House Committee Takes Up League Pension Flexibility Bills Today
 This afternoon, the House Appropriations committee is taking testimony on two bills which deal with providing locals pension flexibility. The bills are HBs 5725 and 5726. HB 5726 (Rep. Opsommer, DeWitt) would allow bonding when communities switch from defined benefit to defined contribution, so communities could help smooth transition costs. A nearly identical Senate bill, SB 1129, as already passed the Senate. HB 5725 (Rep. MacGregor, Rockford) would amend the MERS statute to prohibit certain barriers that face communities which want to negotiate pension changes or more easily shop different providers by allowing a community to exit the plan with a majority vote of the governing body (rather than a vote of the people). MORE>
State
Affairs Update
 Senate Committee Considers Exception to Government Immunity - On Wednesday, July 18 the Senate Energy & Technology Committee is holding a hearing on Senate Bills 1083 and 1084, bills that would create an exception for governmental immunity for a municipal corporation with respect to its obligations under the MISS-DIG Act. The bills as introduced are basically obsolete as we have worked with the Senate and Governor's office on a number of drafts over the last two months. Following a workgroup this morning, we are still working on details of the legislation. MORE>
League Submits Comments on the Complete Streets Draft Policy
Major Court Decision Takes Bite Out of 2006 Cable Law
November Ballot Could Be Crowded
Pure Michigan: Participate in Travel Michigan / MEDC Strategic Plan Sessions Statewide
Registration Open for 2012 Convention, Mackinac Island Oct 3-5
Registration Now Open for MAM Summer Workshop in Traverse City
Interacting with the State - Michigan Shared Services Community
Federal Update
 MAP-21 Resources Available - For those interested in information, reports, and analysis of the new transportation authorization act known as "MAP-21" (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century), you are encouraged to visit Transportation Issues Daily, "MAP-21 Learning Center". The site contains links to congressional summaries and reports as well as websites and news reports from any number of different stakeholder groups. MORE>
"Fiscal Cliff" On the Horizon
USDOT and HUD Officials to Speak In Dearborn
CDBG Receives Increase in House Budget
Webinar - Supreme Court Cases and Their Impact on Local Government July 19
21st Century Communities
 Present Your Green Success Story at November Conference - The third annual Michigan Green Communities conference is scheduled for November 2, 2012, at the Michigan Municipal League's Capital Office in Lansing. Staff and elected/appointed officials from local government, colleges and universities, or other organizations partnering with local government are invited to submit a proposal to present at the conference. MORE>
Navigating the Social Media World
Is Failure an Option?
Great Lakes Fishery Trust Grant Proposals Now Being Accepted
National Park Service Offers Free Technical Assistance
The Fund Book - Free Federal Funding Resource |
