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Michigan Catholic Conference

Lansing Update Archives

2009

Lansing Update, December 11, 2009
Workplace Smoking Ban to Go in Effect May 2010; Church to Continue Pursuit of Health Care Reform Legislation; Catholic Conference Urges Support for Statewide Public Defender System; Education Reforms Fly as Legislature Focuses on Federal Race to the Top Funding
Lansing Update, October 30, 2009
USCCB Launches Massive Grassroots Health Care Reform Effort; Michigan Budget Finalized as Governor Signs Remaining Departmental Budgets; Senate Committee Takes Testimony on Embryo Research Transparency Legislation
Lansing Update, October 9, 2009
Senate Passes EITC Legislation, Efforts to Finalize 2009 State Budget Continue; MCC Statement on Appointment of Bishop-Elect Hebda to Diocese of Gaylord
Lansing Update, October 2, 2009
MCC Advocacy Priorities Protected in State Budget Stalemate; Action Alert! Phone Calls Needed to Protect Tax Credit for the Working Poor
Lansing Update, September 18, 2009
Multiple Budget Scenarios Arise After House Speaker, Senate Majority Leader Strike Target Agreement
Lansing Update, September 11, 2009
$2.7 Billion Budget Deficit Remains as September 30 Deadline Looms; MCC Board of Directors Statement on State of Michigan Budget; MCC Board of Directors Says No to 2010 Constitutional Convention; Legislation Prohibiting Conscience Rights for Pharmacies Passes Committee; Follow us on Twitter @MiCatholicConf
Lansing Update, June 26, 2009
Legislature Adjourns for July 4th Holiday as Budget Bills Head to Conference; Conscience Prohibition, Contraceptive Mandate Bills Introduced; Package of Bills to Reform Failing Schools Moves to Senate
Lansing Update, June 19, 2009
Conference Supports Introduction of Transparency in Embryo Research Bills; Cuts All Around as Senate Moves Budget Bills
Lansing Update, May 22, 2009
Legislation Seeking to Expand Health Care Coverage in Michigan Introduced; Committee Likely to Vote on Juvenile Life Without Parole Bills Next Week; Campaign for Justice Holds 2nd Annual Public Defense Conference
Lansing Update, May 15, 2009
Budget Deficit for 2009–2010 Pegged at $1.7 Billion; Judiciary Sends Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Changes to Full House
Lansing Update, May 8, 2009
Safety Net Slashed as Legislature Eliminates $1.3 Billion Deficit; Conference Testifies in Support of Juvenile Life Without Parole Changes; House Education Committee Takes Up “School Turnaround Plan” Bills
Lansing Update, May 1, 2009
State Budget Deficit Rockets to at Least $1.2 Billion
Lansing Update, April 24, 2009
Second-Parent Adoption Bill Heads to House Floor; Proposals for $785 Million Budget Deficit Expected Next Week
Lansing Update, April 3, 2009
2009–10 Budget Bills Begin to Move; House Committee Continues to Hear Testimony on Smoking Ban; Utility Shut-Off Protection Bills Move on to Senate
Lansing Update, March 27, 2009
MCC Appointed to Michigan Low-Income Energy Assistance Task Force; Utility Shut-Off Protection Bills Move on to Full House; Higher Education Budget Advances with Tuition Grant Secure; Time Winding Down for Public Comments on HHS Conscience Rescission
Lansing Update, March 13, 2009
Catholic Conference Comments on Embryo Research Executive Order; House Creates Subcommittee on Indigent Defense; Catholic Conference Questions U.S. Senators’ Commitments to Education
Lansing Update, March 6, 2009
Conference Urges Support for D.C. Voucher Program; High School Drop-out Age Increase Headed to Senate; Support for USCCB Pro-Life Email Campaign Urged by MCC; Catholic Conference Issues Statement in Support of Safe Stem Cell Research Discovery; Schedule for Departmental Budgets Announced
Lansing Update, February 20, 2009
Campaign to Improve Indigent Public Defense Launches
Lansing Update, February 13, 2009
Governor’s Budget Recommendations Include $670 Million in Cuts; Wayne County Executive Seeks to Lure Embryo Destructive Research Firms; Legislation Increasing High School Drop Out Age Moves Out of Committee
Lansing Update, January 30, 2009
Catholic Conference Releases 2009–2010 Advocacy Priorities; Committee Assignments Announced, Legislature Begins New Session; State Senate Adopts Resolution Honoring Catholic Schools Week; Legislation of Interest

2008

Lansing Update, December 12, 2008
$134 Million in Executive Order Budget Cuts Approved; Conference Committee on Smoking Ban to Meet; Measure’s Future Uncertain
Lansing Update, December 5, 2008
Lame Duck Session Awaits Executive Order Cuts; House Passes Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentencing Reforms; Smoking Ban Legislation Sent to Conference Committee
Lansing Update, May 30, 2008
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Clears Legislature; Protect Poor and Vulnerable in Energy Debate, Conference Urges Senate; Emergency Contraceptive Bill Headed to Senate
Lansing Update, May 16, 2008
House Committee Passes Troublesome Hospital Mandates
Lansing Update, May 9, 2008
Smokefree Michigan on the Horizon
Lansing Update, February 8, 2008
Petition Forms Approved for Embryo Destructive Research Ballot Drive; Governor Releases Budget Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2009; Action Urged for Partial-Birth Abortion Ban; House, Senate Pass Differing Versions of Driver’s License Fix; Prisoner I.D. Bills Move to House Floor
Lansing Update, January 25, 2008
Embryo Destructive Research Proponents Discuss Ballot Drive; Catholic Conference Advocacy Ensures Protection of State EITC; House Committee May Act Soon on Partial-Birth Abortion Ban; MCC Testifies in Support of Juvenile Parole Reform Bills

2007

Lansing Update, December 7, 2007
Lansing Update Readers Encouraged to Advocate Against Embryo Destruction; House Passes Landmark Smoking Ban Bill; House Panel Hears Testimony on Adoption Bill; Prisoner Parole Guideline Changes Pass House Committee; Problematic Energy Regulation Bill Introduced
Lansing Update, November 2, 2007
Finishing Touches Placed on 2007 Budget; House Committee to Address Embryonic Stem Cell Research Next Week
Lansing Update, October 12, 2007
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ballot Committee Formed; Recall Efforts Announced Against Ten Legislators; Promise Grant Legislation Seeks to Assist Non-Public Schools
Lansing Update, October 5, 2007
Conference Launches Massive Statewide Stem Cell Education Program; Tax Increases, Reforms End Four Hour Government Shutdown
Lansing Update, June 15, 2007
State Finalizes Tobacco Securitization Plan; House Committee Hears Testimony on Workplace Smoking Ban; Agreement Announced on New Business Tax
Lansing Update, May 25, 2007
$1.6B Budget Deficit Looms as Legislature Passes ‘07 Agreement
Lansing Update, March 30, 2007
Budget Deficit Worsening, State Could Be $1.1 Billion in Red By May; Speaker Dillon Releases Budget Fix Proposal; House Panel Addresses Prisoner Identification Problem; House Appropriations Committee OKs Executive Order
Lansing Update, March 23, 2007
Budget Anxiety Heightened Following New Cuts, Executive Order
Lansing Update, February 16, 2007
Budget in Stalemate as GOP Rejects Executive Order; Legislation Introduced to Allow Second Parent Adoptions; Next Week’s Committee Hearings of Interest
Lansing Update, February 9, 2007
MCC Questions Governor’s Support for Human Cloning; Tax Increases, Budget Cuts Recommended to Solve Economic Woes
Lansing Update, January 26, 2007
House Committee Assignments Finalized; Senate Committee Listing; Senate Panel Receives Update on State Health Care Plan
Lansing Update, January 12, 2007
School Safety Bill Signed Into Law; MCC President Named to State Emergency Financial Advisory Panel; House Democrats Roll Out Restructured Committees; State of State Address Set for February 6
Lansing Update, January 5, 2007
Legislation Creating a Statewide Cord Blood Bank Enacted; Farmland Preservation Bill Vetoed; 94th Legislature Set to Begin Next Week

2006

Lansing Update, December 15, 2006
Governor to Sign Welfare Reform Legislation; State to Award New Michigan Promise Scholarship; MCC to Seek Support for ‘Net Neutrality’; New Report Troubling for Michigan Children; Jack Kevorkian to be Paroled from Prison
Lansing Update, December 1, 2006
Bills Promoting Adult Stem Cells Moving Through Legislature; Legislature Again Seeking Limits on State Assistance Programs; 2007-2008 Legislative Leaders Elected
Lansing Update, June 23, 2006
MCC Calls for Religious Freedom in Child-Placement Services; ‘The Issues, The Candidates and Your Vote 2006’ Headed to Parishes; Conference Seeks Support for Foster Care Families
Lansing Update, May 19, 2006
Strict Welfare Reform Measures Headed to Senate
Lansing Update, April 7, 2006
One United Michigan Campaign Kicks-Off
Lansing Update, March 24, 2006
Michigan Catholic Conference Urges Support for Adult Stem Cell Research; Conscience Clause Bills Pass House Insurance Committee
Lansing Update, March 6, 2006
Federal Government Approves Contraception Waiver; High School Curriculum Mandate Headed to Senate; Senate Committee Confirms New Children’s Ombudsman
Lansing Update, February 9, 2006
Bishop Sample Joins Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors; Michigan Catholic Conference Testifies Against Contraceptive Mandates; Stem Cell Issue Comes to Forefront in Michigan; House Education Committee Addresses Mandated High School Curriculum; Governor Releases 2006-07 Executive Budget Recommendations

2005

Lansing Update, December 9, 2005
House and Senate Pass Welfare Reform Legislation; Board of State Canvassers Approve Three Ballot Initiative Forms for 2006; Ultasound Bill Passes Senate, Heads Back to House for Concurrance
Lansing Update, December 2, 2005
Welfare Reform Passes House and Senate, Dangerous Limitations Included; Teacher Loan Forgiveness Bill Passes House; Bills Requiring Background Checks for Long-Term Care Employees Heads to Full House
Lansing Update, November 11, 2005
Bishop Sample Joins Michigan Catholic Conference Board of Directors; Michigan Catholic Conference Testifies Against Contraceptive Mandates; Stem Cell Issue Comes to Forefront in Michigan; House Education Committee Addresses Mandated High School Curriculum; Governor Releases 2006-07 Executive Budget Recommendations
Lansing Update, November 4, 2005
Agreement Reached on Business Tax Cuts, Investment to Spur Economy; Department of Human Services Releases Welfare Reform Suggestions; Schools to Receive Assistance for Students Displaced by Katrina; Attorney General Rules in Favor of Mexican Drivers
Lansing Update, September 30, 2005
2005-06 State Budget Finalized
Lansing Update, September 23, 2005
Action Alert: Urge U.S. Senators to Support Educational Equality; Michigan’s Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Ruled Unconstitutional; Fiscal Year 2005-06 State Budget Update
Lansing Update, July 1, 2005
Securitization Includes Protection of Merit Scholarship Funds; Legislation Regulating Payday Lenders Passes House; Senate Passes School Security Bills
Lansing Update, June 24, 2005
MCC Calls For Preferential Treatment of State’a Poor and Vulnerable; Support Urged for Federal Fair Housing Proposal; Bishop Walter Hurley Named Bishop of Grand Rapids Diocese; Attorney General Rules Merit Board Cannot Require Service; House Allocates Additional Dollars to Lower-Funded Schools; Legislature Moving ‘Pupil Protection’ Measures
Lansing Update, June 10, 2005
House Passes Omnibus Bill Targeting Medicaid, Welfare; Embryonic Stem Cell Research Bills Introduced in Lansing; “Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005” Update; Michigan Catholic Conference to Assist Usccb in Immigration Campaign
Lansing Update, May 13, 2005
Ultrasound Bill Ready for Full House Vote; Senate Outlaws Sale of Violent Video Games to Children; .xxx Domain Names Sought for Adult-Only Web Sites; State Superintendent Search Narrowed to Three Finalists; Federal Stem Cell Bill Introduced, With Michigan Support
Lansing Update, May 6, 2005
Committee Passes Legislation Offering Ultrasound Image Prior to Abortion; Bills Creating a State Earned Income Tax Credit Introduced
Lansing Update, April 29, 2005
Legislative Day Attracts Some 300 Catholics From Across the State; Equality in Education Among Key Issues Raised at Legislative Day; Governor Unveils Plan to Restructure Merit Award Scholarships; Committee Hearings of Interest
Lansing Update, March 4, 2005
Michigan Catholic Conference Announces Advocacy Priorities; Bishop Robert J. Carlson Welcomed as New Bishop of Saginaw Diocese; Statewide Stem Cell Education Effort Announced; Lawmakers, Governor Attempting to Repair State’s Economy; Michigan Catholic Conference Draws Concerns From State Budget Proposals; Office of Children’s Ombudsman Recommends Adoption to Unmarried Couples