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    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    What has Lansing done for our great state in 2009?


    By dennislennox, Section News
    Posted on Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 02:40:01 PM EST
    Tags: dennis lennox, legislature (all tags)

    Cross-posted at FixingLansing.com

    The Associated Press reports 240 new laws were enacted by the Michigan Legislature in 2009 .

    Yet, one has to ask what exactly was accomplished this year.

    Michigan continues to have the worst economy in the country with one family moving outside the state every 12 minutes. Businesses are struggling, schools are broke, roads are crumbling and police agencies are finding it difficult to keep the streets safe from criminals.

    While the politicos in Lansing will recite bill after bill that was passed, it's notable that not a single one of Michigan's 240 new laws made the National Conference of State Legislatures annual list of new laws.

    Notable new laws include New Mexico passing a tuition waiver for medical students who practice in underserved areas and reforms to New York's retirement system for state employees.

    Think about it for a second, what has Lansing accomplished this year that addresses Michigan's twenty-first century challenges?

    Still thinking? So am I.

    < Law? What Law? - U of M President Ignores MCRI | Baltimore Law: pet stores must post that they don't sell human slaves >


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    What has Lansing done for our great state in 2009? | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)
    Ummm, yeah... (none / 0) (#1)
    by jgillmanjr on Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 09:18:17 PM EST
    Let's take a look at some quality gems we got on that list...

    The California Legislature passed a law in 2008 that requires restaurants to use oils, margarines and shortening with less than half a gram of trans fat per serving starting on Jan. 1, 2010. A similar provision will apply to baked goods on Jan. 1, 2011. California Legislature, AB 97 (2008, enacted, Chapter No. 207)

    Any lighter that appeals to children will no longer be allowed to be sold in Louisiana. This includes lighters that have a toy-like appearance or entertaining audio or is commonly recognized as appealing, attractive, or intended for use by young children. The new law does not apply to novelty lighters made before Jan. 1, 1980. Louisiana Legislature, HB 199

    Do you really want Michigan laws making a list that houses these two?

    But not only that, are you actually concerned with a low count of enacted laws? I say the lower the better - unless of course the new laws will give us some freedom back, such as laws giving the federal government the big middle finger.

    2009 (none / 0) (#2)
    by Tom McMillin on Thu Dec 31, 2009 at 10:21:01 PM EST
    Part of it, is what we DIDN'T do in 2009.  Unlike 2007, this year we didn't decide that raising taxes was the answer to our crisis.
    Also...isn't our best hopes from Lansing is for it to "Do no harm"?  You know, pay for essential services and get out of the way.

    We did get some required transparency in all 500+ school districts re: spending on benefits...and in the Central Planning/Corporate Welfare dept (MEDC).

    Got some additional charter schools, hopefully some decent merit pay and a start at teacher tenure reform.

    Budget (none / 0) (#4)
    by Rougman on Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 08:28:07 AM EST
    I wouldn't call it 'a line in the sand' necessarily because the line hasn't been sufficiently tested yet, but I was encouraged to see Republicans hold the line on the budget, particularly the education budget.  

    Certainly we did not get the all the cuts and reforms enacted that would have saved the state some serious dollars, but we also didn't have weak-willed bureaucrats buckling immediately under the pressure of being called big meanies by the governor.  

    Let's hope that the line is reinforced this year.

    To hell with a line in the sand! (none / 0) (#5)
    by grannynanny on Fri Jan 01, 2010 at 06:43:07 PM EST
    Put up a wall and dare the teachers to climb over it and confront the taxpayers who continually get the big one up the wazoo every year.  I am sick and tired of the constant whining and crying from our governor, politicians and the unions - specifically the teachers!  Cut your budgets and expenses and stop the political activism and start teaching!  End of story!

    What has Lansing done for our great state in 2009? | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden)
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    + FixingLans ing.com
    + The Associated Press reports
    + not a single one of Michigan's 240 new laws made the National Conference of State Legislatures annual list of new laws
    + Also by dennislennox
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