Legislative Actions Supersede Ballot Proposals On Employee Issues

Oct 20, 2018

From MiARA
Three initiative petitions that had been proposed for the ballot were enacted into law by the legislature, and therefore will not appear on the ballot.

Repeal of Prevailing Wages: The state legislature voted to enact the proposal to repeal Michigan prevailing wage laws on June 6, 2018, rendering the proposal ineligible to appear on the ballot, and taking away the chance for Michigan voters to decide this important issue directly.

Michigan One Fair Wage: The legislature passed a gradual increase of the hourly minimum wage from $10.00 in 2019 to $12.00 in 2022. This has replaced the ballot proposal that had been set to appear on the November ballot.

MI Time to Care: Michigan lawmakers passed into law a requirement that employers provide sick leave for personal or family health reasons, subject to certain conditions.

Congress Eyes Giving the Pharmaceutical Industry a Gift after the Elections

Oct 07, 2018

Alliance for Retired American's

The pharmaceutical industry is lobbying Congress in hopes of receiving a $4 billion windfall in the lame-duck session following the midterm elections, after losing an attempt to secure the money as part of the bipartisan opioids package passed last week. According to drug company executives, the money is designed to correct a technical error for the $11.8 billion Congress required them to pay over 10 years in a budget deal earlier this year in the fight over the Medicare Part D doughnut hole. That money was to go toward seniors’ medicines.

Consumer advocates are calling the potential windfall an industry buyout, arguing that the money would do nothing to lower drug prices. Pharma lobbyists are some of the most powerful in Washington, and many drug makers have formed alliances with lawmakers who would otherwise push back against skyrocketing drug costs.

The drug industry has reason to worry if Democrats secure control of the House after the election. Many Democratic representatives have promised investigations into rising drug prices, and will push to allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prices. Republican committee chairs and leadership have been friendly to drug companies, something that could change with new leadership.

Democrats would also like to allow drug importation from other countries in order to make drugs more affordable. However, the newly negotiated US-Mexico-Canada Agreement includes intellectual property protections for American drug makers that shield them from foreign competition and prevent importation.

“The voices of seniors who are struggling to afford their prescriptions should outweigh those of pharmaceutical CEOs who just want to line their pockets with more profit,” said Alliance President Robert Roach, Jr. “We must elect representatives who will fight for lower drug prices, not billion dollar windfalls for PhRMA.”

Candidates’ Views Cut From Herbart Column

Oct 03, 2018

From MEA’s Capitol Comments 

Candidates’ Views Cut From Herbart Column

The Detroit News editorial board chose to cut nearly a third of the column that MEA President Paula Herbart submitted for her monthly “Labor Voices” column, which appeared in the paper last week. 

The nearly 200 words they chose to cut explained (with quotations) the positions of candidates Gretchen Whitmer, Bill Schuette, Debbie Stabenow and John James on this critical issue. 

As you can see in the column’s full version, Whitmer and Stabenow are strongly opposed to arming teachers (as are more than 70 percent of MEA members), while Schuette and James believe it should be an option.

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MPSERS Fall Seminar Schedule

Sep 25, 2018

 We are quickly approaching October, which means our MPSERS member educational seminars are about to be underway! IYou will find the detailed meeting that are scheduled printed below, which locations and dates. Also, please remember that during this time our PPO BCBSM, TruHearing, OptumRx, EyeMed, and Delta Dental representatives will be traveling to attend these meetings and will be unable to attend any chapter meetings.  There will be no HMO representatives in attendance. The meeting invitations were mailed to members last week for in state, the out of state invitations will mail closer to the meeting dates.
 

2018 MPSERS Fall Health Care Seminar Schedule

All seminars begin at 10:00 a.m. and last 2-3 hours.

Priority Healt Fall Roadshow 2018

Sep 25, 2018

10/8/2018 – Traverse City
Hotel Indigo(Hotel Indigo Ballroom)
263 W. Grandview Parkway
Traverse City, MI 49684

10/9/2018 – Kalamazoo
 Kalamazoo RESA Service Center (Wile Auditorium)
1819 e. Millham Ave
Portage, MI 49002

10/17/2018 – Grand Rapids
Kent ISD
(Conference Center Lower Level)
1633 East Beltline NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525

10/10/2018 – Wayne
Wayne RESA
(Boyd Arthurs Auditorium – 2nd Floor)
33500 Van Born Road
Wayne, MI 48184

10/11/2018 – Clinton Township
Wayne State University Macomb Education Center
16480 Hall Road
Clinton Township, MI 48038