Elections, Politics & Policy: March 2013

Obamacare advocates say tax credits will offset health insurance premiums

More than 250,000 people in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties will qualify for federal tax credits to help them pay their health insurance premiums, Democrats and advocates for Obamacare said Thursday.
The tax credits will go to 147,000 in Wayne County, 72,000 in Oakland County, and 59,000 in Macomb County, says a new report from health advocacy group Families USA.

Biden to keynote Michigan Democrats' Jefferson-Jackson event

Vice President Joe Biden will be the keynote speaker for the Michigan Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner April 20 at Cobo Hall in Detroit.

Michigan lawmakers introduce some 3,000 pieces of legislation in every two-year session but only a small fraction of the bills introduced survive the legislative process and make it into state law.
Democrats, who are the minority in both the Michigan House and Michigan Senate, say bills regulating the use of indoor tanning beds by minors should among the fraction that makes it into state law. The legislation is House Bills 4404 and 4405 introduced by Michigan state Rep. Jim Townsend from Royal Oak.

Detroit appeals financial emergency status Tuesday

The Detroit City Council is in Lansing Tuesday to try to convince the Michigan Department of Treasury that a state review team erred when it concluded the city has a financial emergency.
The 10 a.m. hearing is before Deputy Treasurer Mary McDowell, said Kurt Weiss, spokesman for Gov. Rick Snyder.

Can Michigan Republicans lose the state Senate in 2014? Some say it's possible

Can Michigan Republicans lose control of the state Senate in 2014? Some conservatives think it's a growing possibility.

Longer lines and flight delays because of budget cuts? You tell us.

With $85 billion in federal budget cuts taking effect nationwide because of the "sequester" and the inability of Congress to reach a deal on alternative spending and revenue measures, a big question is what will happen to spring travel as federal workers are furloughed, many at the nation's busiest airports - including Detroit's.
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Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says Detroit can't wait

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's trip to Detroit Friday generated more fuss than it should have. But it did set clear the likely path for Detroit's future — appointment of an emergency manager to take over the struggling city's finances.