Although they are not in session, members of the House on both sides of the aisle made headlines as House Speaker Chuck Perricone (R-Kalamazoo Township) announced that various Republicans would be handing out trigger locks to interested gun owners. Democrats were pleased to hear that the trigger locks would be handed out, but many were upset that they were not asked to participate in the program. The use of trigger locks has been pushed by many lawmakers, mostly Democrats, since the Mt. Morris school shooting tragedy earlier this year.
The lower chamber will return from its two-week spring recess next week, while the Senate does not take its break until the end of April for Easter. Upon return, both chambers will very likely be in session until early June. At that time both chambers will recess as many House members begin campaigning for the fall elections.
As the November 2000 elections begin to take shape, many political pundits around the nation will be watching races in Michigan with great interest. At the federal level, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) will challenge U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham (R-Auburn Hills) for his U.S. Senate seat. This could very well be one of the most hotly contested races in the U.S. Senate.
Hoping to replace Stabenow in Congress are two state senators: Diane Byrum (D-Onondaga) and Mike Rogers (R-Brighton). The 8th Congressional seat is expected to be one of the top ten targets of both political parties nationwide in the November 2000 elections.
In the 1st Congressional district, encompassing all of the Upper Peninsula and 13 Lower Peninsula counties, incumbent Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) will face a challenge from Republican National Committeeman Chuck Yob. Yob, a former Grand Rapids businessman, has lived for seven years in East Jordan.
At the state level, all 110 seats in the House of Representatives are up for re-election. Approximately 12 hotly contested seats hold the key to control of next yearŐs lower chamber. May 16th is the final date for candidates to file for the November elections. The state Senate is not scheduled for re-election until November 2002, when 30 members will be forced to retire from the Senate due to state-imposed term limits.
Also on the ballot may be several ballot proposals. The Kids First! Yes! school voucher initiative has filed over 420,000 signatures, virtually ensuring that the proposal will be on the November ballot. Other efforts to require a super-majority vote to limit the powers of local governments, create a part-time legislature and limit legislative session days are in various stages of development.
SB 1192, sponsored by Sen. Joe Young, Jr. (D-Detroit), to provide a three-year moratorium on collection of sales tax on Internet sales.
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