While some students spent spring break on a Florida beach and others spent it on mom and dad’s couch, both national and local lawmakers spent MSU’s holiday working on legislation that could affect the Spartan community.
Massive national budget cuts
On March 1, Congress missed the deadline to pass legislation to avert $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts and decided not to take action, which could mean reductions in research and grant funding at MSU.
“Not everyone will feel the pain of these cuts right away. The pain, though, will be real,” President Barack Obama said in a statement March 1.
White House data shows about 1,300 Michigan work-study programs, some of which help MSU students pay for tuition, are in jeopardy because of the sequester.
The data also shows about 2,490 fewer low-income students would receive financial aid.
The massive spending cuts, commonly referred to as the sequester, have created to pressure Congress to reduce the nation’s $16 trillion in debt.
Estimating it will cost the U.S. about 750,000 jobs, Obama said the cuts negatively will impact businesses and communities, especially those that work with the military.
Court halts Lansing casino plans
For students looking forward to playing blackjack close to campus, a March 5 court ruling knocked Lansing casino development plans a step backward.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jonker issued an injunction last week to prevent Michigan tribes from building a casino in Lansing, ruling in favor of a lawsuit led by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.
Schuette has been trying to halt the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians’ plans to construct an off-reservation, $245 million casino near the Capitol.
The court-issued injunction prevents development plans from being taken into trust, which would allow gaming on the proposed site in Lansing.
Although many, including Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, have claimed a casino is just what the city’s troubled economic climate needs, Attorney General spokeswoman Joy Yearout said a casino wouldn’t be enough to balance its financial status.
An emergency manager in Detroit
Students with families in the Detroit area could see a positive economic impact from a new governor-appointed official.
On March 1, Gov. Rick Snyder announced plans to appoint an emergency financial manager in Detroit.
State law mandates the manager can step in and make financial decisions to help fix some of the city’s economic troubles, potentially making decisions that don’t line up with those of the city’s elected officials.
The manager also can negotiate labor contracts, suspend pay for elected officials and revise the city’s budgetary spending.
Detroit’s City Council approved an appeal against Snyder’s decision to appoint an emergency manager, but Mayor Dave Bing assumes the argument won’t win, according to the Associated Press.
Although the public voted down a proposal to allow emergency managers in November, Snyder and the lame-duck Congress passed a similar bill in December, enabling the governor to search for an appointee.
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