PAADVISORY January 20, 2006SPEAKER RESTRUCTURES HOUSE COMMITTEES House Speaker Craig DeRoche (R-Novi) announced the restructuring of several House committees as well as the creation of a new committee on tort reform and subcommittees on tax policy related to the state’s business tax restructuring and school district and municipal finance. DeRoche removed Democratic Representatives Frank Accavitti (D-Eastpointe), Paul Condino (D-Southfield) and Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit) from the Energy and Technology, Tax Policy and Local Government and Urban Policy committees, respectively, where each served as minority vice chair. Speculation surrounding the removals suggests that Accavitti, Condino and Tobocman were being reprimanded for failing to honor a deal that was supposedly made between them and Republican leaders to change the teacher retirement system. Tobocman remains minority vice chair of the Government Operations Committee. Rep. Andy Dillon (D-Redford) replaces Accavitti as minority vice chair of the Technology & Energy Committee. Thereafter, Accavitti was tapped to replace Tobocman as minority vice chair of the Local Government and Urban Policy committee. Rep. Virgil Smith (D-Detroit) joins the committee as well. Rep. Steve Bieda (D-Warren) replaces Condino on the Tax Policy committee, with Rep. Jeff Mayes ( The Tax Policy Subcommittee on Business Tax Restructuring will be responsible for researching business tax restructuring options in anticipation of the 2009 sunset of the Single Business Tax. Joining subcommittee chair Rep. Fulton Sheen (R-Plainwell) on the committee are Rep. Leon Drolet (
Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Bellaire) was replaced on the Education committee by Rep. Dave Robertson (R-Grand Blanc). In addition, Elsenheimer was replaced as chair of the subcommittee on Early Childhood Intervention by Rep. Tom Meyer (R-Bad Axe). Also joining the Education committee is Rep. Aldo Vagnozzi (D-Farmington Hills) who replaces Rep. Herb Kehrl’s (D-Monroe), who passed away in November. The committee was increased to include an additional seat that will be held by Rep. Gino Polidori (D-Dearborn). Rep. Dudley Spade (D-Tipton) will replace Kehrl’s on the Higher Education committee. Elsenheimer was tapped to chair the new Tort Reform committee. Also named to the committee are: Rep. Ed Gaffney (R-Grosse Pointe Farms), Rep. Joe Hune (R-Fowlerville), Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland), Rep Roger Kahn ( The subcommittee on school district and municipal finance will fall under the Government Operations committee. The subcommittee will be responsible for reviewing current law on state receiverships of school districts and municipalities to make them applicable and up to date. Rep. Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan) was appointed subcommittee chair. New additions to the Government Operations committee include: Rep. Jack Hoogendyk (R-Portage), Rep. John Stakoe (R-Highland), Minority Vice Chair Rep. Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit), and Rep. Alexander Lipsey (D-Kalamazoo). SENATE PASSES EXPANSION OF S.B.T. CREDIT On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation aimed at cutting the Single Business Tax obligation for as many as 35,000 To continue progress on the agenda outlined by Mr. Sikkema and House Speaker Craig DeRoche (R-Novi) last week, the Senate also acted on a job providers “bill of rights” – a series of bills providing new requirements for Department of Treasury officials on how to deal with taxpayer issues. While HB 4244, HB 5356 HB 5357, HB 5358, HB 5359, HB 5360, HB 5361, HB 5362, and HB 5364 passed unanimously, HB 5355, HB 5363 and HB 5386, passed largely by party-line votes. Under these bills, the department would be required to notify a taxpayer of any refunds found during the course of an audit, property applicable to sales taxes would be exempted from use tax collections and taxpayers would be allowed to convert a contest of an assessment to a claim for a refund. Senate Bill 956, sponsored by Sen. Tony Stamas (R-Midland), passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on a party-line vote. The bill appropriates $116.3 million into state’s Budget Stabilization Fund. It is anticipated that SB 956, as well as, a bill to ban the state from creating rules on ergonomic requirements will be taken up by the full Senate next week. STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS Governor Jennifer Granholm will present her fourth state of the state address on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at 6 PM. Public Affairs Associates will sponsor an afterglow reception hosted by Speaker Craig DeRoche at 621 Restaurant (621 E. PAADVISORY BRIEFS Committee Replacements Named: Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema (R-Wyoming) announced replacements for the committees vacated by former Senator and current Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero. Succeeding Bernero on the Health Policy committee, Local, Urban and State Affairs committee, and the Judiciary committee is Senate Minority Leader Bob Emerson (D-Flint). Sen. Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit) replaces Bernero on the Technology and Energy Committee. Ehlers Named Committee Chair: U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids) was named chair of the House Administration Committee. Mr. Ehlers has been a member of Congress since 1993, and is currently a member of the Science Committee, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Education and Workforce Committee, and Administration Committee. McCotter Seeks House Policy Chair: U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia) is in the running to become the next chair of the House Policy Committee. Currently, McCotter has secured the support from 30 House GOP members. ELECTION NEWS DeVos Names Campaign Chair: GOP Gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos has named Dominos’ CEO David Brandon Campaign Chair. 60th House District: Evans Considering Run for Attorney General: Wayne County Sheriff Wayne Evans is considering a run for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General. Evans, a long-term employee of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, succeeded Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano as sheriff in 2004. Currently, Rep. Alexander Lipsey (D-Kalamazoo), former Judge Scott Bowen, and attorney Geoffrey Fieger have announced their intent to run for the Democratic nomination. APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR Governor Granholm Names Verlie Ruffin Children’s Ombudsman
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the appointment of Verlie M. Ruffin as
“Verlie has made it her mission in life to fight for and protect
Ruffin, 58, of
Prior to her current position, Ruffin worked at the Child & Family Services Division of Lutheran Social Services of Michigan.
Ruffin is appointed to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. She succeeds Lynne Martinez who has resigned.
The Office of the Children’s Ombudsman is an independent government agency that works to assure the safety and welfare of
The appointment is subject to Article V, Section 6 of the Michigan State Constitution of 1963. The appointment stands confirmed unless disapproved by the Senate within 60 days. (This story was derived from a press release issued on Wednesday, January 18, 2006) |