MichMash Politics - WDET FM

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Michigan Budget, Road Funding Impasse Has Big Impact on State Workers and Schools Sep 18, 2019

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Will Michigan’s legislature fail to pass a budget deal in time to save state workers and schools headaches? MichMash breaks down the ongoing effects of the budget impasse in Lansing.

Michigan’s Secretary of State Promised to Reduce Wait Times. That’s Not Happening. Sep 18, 2019

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Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with Bridge Magazine’s Riley Begin, who says wait times are getting longer.

Weed Shop Laws Go Up in Smoke, But Supporters Say Relax Sep 18, 2019

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Three ballot questions regulating retail marijuana failed in recent elections, but that doesn’t necessarily mean legal cannabis is going anywhere.

2020 Presidential Hullabaloo Eclipsing Local Elections in Michigan Sep 18, 2019

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Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about why you should be paying attention to these local races and ballot measures.

Here’s Where Michigan’s Redistricting Effort Stands After SCOTUS Gerrymandering Ruling Sep 18, 2019

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Voters approved Proposal 2 last year, which takes the political line-drawing powers away from politicians and gives it to citizens.

As Scandal-Plagued Rep. Inman Stays Away, Fall-Out Reaches Lobbyists, Constituents Sep 18, 2019

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Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk with political strategist Adrian Hemond about all the people affected by a scandal like this.

Michigan Lawmakers Rake In $517,000 in Free Food, Drink from Lobbyists in 2019 Sep 13, 2019

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There are many ways interest groups try to get lawmakers to pay attention to their pet issues. Some hold rallies on the state Capitol lawn. Others choose to operate behind-the-scenes. Highlighting the latter category is a report that came out this week from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN). It shows lobbyists have spent a record amount of money on food and drinks for state officials in the first seven months of 2019. The total comes to $517,000, and three members of the state House have each received more than $4,000 in free dining expenses from lobbyists in that time. “Those totals are larger than what we usually see for an entire year,” MCFN Executive Director Craig Mauger tells MichMash. “The top beneficiary of lobbyist-sponsored wining and dining so far in 2019 has been Rep. Brandt Iden, a Republican from Oshtemo Township who chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Committee,” the report says. ”House leadership created the committee for the 2019-2020 session. It’s in charge of vetting bills that have already passed other committees before they go before the full House.” Iden reportedly received $5,682 on food and drink from lobbyists so far this year. Of that, $2,555 came from a single firm called Governmental Consultant Services, Inc., according to the report.

Can Governor Ban Flavored Vaping Products Without Lawmakers? Attorney General Says Yes Sep 13, 2019

Show notes

MichMash hosts Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher talk about the authority the governor has to ban an entire product in the name of public health. Supporters of the vaping industry in Michigan are threatening legal action over a plan to ban flavored vaping products. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently ordered the Michigan Department is Health and Human Services to issue emergency rules to ban the sale of flavored nicotine vaping products in stores and online. Critics, especially retailers who sell the products, say it will devastate their bottom line and question whether its legal for the governor to act alone without a law from the state legislature. But the governor’s administration say its confident it is on sound legal standing — and it has the legal backing of the Michigan attorney general’s office.

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