What an absolutely depressing day of news. Unemployment climbs, welfare families with serious medical problems targeted, and over it all, our politicians seem more concerned with counting coup on each other than in turning our state around.

Milliken: A Michigan Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand
The Michigan Land Use Institute has the transcript of the speech given at the Mackinac Conference by Michigan's elder statesman, former Gov. William G. Milliken. In the address, Milliken blasted ...the growth of meanness, of bitterness, and of excessive partisanship that can only work to the detriment of the region, the state, and the nation. and said The focus has turned to winning elections rather than to developing responsible public policy.

GOP Welfare Plan Passes House, Opposed by Dems
The Lansing State Journal reports on the GOP plan that passed the state House to end aid for people who have been on welfare four or more years on Jan. 1. The measure would affect 15,000 families (and cut benefits to over 60,000 more families remaining on welfare). Republicans say the cuts are needed to address the $773 million deficit for 2006.

Michigan Indian Tribes' Rights to be Tested in Court
The Leelanau Enterprise reports that a major federal court case is shaping up on whether members of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (GTB) can hunt according to their own rules and fish on inland lakes without regulation by the State of Michigan. The GTB and 4 other tribes claim that an 1836 treaty gives them the right to regulate their members' hunting & fishing activities.

Business Tax Proposal Coming from Michigan Republicans
The Gongwer News Service reports that Michigan House Republicans will pursue a counterproposal to Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm's plan to overhaul business taxes. The proposal could involve the credit toward the SBT on personal property taxes paid, but broadening it beyond just manufacturers. The GOP plan also would likely include changing the tax's formula to base it entirely on sales.

Michigan Unemployment Climbs Again in May
The Detroit News reports that Michigan's unemployment rate rose slightly for the 2nd month in a row to 7.1% in May (a loss of 15,000 jobs & 2% above the national average). The rest of the country has been posting employment gains as Michigan has been posting job losses, a very troubling sign.
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