Tag: State Senate

Concerns that make for hyper-sensitive drawing of conclusions, and perhaps seeing boogeymen behind every curtain and legislative effort with language that sounds the same. Alas, my own post several days ago  attacking SB0324 might have been premature in its assumption that creating a licensure provision for health care navigators also created a default Michigan inclusion in the exchange. Writing

"By establishing the 'Director's' responsibilities and creating framework of a 'navigator' your bill is creating Michigan's participation in the exchange. It pretends protections, yet does NOTHING to protect Michigan citizens from the evil that is Obamacare and this catastrophic blow to our individual rights. Why are we providing ANY assistance to the federal government which is asserting authority is does not have into our health care choices?"

"Not true" according to legislative staffers, who explained the effort as more of a check and LIMIT on what could become a wholesale political get-out-the-vote effort for the progressives in power, versus a limited and licensed number of 'navigators' who might lose their status and outreach ability if stepping outside of their authority as specified.

Can you say epiphany?

As an aside, I am told that SB0324 will likely be amended to include language that asserts Michigan's acceptance or recognition of the Affordable Care Act will not be implied by this regulatory effort.

SENATE BILL No. 324 , Introduced yesterday by Senators MARLEAU, JONES, EMMONS, KAHN, BOOHER, BIEDA,GREGORY and JOHNSON was referred to the Committee on Health Policy. Michigan Senator Marleau explains:

".. the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) allows states to license "navigators" to assist people enrolling in health insurance through an exchange. Senate Bill 324 would ensure that navigators in Michigan act in good faith.

"We must make sure our residents are protected both from bad behavior as well as from incompetence," said Marleau, R-Lake Orion. "My bill establishes safeguards to keep navigators honest and to ensure they know what they're doing."

Marleau emphasized that the federal rules are not finalized, but the bill was introduced to start a discussion about how the state can ensure residents are protected.

"This is the start of the discussion, but our time to act is limited since residents plan to start shopping on Michigan's insurance exchange in October," he said.

SB 324 will protect Michigan residents by registering navigators, requiring background checks on them and ensuring they are professionally trained according to minimum standards for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act training."

Listen Senators.  Do you mind if I call you that, or would you appreciate something more direct?

Get those damnable lobbyists for health insurance plans (authors of this legislation) out of your office for five minutes and read the garbage you are introducing. By establishing the 'Director's' responsibilities and creating framework of a 'navigator' your bill is creating Michigan's participation in the exchange. It pretends protections, yet does NOTHING to protect Michigan citizens from the evil that is Obamacare and this catastrophic blow to our individual rights. Why are we providing ANY assistance to the federal government which is asserting authority is does not have into our health care choices?

If the Michigan State Senate passes the expansion of Medicaid today as the naive in the house did last Thursday, its going to be a toss them all out rout in 2014.

We have attempted to repeatedly remind readers that without the power to give your money to others, there would be little if any corruption in Government. Power feeds itself at your expense.  Joan Fabiano at Grassroots maps only a little of what is going on when elected officials have the authority to direct your actions through financial pain or mandate. If you think that is where it ends, then go turn on Fox, and start the drool rolling out of the left lip. There isn't enough manpower to follow the dinners, the relatives, the jobs afterward, the bankrolling of personal interests, etc.

And there isn't enough web space available to explain the infinite reasons why some folks cannot recognize the destructive influence of 'compassionate' government policy.

"Build it, and they will come"

Michigan State Senator Proos talks about dredging as it relates to water use tourism, and the dollars flowing in from it. Concerned about a boating traffic 'shutdown' he notes the economic costs of our great big bathtubs filling up with silt.

However, this important legislation protecting workers choices would be the shot in the arm for a still ailing Michigan economy.  It would create a more competitive atmosphere not only with other states, but would allow the global competitiveness we have previously enjoyed to return.  Its about time we do this, yet have faced a number of obstacles that ought not have been there.  The election clarified the will of the people sufficiently enough to understand that they are tired of having Michigan run by a few elite labor bosses, and its time for a change.

So when Jack Hoogendyk sends out this note:

"With all this compelling data, and circumstances being as ideal as they have ever been, what is holding up the legislation that has already been written, from being introduced in the House and the Senate?

The answer is apparently NOTHING. The Majority Leader of the Senate, Randy Richardville has previously gone on record opposing RTW in Michigan. But, last week, I received a communication from one of the members of the Republican Senate caucus. Here is what he told me: [Mr. Richardville] has supported RTW in the public sector and has pledged to whip the caucus on RTW in the private sector. Individually and as a caucus we strongly appreciate the openness of the SML (Senate Majority Leader) to member input.  

It is time to thank the Majority Leader for his willingness to give his caucus the opportunity to consider a vote on this pending legislation. Please contact Randy Richardville here and thank him. And then, contact your State Senator and express your support for making Michigan a Freedom-to-Work state and putting Michigan back on the map as the place to build a business!

Regards,

Jack Hoogendyk"

The secretary of state requires candidates to complete their POST-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMPLIANCE STATEMENT before assuming office. the bullet points read:

• This form must be filed by any candidate subject to Michigan's Campaign Finance Act who is elected to a state, county, city, township, village or school office. The form must be filed before the candidate assumes office. Exceptions: an elected candidate whose Candidate Committee did not receive or expend more than $1,000.00 during the election cycle is not required to submit this form. In addition, this form does not have to be filed by an individual elected to a U.S. Senate, U.S. House or precinct delegate position.

• An elected candidate who is required to file a Post-Election Campaign Finance Compliance Statement must submit this form to the filing official designated to receive the elected candidate's campaign finance disclosure filings.

• An elected candidate subject to the Post -Election Campaign Finance Compliance Statement filing requirement who fails to submit this form prior to assuming office is guilty of a misdemeanor.

• If you need information on your current compliance status under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, contact the Michigan Department of State's Bureau of Elections and/or the appropriate county clerks as necessary.

One might presume that failure to do so would exclude a candidate from assuming their elected position.

According the to BOE, Republican majority leader Randy Richardville filed This (image at right - click to view full sized) as his post election compliance. So naturally one might assume all is done, and properly.

At 3PM today, State Sen. Jim Marleau, chairman of the Senate Health Policy Committee, State Sen. Joe Hune, chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, Members of those committees, Public Sector Consultants President Peter Pratt, and whatever voices for misc members of the public will be present at:

Senate Hearing Room, Ground Floor
Boji Tower
124 W. Allegan Street
Lansing, MI 48933

The discussion?

The Senate Health Policy and Insurance committees will hold their first hearing on the importance of Michigan establishing its own health insurance exchange in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.

The Michigan Republicans have released their official proposal for the new state senate redistricting plan.

Senate Redistricting Map Weakens Detroit, Wayne County