From: Ogar, Jon (GOV)
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 4:29 PM
To: Boyd, Elizabeth (GOV); Huls, JoAnne (GOV)
Cc: Whipple, Deb (GOV)
Subject: TIME SENSITIVE FOR REVIEW What the Governor's Talking about Today

Importance: High

Attachments: TPs 4-30-10.doc

Liz and JoAnne:

 

I added an item about the census at the end.

 

What the Governor’s Talking about Today

Friday, April 30, 2010

 

Governor Signs Bills Banning Texting While Driving; Practice Becomes a Primary Offense July 1

The governor today signed a package of three bills that ban text messaging while driving.  The new laws take effect July 1, 2010.

 

House Bill 4394 amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to prohibit a person from reading, typing or sending text messages using a wireless two-way communication device, including a wireless phone located in a person’s hand or lap, while operating a moving motor vehicle on a street or highway in the state.  A violation is a civil infraction that results in a $100 fine for a first offense and a $200 fine for a subsequent offense.
 
House Bill 4370 prohibits points from being entered on a person’s driving record for texting while driving, and Senate Bill 468 specifies that a violation of this law will not be entered on a person’s master driving record.
  
House Bill 4394 was sponsored by State Representative Lee Gonzales (D-Flint), House Bill 4370 was sponsored by State Representative Gino Polidori (D-Dearborn) and Senate Bill 468 was sponsored by State Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw).

 

Key messages:

 

 

Governor Says Michigan’s Smoke-Free Law Like a Breath of Fresh Air

In her weekly radio address, the governor today said that when people look back at Michigan’s smoke-free law many years from now, they’ll wonder why it took so long.

 

“After all, tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 60 of which are known carcinogens,” the governor said.  “Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in Michigan, resulting in about 2,500 deaths in our state every year.”
 
The governor said some people opposed Michigan’s smoke-free law because they felt it would hurt business at bars and restaurants where smoking was permitted.
 
“But a 2008 analysis done by Public Sector Consultants concluded that smoke-free laws do not have a negative economic impact on bars and restaurants,” the governor said.  “In fact, studies done in California, Florida, New York and other states indicate that after smoke-free laws are enacted, revenues increase and jobs are created.  Many restaurants and bars find themselves welcoming new customers: non-smokers and families who otherwise would not have patronized a smoky bar or restaurant.”

 

To listen to the radio address, click on the following link: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov247Full_319554_7.mp3

 

Key messages:

 

 

Michigan Census Return Rate Hits 77 Percent

The state of Michigan finished as one of the top five states in mail-participation rate for the 2010 Census.  With a total of 77 percent of Michigan households returning the census form, Michigan is among the elite states, finishing with the fifth best mail-participation rate in the country.  The final tally for the nationwide rate was 72 percent.

 

The 2010 Census now enters the important phase of door-to-door enumeration, where census takers will begin the task of knocking on doors to obtain census responses in person from those households that failed to return a form.

 

Key messages:

 

 

# # #

 

Jon Ogar

Senior Writer/Editor

Communications Division

Office of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm

Office 517-335-6819

Cell 517-515-2743

Fax 517-335-6790