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
“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
The governor said some
people opposed
“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:
The state of
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:
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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