LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – The Democratic-controlled Michigan Legislature is scheduled to adjourn subsequent week, and lawmakers in each chambers are attempting their finest to cross essential laws earlier than time is up. Senators and representatives gathered for a lame-duck session on the Capitol Thursday.
Dozens of payments are being mentioned within the Home and Senate. One invoice up for a vote within the Senate is designed to create the Michigan Veterans Coalition Grant Program. At the moment, veteran service organizations just like the American Legion should ask for funding yearly. The invoice places a placeholder within the funds for these teams to obtain funds with out having to request them yearly.
“Another thing this will do is if they don’t spend whatever money they have to give it back to the general fund, this way they’d be able to carry it over. It’ll just be a more stable funding mechanism for them,” mentioned Senator Roger Hauck (R-99). “If you have $100,000 and you know that if you don’t spend it you have to give it back, you might just spend it [in a rush] and not make sure it gets out to the right people. This way they can carry it over.”
Additionally up for a vote within the Senate is a invoice concerning weapons. The invoice would make it a requirement for all firearm elements to include serial numbers. Sponsors say the objective is to ban the shopping for, promoting, or carrying of sure firearms with out the suitable license or different authorization.
A invoice aiming to maintain bad-acting cops from simply getting a job in a distinct division turned one step nearer to changing into a regulation Wednesday. If it turns into regulation, police departments must disclose why an officer left and whether or not they had been being investigated inside their ultimate yr of employment.
One of many greatest discussions on the Home flooring right this moment shall be a few invoice that prohibits life with out parole sentences for folks 18 and beneath. 6 Information spoke with lawmakers who oppose this invoice and so they say it might be a menace to public security.
“They really see people sitting in prison for a long time and they feel bad and they feel like the people have [been] rehabilitated and need a second chance. I completely understand that and I’m empathetic, but there has to be some accountability,” mentioned Consultant Graham Filler. “Ethan Crumbley murdered four people in cold blood. Those people didn’t deserve to die. He deserves some accountability for his actions. A court will say life in prison at some point and I don’t want to see him out in 20 years. I feel like that’s an insult to the community.”
Additionally up for vote is a invoice that may make the Governor’s Workplace and Legislature not exempt from the Freedom of Info Act. Michigan is presently one in all two states the place the Governor’s Workplace is exempt from FOIA requests.
Representatives can even be voting on a invoice aiming to take away civil legal responsibility protections for firearm producers—which sponsors hope will push the gun trade towards extra accountable practices.
These are just some of the handfuls of payments up for dialogue. 6 Information will hold you up to date as selections are made.
