One party payback

As you would expect after years of inbreeding, what comes out of the Republican caucus can seem normal and reasonable … until it isn´t.

Granted, it´s a political document that´s broad enough to cover the spectrum of Republican thinking. And there are, in fact, initiatives that are some worthy for all of Michigan. But not too many.

The 78-point plan opens with the party congratulating itself for Michigan´s economic recovery. That it isn´t a real recovery — the state still has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation —and that the gains are largely due to a recovering auto industry with its unionized workers isn´t mentioned.

But neither in any meaningful way are the issues that the Republican-controlled Legislature punted on in the last four years: roads and transportation, higher education funding, the $2 billion corrections budget and health care.

None get serious treatment in the plan, which seeks to cut state income taxes just as Michigan discovers it has a $325 million deficit this year and projects a $532 deficit in 2016. It also seeks to “continue dedication of money” to the state´s Rainy Day Fund. Corrections spending could offer some opportunities for savings, but expect the predictable outcry from the law-and-order constituency of police, prosecutors and unions to tamp down any real reforms.

What Republicans propose are prison nursing homes where they can off-load aging inmates and tap Medicaid funds to pay for their care. It´s not necessarily a bad idea, but only nibbles around the astounding cost to the state of its draconian sentencing requirements. The proposed approach to judicial, criminal justice and correctional reforms seems awfully late in coming for a party that´s controlled state government for the last four years. The 2015 plan states: “Prison reform ideas have been percolating for years and now is the time to advance cost savings reforms that balance the safety of Michigan´s with the use of limited taxpayer resources.” Legislators know what to do, but toughon-crime posturing wins elections.

If they can save money, it won´t be going to higher education. None of the 78 points deal with helping Michigan´s colleges or helping make college more affordable. Legislators want to review the Michigan Education Trust, a 529 plan that allows for prepayment of college tuition and fees and the Michigan Education Savings Program, which allows savings to cover a wider range of education expenses. But there is no call for higher education investment by the state, which according to a report by Bloomberg.com ranks 36th in the nation for the percentage of college graduates, just ahead of New Mexico.

Another major initiative deals with grading. The platform states: “Michigan uses a confusing color-coded school accountability system. A change to letter grades while also adding a transparency dashboard for schools will be advanced.” Call this a solution for a problem you didn´t know about. There are two substantive education initiatives in the offing.

One would provide greater flexibility for qualified individuals who want to teach, relaxing what Republicans call the “overly cumbersome” certification process. The other would “develop a uniform, robust accreditation” for charter school authorizers to “clearly designate standards and exceptions.”

The Republican game plan, as expected, aims as scoring points at the expense of workers. It wants to eliminate the ability of localities to pass ordinances mandating wages and benefits, particularly sick pay. Of course, legislators aren´t docked pay when they don´t show up for work. But this isn´t a “do-unto-others” crowd. It continues to target state workers with a proposal to “upgrade and advance employee accountability and performance,” both of which are governed by the Civil Service Commission. The party would like to meddle stateworker issues, but is blocked the Michigan Constitution, which enables the Civil Service Commission to protect workers them from politics.

There is lots of interest in alcohol.

Claiming that regulatory measures are holding back the expansion of farmers markets, Republicans want to allow beer and liquor sales. They call this an “economic growth” measure. Another initiative deals solely with beer. “Ensuring that the refilling of growlers at licensed establishments is permitted by regulators is paramount.” Remember, this priority: “paramount.”

Other proposals would allow utilities to use out-of-state renewable energy to meet state imposed standards, effectively keeping Michigan pollution in Michigan where it belongs. It wants to prohibit the state administrative departments from advancing “rules more stringent than the Feds.”

The platform seeks to open more state lands to off-road vehicles, allow discrimination if it is based on “religious beliefs” and looser gun laws.

Backing off from its fringe issues, the Republicans want to reform the abusive Civil Asset Forfeiture Law that allows law enforcement agencies to seize personal property without due process or criminal conviction. It also promises a hard look at tax incremental financing, which allows a community like Lansing Township to establish Eastwood Towne Center as a special district and essentially exclude other levels of government (the county, CATA, libraries) from collecting what would be their normal share of tax revenue.

And it promises a hard look at film tax credits. Sure it´s fun to see Michigan in the movies, but credits are costly and as policy are unlikely to prove themselves as a solid investment and job creator.

Republicans, with overwhelming majorities in the House and Senate, can push through what ever legislation they like. The only check on their agenda is Governor Snyder, who in his final term is less shackled to the party´s conservative wing and more free to pursue a more centrist approach. If that his “agenda,” let´s hope he sticks with it.