Brett Bellmore
New member
Gun bill runs out of time in Lansing
School shootings dampened backing for easier permits
By B.G. Gregg / Detroit News Lansing Bureau
LANSING -- The Michigan Legislature hunkers down today for its final week before summer break, and perhaps most noteworthy about the busy agenda is an item that won't appear: legislation reforming the state's concealed weapons laws.
While House Speaker Chuck Perricone, R-Kalamazoo Township, had yet to make a formal announcement about what he intended to do with gun legislation, all indications are that it will be set aside until at least the fall.
"There's just not enough time to get it done," said John Truscott, spokesman for Gov. John Engler. "They've got budgets to deal with."
Gun advocates have eagerly anticipated the legislation since Republicans captured both chambers of the Legislature last fall. The bill establishes statewide standards for receiving a concealed weapons permit, but eliminates some of the local gun boards' discretion. The proposal seemed destined for quick approval, but school shootings in Colorado and Georgia dampened enthusiasm and caused Republicans to fear voter backlash.
Also likely to be put on hold until fall: legislation to raise the maximum number of charter schools permitted under state law. The bill still needs work to find consensus.
Those issues aside, the Legislature will be extremely busy this week. Much of this week's business will revolve around determining state agency budgets, but some noteworthy bills should come up.
"The only bills we have to deal with because of timing are the merit scholarships and the presidential primary," said Lorri Rishar, spokeswoman for Perricone.
In order to move up next year's primary from March to February, legislation must be passed now. Also, if the Class of 2000 is to qualify for the merit scholarships, that legislation must pass before summer break.
Top issues
State lawmakers will spend most of this week dealing with state budgets, but here are some issues that also will surface:
* Legislation that slowly eliminates the state's 2.3 percent Single Business Tax by one-tenth of one percent for each of the next 23 years.
* Legislation that sets aside tobacco settlement money for college scholarships.
* A bill to move the presidential primary from the third Tuesday in March to the third Tuesday in February.
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Of course, they didn't "run out of time", they "ran out the clock". I am just SO mad; From a two-thirds vote in both houses, to DOA, in the space of three weeks!
School shootings dampened backing for easier permits
By B.G. Gregg / Detroit News Lansing Bureau
LANSING -- The Michigan Legislature hunkers down today for its final week before summer break, and perhaps most noteworthy about the busy agenda is an item that won't appear: legislation reforming the state's concealed weapons laws.
While House Speaker Chuck Perricone, R-Kalamazoo Township, had yet to make a formal announcement about what he intended to do with gun legislation, all indications are that it will be set aside until at least the fall.
"There's just not enough time to get it done," said John Truscott, spokesman for Gov. John Engler. "They've got budgets to deal with."
Gun advocates have eagerly anticipated the legislation since Republicans captured both chambers of the Legislature last fall. The bill establishes statewide standards for receiving a concealed weapons permit, but eliminates some of the local gun boards' discretion. The proposal seemed destined for quick approval, but school shootings in Colorado and Georgia dampened enthusiasm and caused Republicans to fear voter backlash.
Also likely to be put on hold until fall: legislation to raise the maximum number of charter schools permitted under state law. The bill still needs work to find consensus.
Those issues aside, the Legislature will be extremely busy this week. Much of this week's business will revolve around determining state agency budgets, but some noteworthy bills should come up.
"The only bills we have to deal with because of timing are the merit scholarships and the presidential primary," said Lorri Rishar, spokeswoman for Perricone.
In order to move up next year's primary from March to February, legislation must be passed now. Also, if the Class of 2000 is to qualify for the merit scholarships, that legislation must pass before summer break.
Top issues
State lawmakers will spend most of this week dealing with state budgets, but here are some issues that also will surface:
* Legislation that slowly eliminates the state's 2.3 percent Single Business Tax by one-tenth of one percent for each of the next 23 years.
* Legislation that sets aside tobacco settlement money for college scholarships.
* A bill to move the presidential primary from the third Tuesday in March to the third Tuesday in February.
///
Of course, they didn't "run out of time", they "ran out the clock". I am just SO mad; From a two-thirds vote in both houses, to DOA, in the space of three weeks!