Free Republic

Affirmative action debate results in scuffle on Michigan House floor By AMY F. BAILEY The Associated Press 6/9/2004, 8:39 p.m. ET LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A debate over affirmative action in the state House Wednesday night resulted in a scuffle between two Democrats. The incident happened in the House chambers after the Republican-controlled House narrowly approved next year's higher education budget that included an amendment to prevent universities from receiving any state funding if they give preferential treatment to applicants. The brief scuffle between Rep. Morris Hood, D-Detroit, and Alan Canady, House Minority Leader Dianne Byrum's chief of staff, was...

Michigan House approves cigarette tax increase By AMY F. BAILEY The Associated Press 5/26/2004, 6:50 p.m. ET LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan House on Wednesday narrowly approved increasing the state tax on a pack of cigarettes from $1.25 to $2 as part of plan to balance the state budget. If it becomes law, Michigan would have the second-highest cigarette tax in the nation only behind New Jersey's $2.05-per-pack tax. Without debate, the House voted 55-53 to send the bill to the Senate, the minimum votes needed for approval of a bill in the 110-member chamber where there is one...

House may vote on 75-cent-per-pack increase in state cigarette tax By AMY F. BAILEY The Associated Press 5/16/2004, 7:54 a.m. ET LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The state House could vote this week to increase the state tax on cigarettes by 75 cents a pack. It's the second time Republican House Speaker Rick Johnson of LeRoy has hinted that the chamber could take up legislation imposing the $2-per-pack tax. He said he decided against holding a vote on the bill last week after support from Democrats appeared unclear. Bills need 55 votes to win approval in the 110-member House, rather than...