Gov, GOP reach deal on surplus

Gov. Rick Snyder and Republican legislative leaders reached an agreement Tuesday on how to divvy up nearly $702 million in surplus revenue as lawmakers race to complete the 2014 fiscal year budget by June 1.

Trump: Immigrants won’t vote for GOP

Donald Trump, the billionaire real-estate developer who flirted with running for president last year told Oakland County Republicans Tuesday if immigrants in the country illegally get a path to citizenship, “they will not be voting Republican.”

Michigan officials to develop school violence hotline

Lansing — Attorney General Bill Schuette and other state officials said Tuesday they want to develop a new statewide hotline for students, parents and other members of the public to leave confidential tips about potential school violence.

EM opponent accuses Michigan Treasurer of perjury

Lansing — A union activist trying to get Detroit’s emergency manager’s appointment voided alleged the state treasurer lied under oath about correspondence he had with a state board that tapped the EM in March.

Proposal seeks to block insurance coverage for abortions in Michigan

Lansing — Michigan's election board is expected to consider a petition form for a proposal that would prohibit Michigan health insurance plans for covering elective abortions unless individuals or businesses buy a supplemental policy.

Hathaway lawyer pleads case to keep her out of prison; feds want her to serve 12-18 months

Detroit — Former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Diane Hathaway shouldn’t spend a day in federal prison, her lawyer said Monday, despite admitting she orchestrated an elaborate two-year scheme to defraud her bank of $600,000 owed on a Grosse Pointe Park home.

Detroit state reps unveil no-fault auto insurance reform plan

Detroit — The city’s nine Democratic state House members announced an auto insurance reform package Monday that seeks to drive down the rates Detroiters pay as well as make public information from a $14 billion fund for catastrophic accident claims.

Peters names campaign manager for Senate bid

Washington — Rep. Gary Peters is kick-starting his bid to become Michigan’s next U.S. senator by assembling his campaign leadership with no Republican yet stepping forward to challenge the Oakland County Democrat.

Scientists: Don't drop federal wolf protections

Traverse City — Groups of scientists are urging federal officials not to remove protections for gray wolves across the Lower 48 states.

Michigan Republicans seek new limits on welfare aid

The Legislature’s Republican majority has redoubled its efforts to squeeze welfare spending by imposing new conditions on aid recipients.

Michigan cancer patients to back Medicaid expansion

Lansing — Cancer patients and survivors in Michigan are expected to call on lawmakers to expand Medicaid coverage for about 400,000 uninsured Michigan residents.

Michigan disabled vets could see property tax relief

Lansing — Some disabled veterans living in Michigan could get some relief next tax season under legislation being debated in the state Senate.

Emails show Snyder aides aware of ‘skunk works’ group

Lansing — Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration has claimed the once-secret “skunk works” education reform project was not a government-sanctioned work group, but newly obtained administration correspondence suggests otherwise.

Audit questions use of Mich. petroleum tax revenues

Lansing — Millions of dollars from a petroleum tax have been diverted to plug holes in the state budget and pay interest on debt, Michigan's auditor general said Friday.

Class-action lawsuit OK'd over Michigan's asset seizures

Detroit — A federal judge has cleared the way for a class-action lawsuit challenging how the state of Michigan seized assets without court approval to ...

Michigan rep proposes ban on late-night fireworks

Michigan’s year-old law allowing the sale and use of airborne fireworks could be changed after it enflamed public complaints last summer because of late-night ...

AT&T Michigan president may run for Levin’s seat

AT&T Michigan President James Murray said he is considering a run for U.S. Senate, adding another potential GOP candidate vying for the seat opened up by the ...

Michigan’s job, tax revenue futures brighten, economists say

Lansing — Michigan is forecast to reach a pre-recession jobless rate of 6.9 percent in three years, while the state is reaping a multimillion-dollar tax ...

Airport tax cut proposal draws criticism

Lansing — A proposal to reduce Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s parking tax by 62 percent would rob Wayne County of two-thirds of the annual revenue it needs for ...

Political insider: Bentivolio on email link: ‘I sent it?’

U.S. Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, R-Milford, is not taking responsibility for a fundraising email that went out in his name and was linked to a controversial report.

Michigan Senate budget has no Medicaid expansion

Lansing — The Michigan Senate has approved a budget bill that doesn't include Gov. Rick Snyder's proposed expansion of government health insurance for ...

New law lets schools with snow days schedule longer days instead of extra days

Lansing — Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation that will allow schools with too many snow days to avoid having to schedule extra days in June.

Gov. Snyder wants portion of higher tax revenue to go to road repairs

Gov. Rick Snyder said Tuesday he wants to dedicate a portion of a projected increase in tax revenue toward road repairs if the Legislature doesn’t act on his ...

Poll: Majority in Michigan now support gay marriage

A majority of Michiganians supports gay marriage and broadening rights for homosexuals, a dramatic reversal from just a few years ago, according to a statewide ...

Snyder: Orr report shows Detroit’s crisis ‘is more dire than we thought’

Gov. Rick Snyder said today during an appearance in Detroit that Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr’s initial report on the city’s finances shows the situation “is ...

Report: Michigan projected to get $382M more than expected

Lansing — Michigan could get $382 million more in revenue than projected four months ago.

Advocates seek to ease fed cuts

Michigan and national supporters of programs like medical research and Meals on Wheels hope to ease their federal budget cuts since Congress ended air traffic ...

House Dems reveal package aimed at improving women’s health care

Lansing — House Democrats unveiled several women’s health-related proposals Monday, including legislation to ensure emergency contraception, sometimes ...

Mich. House Dems: GOP Medicaid plan will mean more uninsured, cost more

Lansing — Republican-proposed conditions on government-provided medical benefits ultimately could leave Michigan with more uninsured residents and higher ...