MTA Summer Legislative Conference

Conference was held: 

Date: August 12-14, 2009

Place: Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth

Our next summer conference will be in 2011 (dates to be determined).

Questions regarding the Summer Legislative Forum?

If you have any questions regarding the Summer Legislative Forum, please call the Legislative Department (ask for Erma Linn) or drop us an e-mail or fax.
Telephone: (517) 321-6467
Email: legislation@michigantownships.org
Fax: (517) 321-8908

To view the PowerPoint presentations that were presented at the MTA Summer Conference, please scroll down the page.

The MTA legislative staff wishes to thank those township officials that attended our Summer Legislative Conference. We had 165 township officials in attendance. And from the comments on the evaluation forms (and comments made), those that were able to attend indicated that they enjoyed the conference.

We would like to take this time to give a special "Thank you!" to the following resource people and MTA staff that spoke at our conference:

Welcoming Remarks:

Larry Merrill, MTA executive director

Linda Towsley, MTA 1st vice president

Government Efficiency:

Kevin Prokop, co-chair of the Government Efficiency Commission; founding partner of of Rockbridge Growth Equity, LLC

Federal Report:

Tom Frazier, MTA legislative liaison

Jeff Spencer, green communities coordinator, DLEG

Michigan's Constitution (luncheon speaker)

Robert LaBrant, senior vice president, political affairs and general counsel, Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Recall & Ethics Session:

Rep. Richard Ball, Dist. 85

Rep. Marc Corriveau, Dist. 20

Robert LaBrant, senior vice president, political affairs and general counsel, Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Wind Energy Session:

David Walters, chair Wind Energy Resource Board; general manager, Michigan Public Power Agency

Trevor Lauer, vice president, DTE Energy

Thomas Vitez, vice president of planning, ITC

Jennifer Alvarado, executive director, Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association

Road Funding & Transportation:

Rep. Lee Gonzales, Dist. 49

Rep. Paul Opsommer, Dist. 93

John Niemela, director, CRAM

Michael Nystrom, vice president of government & public relations, MITA

Property Tax Structure:

Sen. Valde Garcia, Dist. 22

Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, Dist 23

Rep. Brian Calley, Dist. 87

Rep. Jeff Mayes, Dist. 96 

For those of you that attended MTA’s Summer Conference you probably remember that we had several PowerPoint presentations at the conference.  As promised, we have posted them here. To view a presentation (in slide-by-slide format), please click on the presentation’s title. To download the presentation in a handout format, click on the word “handout” given in parentheses after the title. Please note that some of the PowerPoint presentations are large documents and may take time to load onto your computer. 

Overview of Current Policy Issues (handout)

MTA Executive Director Larry Merrill presented an overview of current policy issues. It included a review of the state budget currently being debated and how the less than expected revenues have had a negative effect in how the state budget will have to be adjusted. Mr. Merrill also touched on potential revenue and expenditure reforms that affect townships.

Government Efficiency (handout)

With the effects of the economy hitting all aspects of government, the state formed the Legislative Commission for Government Efficiency. Mr. Kevin Prokop, co-chair of the commission, made a presentation on the commission’s preliminary findings and recommendations for making state and local government more efficient. Mr. Prokop also answered questions from our delegates.

Federal Report (handout)

MTA Legislative Liaison Tom Frazier updated the delegates on what is happening at the federal level. Some of the topics discussed were: “cash for clunkers,” funding for advanced batteries, the possibility of Guantanamo Prisoners being moved to Michigan, federal revenue sharing, public service volunteerism, the energy bill and other key issues.

Michigan Green Communities Challenge (handout)

Jeff Spencer, green communities coordinator (DLEG), gave an overview of the Michigan Green Communities Challenge. He explained why communities should be going “green;” why there is some resistance to the challenge; what to do to take part in the challenge; and how the green communities challenge works.

Michigan's Constitution (handout)

Robert LaBrant, senior vice president, political affairs and general counsel for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce was our luncheon speaker. Mr. LaBrant gave a detailed presentation on the 2010 Con-Con proposal (Proposal 1) that will be on the Nov. 2, 2010 statewide ballot. He also covered the history of past constitutional conventions and the affects that holding a constitutional convention could have on the state.

Recall & Ethics Panel (handout)

Robert LaBrant, senior vice president, political affairs and general counsel for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce also participated in our recall and ethics breakout session. His presentation included a history of recall; how other states hold recall elections; officials that have been recalled, problems with recall elections; and how the Wisconsin model is favorable over other state recall processes.

Wind Energy Panel – will be posted later.   

Special "THANK YOU" to the following companies for their sponsorship:

John Hancock

Burnham & Flower Group

ING

Nationwide

AUL/One America

UNUM

These companies were represented by:

Todd Carless, Burnham & Flower Group

Tom Schau, Burnham & Flower Group