Bulletins
2006-07 Budget Debate Begins Recently, Governor Jennifer Granholm introduced her 2006-07 Executive Budget Proposal, which included the MDOT Transportation Budget. This budget proposal includes an increase in the road and bridge program due to increased federal funding and a significant number of projects from the Jobs Today Initiative ($418 million
On December 20, 2005, the Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Triangle Excavating Company, Inc. v. Covert Township, rejecting a DSC claim due to lack of written notice and refusing to consider constructive notice. The opinion, thankfully, was unpublished and thus is merely “persuasive authority” which a trial court
Governor Granholm will be attending the MITA Annual Conference on Friday, January 20, and will address the group at the luncheon beginning at 12:00 noon in the Saginaw Chippewa Ballroom at the Soaring Eagle Casino. The Governor’s 2006 State of the State Address is scheduled for Wednesday, January 25 at
On November 29, 2004, Governor Granholm signed into law House Bill 4358. This piece of legislation will become effective on January 1, 2006. The new law allows a driver to rebalance the lift-axles making a turn or merge before being weighed. The definition of a “misload” is recognized and puts
Governor Signs Sewer Grant Bill MITA is extremely encouraged by the Governor signing into law a package of bills that will result in more sewer work throughout the state and thus help to improve the condition of Michigan’s aging sewer infrastructure systems. The package of bills will expand the allowable
In our constant effort to keep you up-to-date and involved in the current legislative events and issues that affect your industry, we have added another informational source and feature to our web site. Legislative Action Center “Capwiz” is a link on our legislative page that provides grassroots advocacy products and
Please view the report (summary), which was commissioned by the National Chamber Foundation (a division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce). This report suggests that the Federal Highway Trust Fund could become insolvent by 2008. You will find this to be interesting reading and fodder for our effort here at
A new Bush Administration request to spend $2.325 billion to repair and rebuild highways and bridges damaged by Hurricane Katrina will be paid by the general fund of the U.S. Treasury, according to the Bureau of National Affairs. Under SAFETEA-LU, Congress designated $100 million to be spent each year out
Federal Transportation Funding (SAFETEA-LU) & Hurricane Katrina The recent catastrophic disaster resulting from Hurricane Katrina has caused some in Washington D.C. to suggest that funds recently authorized in the six-year transportation act (SAFETEA-LU) be reallocated to offset the cost of disaster relief for the gulf coast region. However, there are
Recently the Michigan Legislature approved a conference report for the 2005-06 Transportation Budget. This conference report includes the road and bridge program funding that will be used in the summer of 2006 for all projects funded through the Michigan Transportation Fund. In the end, the total amount of the program
YOUR INPUT REQUESTED ON BURDENSOME REGULATIONS In order to improve our state’s regulatory and overall business climate, House Commerce Committee Chairman Representative Bill Huizenga (R-Ottawa) has formed and named Representative Rick Baxter (R-Jackson) chair of a new Business Regulations Commerce Subcommittee. The Business Regulations Subcommittee will be in operation the
Under HB 4852, which is currently working its way through the State Senate, several motor carrier exemptions will be repealed. MITA has been directly engaged in working on this voluminous piece of legislation to make sure that the industry’s interests are protected at all levels. However, many of these changes
