Ask any Michigan Legislator what their top priority is this year, and you’re likely to hear a similar response from most of them—jobs. While we may differ on the best way to transform our economy and create an environment for job growth, it’s rare that the Legislature actually gets an opportunity to directly influence the job market.

That’s exactly what we have on our hands this year with the Capital Outlay budget—an opportunity for construction workers to get started on major building projects at community colleges, universities and local airports across the state.

Each of the proposed projects for our state’s public universities were identified as the #1 building priority for that school. Unfortunately, all those “number one” priorities for growth and expansion could get delayed another year because of the Legislature’s second-guessing. These projects have already been postponed for far too long, and with the Capital Outlay budget responsible for up to 75% of the construction costs in some instances, they will never get off the ground without our support.

This is precisely the type of economic stimulus that Michigan needs right now. In the short-term, it means more jobs for building and construction workers in our state. In the long-term, these are projects that will improve our colleges and universities by building up programs that focus on high-growth sectors of the economy—like life sciences—which will help create 21st Century jobs.

The choice is simple. We can either be a roadblock or a red carpet for economic growth here in Michigan. All of these ventures are vital to our state’s economic development, and we shouldn’t delay any of them any further. This investment needs to be approved, and without further delay.

Here are some of the highlights on this week’s agenda. For more complete information, be sure to visit www.legislature.michigan.gov.

Expected Floor Action This Week

• Last week HB 4854 and HB 4903 were voted out of the Senate Homeland Security & Emerging Technologies Committee, and may be passed on the floor this week. Sen. Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) has been a leading advocate for similar legislation in the Senate to divest state funds from terrorist nations. You can read more about his efforts here.

• Sen. Switalski’s SB 834 regarding financial literacy may receive some action on the floor this week. This bill would allow financial literacy courses to count toward high school graduation requirements, allowing students the flexibility to choose a course that would benefit them in the future.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

• The American Cancer Society will gather on the Capitol lawn this Tuesday for a 10:00 a.m. press conference regarding HB 4163, a bill to make Michigan workplaces smokefree. Supporters of the American Cancer Society, Campaign for Smokefree Air, and BREATH will call upon the House to finalize legislation passed by the Senate last Thursday.  

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

• The Health Policy Committee will meet this Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. to consider several bills sponsored by Senate Democrats. The bills up for testimony include: SB 41 by Sen. Scott;  SB 42, SB 332, SB 695, and SB 696 by Sen. Jacobs; SB 333 by Sen. Whitmer; SB 334 by Sen. Brater; SB 335 by Sen. Clarke; SB 762 and SB 763 by Sen. Switalski; and SB 784 and SB 785 by Sen. Hunter.

Last Wednesday, I introduced legislation (Senate Joint Resolution N) that would allow 16-year old students to vote in local school board elections. Under this constitutional amendment, students would be unable to vote in school millage or bond elections. In order for it to become law, the measure requires a two-thirds majority of the Michigan Senate and House and voters must approve in the November election. Before you attempt to have me committed to a mental institution, here me out. I have reprinted my speech made on the Senate floor explaining the reasoning behind this legislation.

(Senate Journal, May 7, 2008) My statement is as follows:

“I have a truly radical and wild-eyed idea today that I want to propose. Yesterday was an election day in many areas of the state. Election Day should be the secular equivalent of a high holy day in Michigan. It should be a day when we celebrate democracy by exercising our most cherished right, the right to vote.

Unfortunately, many school board candidates were elected yesterday despite less than 10 percent of the electorate casting ballots. Today, I have introduced a constitutional amendment that would make a radical change to voter eligibility and significantly raise the level of participation in such elections. I propose that we grant 16-year-olds the right to vote in school board elections. We have legislation pending that would allow the Secretary of State to pre-register teens to vote when they get their provisional drivers’ license at age 16. I support this legislation; it will result in more teens registering to vote.

But we can go even further. We should duplicate the success of the graduated driver’s license program, which allows teen to drive earlier at 14 years and 9 months, but with significant restrictions. After a two-year apprenticeship, they are then allowed to drive unrestricted. This training period has resulted in more responsible teen drivers who are involved in fewer accidents.

This constitutional amendment would apply that same principle of apprenticeship to voters. If we just pre-register them and make them wait two years, they will forget that they even registered. Let’s allow them to vote for school board candidates and begin the habit of a lifetime. They will cast their ballots and participate in civic affairs and our democracy will be stronger for it. Students are directly and immediately affected by these elections. They care about having good schools. Who knows more about how our schools are operating than the students themselves? They should have some say in the governance of the system.

It will also be a good tonic for the rest of the electorate. Statistics show that turnout is routinely below 10 percent in these elections. More adults would vote if they knew their kids could outvote them. Some parents would be shamed into voting when they drove their kid to the polls. Others would finally appreciate the value and power of the ballot.

I recently received about 60 letters from Heather Schodowski’s students at Dresden Elementary in Sterling Heights. While some students asked me to pass laws to create new video games or reduce the price of LEGO or even the chewing of gum, two students, Keegan McMillan and Jennifer Amodeo, asked me to allow young people to vote. I think their suggestion has merit, and I propose that 16-year-olds, mostly juniors and seniors in high school, be allowed to vote for school board candidates, but not for millages or bond issues or for any other elections. Nor would my amendment lower the current age required to run for various offices, but it will engage and train a new generation of voters.”

Yesterday the Michigan Senate voted with a strong bipartisan majority to pass HB 4163, which will make Michigan workplaces smokefree.

Sen. Ray Basham (D-Taylor) first introduced similar legislation as a member of the House in 1998. You can watch a clip of his testimony before the House Commerce Committee in support of HB 4163 from last June here.

Several members of the Democratic Caucus offered floor statements on the smokefree workplace legislation yesterday, which you can see here:

• Sen. Ray Basham
• Sen. Mark Schauer
• Sen. Gilda Z. Jacobs
• Sen. John Gleason
• Sen. Glenn S. Anderson
• Sen. Martha G. Scott

Here are some of the highlights on this week’s agenda. For more complete information, be sure to visit www.legislature.michigan.gov.

MONDAY, MAY 5, 2008

• Today the Senate Democrats announced a ten-bill package designed to protect senior citizens from predators to kick off “Older Americans Awareness Month” in May. The package is sponsored by Senators Glenn S. Anderson (D-Westland), Jim Barcia (D-Bay City), Ray Basham (D-Taylor), Deb Cherry (D-Burton), Irma Clark-Coleman (D-Detroit), Tupac A. Hunter (D-Detroit), Dennis Olshove (D-Warren), Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming) and Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek). You can read more about this legislation here.

TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2008

• Tomorrow morning Senators Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit), John Gleason (D-Flushing) and Dennis Olshove (D-Warren) will hold a press conference in Room 405 of the State Capitol Building to formally announce new legislation that will establish a two-year freeze on all mortgage and tax foreclosures in Michigan. Sen. Clarke hosted a similar press conference in Detroit last month with representatives from several community housing agencies. You can read more about the legislation here, and watch a short clip of Sen. Clarke discussing the foreclosure freeze here.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008

• This Wednesday Sen. Mickey Switalski (D-Roseville) will be hosting a press conference in the Capitol to discuss legislation he is introducing that will lower the voting age to 16 for non-bond, non-millage school elections. Again, we will be posting more information about this legislation later in the week, so be sure to keep an eye on our caucus press room for more details.
• The Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development will be meeting at 8:30 a.m. this Wednesday to hear from the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) about the No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) program. This worker development initiative was supported by Senate Dems last summer, and the $40 million in funding that was included in the House-passed DLEG budget for this year will help ensure that Michigan workers have the skills they need to compete for 21^st Century jobs.

As our state transitions into a 21st Century economy, the need for an educated workforce is greater than ever. Last summer, every public university in the State of Michigan raised tuition rates for incoming college freshman by an average of 10%. For students at Wayne State University, the tuition hike was 12.8%, plus a $13-per-credit fee.

While these recent tuition hikes are troubling—and a clear sign that the State must do more to make college more affordable—tuition savings programs like the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Michigan Education Savings Plan (MESP) can help keep the cost of higher education within reach for our state’s working families.

Since its debut in 1988 as the nation’s first guaranteed tuition program, MET has sold nearly 80,000 contracts with assets of nearly $1 billion. MET contracts can be purchased for Michigan children in increments from just one semester to four years of education (eight semesters). Several payment options are available for MET contracts, including lump sum, monthly, electronic funds transfer, and payroll deduction. Investment management, program administration and distribution for MET is provided solely by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

An alternative to MET is the Michigan Education Savings Plan. Also administered by the Department of Treasury, MESP account earnings have the opportunity to grow federal and Michigan income tax-deferred until withdrawn. An MESP account can be opened for as little as $25, and there are no annual contribution limits.

Similar to a 401(k), MESP offers seven different investment options that vary in their investment strategy and degree of risk, allowing you to select an option or combination of options that fit your needs and investment philosophy. The program was recently recognized by Money magazine as one of the top five best 529 College Savings Plans in the nation.

Both the MET and MESP programs are great options for families looking to start saving for their child’s academic career, but unfortunately neither tuition plan is exempt from enforcement of court judgments or bankruptcy proceedings under Michigan law. That’s why I recently signed on as a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1200, which would extend similar exemptions for qualified pension plans, IRAs and custodial accounts to tuition savings plans.

Students shouldn’t have their future academic careers put in jeopardy because of their parents’ financial hardships. My hope is that this legislation will encourage more families to invest in these tuition savings programs, putting higher education within reach for all Michigan students.

For more information on the MET program, you can call 1-800-MET-4-KID or visit www.setwithmet.com. To learn more about MESP, call 1-877-861-MESP or visit www.misaves.com.