Michigan lawmakers make another attempt at requiring elected officials to disclose financial information. KVCC’s president gets a raise after his first evaluation. A proposal would put an electronic privacy guarantee in Michigan’s constitution.
(MPRN) Some Michigan lawmakers are trying – once again – to pass legislation that would require elected officials to file financial disclosures. It’s an issue that lawmakers have been trying to get past the finish line for decades. A state House committee heard testimony Wednesday on the bipartisan bills. They would require elected officials and candidates – like the governor, attorney general, and state lawmakers – to make certain regular disclosures. Those disclosures include the source of any income that’s more than $5,000, the names of employers, and if immediate family members are lobbyists. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has called for the Legislature to pass financial disclosure laws. But the bills face an uphill battle in the state Senate. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) has been a firm opponent of the idea, though he has said that he will let the Legislative process play out.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s president is getting a raise. L. Marshall Washington will see a 1.5 percent increase in salary starting next month. Washington became the community college’s third president last July. In a statement the college’s Board praised Washington’s performance in his first year leading KVCC.
(MPRN) Michigan voters could decide whether to include an electronic privacy guarantee in the state constitution. A state lawmaker formally proposed the amendment Wednesday. Republican Representative Jim Runested says state and federal laws have not kept pace with the ways it’s possible to invade people’s privacy using technology. He says law enforcement should only be allowed to do that, and only with a warrant approved by a judge. Runsted’s amendment could be placed on the ballot by super-majorities in the House and the Senate. He says the votes to do that are there right now.
Kalamazoo Communities in Schools says a new executive director will begin work next month. The non-profit group that works to help children succeed in school says James Devers will take over during the first week in July. He has 19 years of experience in education, most recently as Senior Director of Site Services for Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo. Pam Kingery is retiring. She has been director since Kalamazoo Communities in Schools launched in 1999. The organization has about 200 affiliates across the United States.
(Michigan Radio) The 6th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court decision to throw out a lawsuit over a state infant blood testing program. The program takes blood samples from newborns and tests them for about 50 genetic diseases. The state also stores the blood and allows samples to be used for medical research. The plaintiffs argue this is unconstitutional -- because all that happens without parental consent. This ruling allows the challenge over storage and research to proceed. State officials did not respond to request for comment.
In baseball, Battle Creek swept a double header from Kalamazoo. The Bombers won Wednesday afternoon 12-6, then held the Growlers to three hits in a win 1-0 Wednesday night in Battle Creek. The two teams will play again Thursday night at Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo.