Government

Transit officials worry about federal funding change

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By SAODAT ASANOVA-TAYLOR
Capital News Service
LANSING – County transportation authorities are criticizing a federal bill they say could hurt state mass transit funding by putting it on year-to-year life cycle. They have called on U.S Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, to send the plan back to the drawing board. The bill would withdraw fuel tax revenue for the mass transit fund from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and allow the money to be used for general transportation purposes on an annual rather than five-year cycle. According to Camp’s office, it would provide the same funding sources for mass transit, and the change means that the account could earn more interest than now. However, as written, critics say the federal bill does not clarify whether change would generate the amount of money.

Government

Proposal would turn off tanning lights for teens

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By PATRICK LYONS
Capital News Service
LANSING – Scientists disagree whether the use of tanning beds causes cancer, but some legislators say there’s enough evidence to ban minors from indoor tanning facilities. The proposal to ban minors from using tanning facilities is sponsored by Rep. Jim Townsend, D-Royal Oak. He compares the bill to laws placing age restrictions on purchasing tobacco products or alcohol. But the industry counters that a ban would be both unwarranted and economically damaging. John Overstreet, executive director of the Indoor Tanning Association based in Washington D.C., said that reports have shown no strong link between tanning beds and melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

Environment

Septic waste bill spurs debate

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By XINJUAN DENG
Capital News Service
LANSING– Municipal waste facilities would be required to accept all septic waste produced within 25 miles under a bill awaiting action in the Senate. Under current law, local governments can decide whether to allow septic waste to be applied on land. If a locality requires that all septic waste be disposed of in a receiving facility or prohibits land application of septic waste, it must make available a treatment facility. This bill is intended to make it easier to treat the waste that can cause serious health problem, supporters say. Chuck Hersey, environmental programs manager of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments said, “This is a bit of a chicken-and-egg issue.

Government

Bill would hold big kennels to minimum standard of care

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By XINJUAN DENG
Capital News Service
LANSING– A new legislative proposal would regulate large-scale dog breeders who have more than 15 breeding females to ensure their animals receive proper treatment, including adequate food, water, shelter, regular exercise and veterinary care. The bill would prohibit a dog having more than one litter a year. Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, a co-sponsor of the bill, said, “Current laws do not outline the proper guidelines of care that large commercial breeding kennels have to administer to the dogs and puppies in their custody to ensure that their lives are protected.”
The bill’s sponsors are Sen. Steven Bieda, D-Warren; Sen. Tory Rocca, R-Sterling Heights; and Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake. Michigan State University law professor David Favre who teaches animal law said, “It is a significant step forward for the welfare of commercially bred dogs in Michigan. If as a society we are going to allow massive breeding operations of between 16 and 50 dogs at one place, then society has a duty to impose those standards that will provide a minimum level and welfare protections.”
Under the proposal, violators of the so-called “Puppy Protection Act” could be jailed for 93 days, fined more than $1,000, and lose their breeding license.

Government

Local officials worry about losing tax revenue

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By WEI YU
Capital News Service
LANSING – County governments across Michigan are keeping a close eye on what legislators do about repealing the personal property tax this year. Because counties’ reliance on the tax varies, the effect of repealing it would be much greater in some than in others. St. Joseph County is the second most-dependent on the personal property tax, which accounts for 26.9 percent of its budget. It is behind Calhoun County, which gets 27 percent of its revenue that way, according to the Michigan Association of Counties.

Government

Lawmakers propose more public information about children's products

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By PATRICK LYONS
Capital News Service
LANSING — Michigan manufacturers and distributors of children’s products would be required to report the presence of toxic chemicals in their products if legislation introduced in the Senate passes. The legislation by Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor would require manufacturers and distributors to report to the Department of Community Health if their products contain potentially harmful chemicals, and if so in what quantity. The results would then be available to the public on the department’s website. A recent rash of scares concerning chemicals in children’s toys, including lead-painted toys from Asia, prompted the legislation, Warren said. Children’s products are the focus because children are most susceptible to these chemicals for such reasons as weight, hand-to-mouth behavior and level of development, said Alexis Blizman, legislative and policy director for the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health in Ann Arbor.

Government

Counties, business groups, state officials seek ways to stem revenue loss from tax reform

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By ALEX MITCHELL
Capital News Service
LANSING—With Gov. Rick Snyder planning to propose reforms to Michigan’s personal property tax this month, many counties and businesses are speculating about potential ways to replace lost revenue. Businesses pay personal property tax on their equipment. Critics say the tax discourages businesses from growing because they pay more as they invest in equipment. But local governments are worried because the tax accounts for anywhere from 3 percent to 27 percent of revenue for Michigan counties. “We won’t be proposing to totally do away with personal property taxes but to both change the way the system works and get rid of certain classifications of personal property taxes that do the most harm to Michigan,” Lt. Gov. Brian Calley said.

Government

Painting toy guns to look real could be outlawed

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BY NICK MCWHERTER
Capital News Service
LANSING- Young teenagers playing with toy guns could have been killed in a mall parking lot a few years ago when police responded to the scene. This close call sparked legislators to develop a bill banning any modification of a toy to make it look more like a real gun. The incident with the toy guns took place in Taylor and could have been dangerous because others in the parking lot, as well as police, thought the guns were real. Lawmakers have proposed legislation to punish those who alter replica and toy guns to make them look more realistic. The bill would also protect those that modify the toys because police that respond are often under the impression that the guns are real.

Government

Lawmakers may be bypassed in outlawing synthetic drugs

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By ALEX MITCHELL
Capitol News Service
LANSING—New versions of dangerous synthetic drugs could be outlawed quickly after they’re invented under a proposal that would let state authorities act faster than the legislature. “These drugs are a hazard to public health,” said Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, who is sponsoring the bill. The active ingredients in synthetic marijuana are applied to various dried vegetation. A slight alteration can create a new compound that is not one of the three synthetic chemicals on the federal Drug Enforcement Agency’s Schedule 1 list, a list of illegal drugs that have no recognized medicinal use such as heroin and LSD, Jones said. “A rogue chemist would go in and alter the molecular structure of an illegal substance, creating a similar effect but a different subject,” Jones said.