it clearly hasn't helped us.

In spite of that, my prediction is that a) Mr. Simpson's bill will make it passed the Michigan House of Representatives but b) meet its eventual demise in the Senate, which remains under the control of Republicans who love ranting about trial lawyers are ruining the world. 

Posted by fnemecek at 04:22 PM | Permalink

The Michigan Legislature continued to atone for its "do-nothing" track record this week by passing House Bill 4647, which creates a tax credit for the production of wind power.  This tax incentive is intended to serve as a supplement to the Production Tax Credit for Renewable Energy that already exists at the federal level.

Wind power is important to Michigan because wind picks up a lot power over the Great Lakes, making it a very viable source of energy along our shoreline.  Wind energy is also relatively cheap, clean and renewable.

The Energy Office of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth has produced a series of resource maps.  Those maps show the precise areas where wind driven turbines would be most beneficial.

This bill was introduced by State Representative John Moolenaar (R-98, Midand) in April of 2005.  It was approved by the House Government Operations Committee the following October; only to sit idle for more than a year.

Once the gubernatorial election was over, however, bill moved to a vote by the full House and through the entire Senate process in a mere two weeks.  This, of course, proves that the Legislature is capable of acting.  They simply preferred to do little more than token efforts at working and then blaming everything on Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI) in apparent belief that their inaction would somehow make her look bad.

That strategy obviously did not work.  Ms. Granholm was not only returned to office, but the Democrats captured control of the House and picked up a seat in the Senate.

All told, the phrase "Better late than never" may well turn out to be the un-official motto of the 98th Legislature. 

Posted by fnemecek at 12:17 PM | Permalink

High school students in the Clare-Gladwin and Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School Districts can get a head start in the growing career field of health services and technology with some help a state grant that will be used to start the program, according to a pair of announcements made today by State Representatives Tim Moore (R-97, Farwell) and Tom Casperson (R-108, Escanaba).

The Michigan Board of Education is expected to approve a pair of grants totaling $505,272 grant today for the two school districts, part of a $2 million appropriation that the Michigan Legislature approved in the 2006-07 budget.  The funds will be used to create Middle College High School Health partnerships between local school districts and colleges.

School districts receiving the funding will use the money in collaboration with a community college or state public university and a hospital to create and implement class courses focused on the field of health sciences.

The program may include outreach efforts that provide information to middle school and high school students about career opportunities in the health sciences field, individualized education plans for a student, entry-level college courses and even attending clinical rotations to allow opportunities for pupils to observe careers in the health sciences.

Students completing the health service middle college program can earn a high school diploma and a certificate or degree from the community college or university.

The grant will help the school district implement the program in the 2007-08 academic year.

Posted by fnemecek at 03:37 PM | Permalink

Shooting sportsmen and firearms collectors will no longer be forced to buy a Michigan hunting license to transport firearms and archery equipment legally during hunting seasons thanks to a new law sponsored by Michigan Representative Tim Moore (R-97, Farwell).

House Bill 5408, the tenth measure introduced by the freshman legislator to become law, eliminates the requirement for possession of a hunting license when transporting a firearm, archery bow and arrow or crossbow during a hunting season if the equipment is properly stored in the vehicle.

Carston Seales of Marion worked with Moore on the legislation to move it through the legislative process.

"This day has been 10 years in the making," explained Seales, who testified on the bill with Moore before House and Senate committees. "I'm thankful Representative Moore saw the need for this change and not only sponsored the legislation, but was committed to getting it done.

"It seemed simple when I started, but it took some time to find someone else who agreed that DNR game laws shouldn't have any relation to transporting firearms, bows or slingshots."

A similar law was approved for handguns several years ago and HB 5408 applies the same rules to other shooting sports equipment.

Moore's law amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act so a person can carry, transport, or possess a firearm, a bow and arrow, or a crossbow without a hunting license when the firearm is unloaded and cased, or a bow or crossbow is in a case.

Posted by fnemecek at 12:25 PM | Permalink

State Representative Shelley Goodman Taub (R-40, Bloomfield Hills) announced this afternoon that her legislation allowing county clerks to perform weddings was signed into law by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI).

Public Act 419 of 2006, formerly House Bill 4086, gives county clerks throughout Michigan the same opportunity that was previously only granted to Wayne County clerks.

"This new law gives clerks throughout the state the chance to perform weddings and gives couples an additional option," explained Taub. "It makes sense that the county clerk, as the chief record keeper and custodian of official county documents, should be able to solemnize marriages.

"This will also provide counties an opportunity to generate funds by performing a needed function."

Taub's bill was approved by both the Michigan House and Senate with strong bipartisan support.

Posted by fnemecek at 04:39 PM | Permalink

State Representative Howard Walker (R-104, Traverse City) announced last Thursday that the village of Kingsley in northern Michigan has secured a $598,000 state grant. These funds will be used to help improve 5,100 feet of water main.

“This is great news for the village of Kingsley to ensure residents have an adequate water supply that is clean, healthy and safe,” expressed Walker. “These improvements to the water system will help growth and development in the community.”

The grant is part of the $15.3 million Infrastructure Capacity Enhancement Program helping 37 communities upgrade existing infrastructure systems that are deteriorating, obsolete or in need of increased capacity.

Priority was given to projects that were ready to begin construction in the immediate future, had sufficient local matching funds, and had complete preliminary cost estimates.  The Kingsley project includes almost $400,000 in additional local funding from the village.

Posted by fnemecek at 10:47 AM | Permalink

 

Michigan residents can prevent criminals from stealing their identities under new legislation unveiled today by House Republicans that will continue the caucus' push to help reduce the growing number of ID theft crimes in the state.

State Representatives Rick Baxter (R-Concord), David Farhat (R-91, Fruitport) and John R. Pastor (R-19, Livonia) unveiled legislation this morning to better protect residents' personal financial information. The bills allow consumers to register to be notified when a new line of credit is opened in their name, streamline process of recovering stolen information for consumers and put a time limit on how long businesses can hold a consumer's account and credit card information.

"To protect seniors and consumers our laws should focus on crime prevention and stopping the thieves before they get away with someone's identity," explained Baxter. "Our current ID theft laws are working, but we can always do more to ensure Michigan residents do not become victims of this appalling crime."

The Farhat bill streamlines the process of repairing the effects of having personal checks stolen. Once filing a police report, the individual presents their bank with an Affidavit of Forgery, which ensures the banks stop the stolen checks and notify the merchants of the crime. The Baxter bill creates the option for all Michigan residents to be placed on the Office of Financial and Insurance Services Credit Activity List, a quarterly report given to consumer reporting agencies. Consumer reporting agencies then notify the individuals who are on the list when any new line of credit opens in their name.

The Pastor bill would prohibit a person or business from retaining any part of a consumer's credit card or account number after the transaction is completed for more than 4 years, or for more than the period established between the person and the credit card issuer.

"Stopping personal checks before ID theft takes place and notifying individuals when a credit card opens up in their name are two critical steps to stopping ID theft," said Farhat. "Innocent victims in Michigan should not have to prove their identification was tampered with, nor should they have to fall victim to the hassle that surrounds recovering their identification."

Pastor, said: "A consumer's credit card and account information should not be accessible for longer than necessary. Implementing a time limit for businesses that retain valuable consumer information is needed to ensure this information is not out there long enough for it to get in the wrong hands."

These bills improve upon a comprehensive ID theft package enacted by House GOP in 2004 that created the Identity Theft Protection Act, listed ID theft as an unlawful practice of trade or commerce and established the right of an ID theft victim to obtain a police report.

The legislation is part of a month of reform, in which House Republicans have focused on cutting government bureaucracy, protecting residents and children, decreasing mortgage fraud and creating jobs.

Posted by fnemecek at 12:37 PM | Permalink

Improve Foster Care Oversight

 

The Detroit Free Press published an editorial yesterday urging the Michigan Legislature to act quickly on State Representative David Law's (R-27, Commerce Township) proposal to move the Children's Ombudsman's Office to the legislative branch of state government. Quite frankly, I think this is very good idea.  It makes the Ombudsman more independent from the institutition that they are in charge of reviewing and such a move would improve the Legislature's ability to exercise its oversight role.

State Representative John Stahl (R-82, North Branch), Chair of the House Committee on Family & Children Service, has scheduled a hearing on Law's proposal (House Bill 6440) for tomorrow at 2 p.m.  I encourgage the committee to proceed with Law's proposal expeditiously.

Posted by fnemecek at 11:44 AM | Permalink