Michigan's 96th Legislature ended its term with a marathon bill-passing spree that stretched into early Friday and sent Gov. Rick Snyder dozens of measures, including a new emergency manager law, the Detroit lighting authority bill and election reforms meant to make it more difficult to recall legislators, who have passed several controversial measures.
According to Paul Egan and Kathleen Gray in the Free Press, a flurry of late legislation is typical in lame-duck sessions, but some long-time Lansing observers said the Thursday-Friday session was extraordinary.
Measures sent to Snyder include:
• A phased-out elimination of the personal property tax
• Greater restrictions on abortion, including licensing of abortion facilities.
• The final bills needed to create a Regional Transportation Authority for southeast Michigan.
• An authority intended to improve streetlights in the city of Detroit.
• Legislation to assist Mike Ilitch in his plans for a new arena and entertainment district in downtown Detroit.
• Bills that make it tougher to recall state lawmakers.
• A requirement — already vetoed once by Snyder — that voters declare in writing they are U.S. citizens.
• A replacement emergency manager law, less than two months after voters rejected the former law, Public Act 4 of 2011.
• Privatization of a prison in Baldwin.
• Easing restrictions on where guns can be carried.
• Changes to the state’s medical marijuana laws.
