Recent podcasts on the Michigan Senate Republicans website http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop News and information from the Michigan Senate Republicans en-us Copyright 2007 Michigan Senate Republican Caucus. All Rights Reserved. 7/5/2008 5:44:01 AM 20 Senator Cassis gives her no vote explanation on House Bills 5972, 5973 and 5976. The bills give large refundable Michigan Business Tax credits to Hemlock Semiconductor. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/15/20080626_Cassis_Hemlock.mp36/26/2008Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop addresses the full Senate as the Michigan contribution to the Great Lakes Water Compact is passed. Senator Bishop recognizes the leadership of Senate Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Patty Birkholz and applauds the bipartisan effort that went into crafting the legislation. The bills now move the Governor's desk to be signed into law. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/12/20080625_Bishop_Cmpct_Pass.mp36/25/2008Senator Patty Birkholz addresses the Senate as the Michigan contribution to the Great Lakes Water Compact is passed and sent to the Governor to be signed into law. Senator Birkholz worked on this Great Lakes protection legislation for over 7 years. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/24/20080625_Birkholz_Cmpct_Pass.mp36/25/2008Senator Patty Birkholz announces an agreement between the Senate and House on Michigan's Water Compact. Senator Birkholz has labored for many months to build a consensus with the other states and Canadian provinces within the Great Lakes Basin. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/24/20080623_Birkholz_Compact.mp36/23/2008Senator Pappageorge comments on Senate Bill 1320. The bill requires those bidding on highway repair contracts to be registered as qualified bidders before being allowed to submit bids. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/13/20080719_Pappageorge_SB1320.mp36/19/2008Senator Kahn comments on final passage of Senate Bill 1256; legislation he sponsored to prohibit the protests of military funeral in Michigan within less than 500 feet of the property on which the service is being held. The bill now goes to the Governor to be signed into law. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/32/20080616_Kahn_Military_Funeral.mp36/17/2008SENATOR JASON ALLEN'S WEEKLY INTERVIEW ON WTCM'S "NORTHERN MICHIGAN FOCUS" Senator Allen's interview with WTCM Radio - Northern Michigan Focus. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/37/20080612_Allen_WTCM.mp36/12/2008Senator Richardville comments on Senate Bill 370: A bill to streamline the weapons inspection process for citizens with concealed weapons permits in good standing. The legislation allows law abiding citizens to mail in inspection certificates rather than stand in long lines at inconvenient hours. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/17/20080612_Richardville_CCW_Inspection.mp36/12/2008Senator Gilbert comments on Senate Bill 886: A bill to ensure active duty military personnel keep their primary homestead exemption while serving overseas. Military men and women who rented their homes while serving on active duty were found that they had lost their primary homestead exemption upon returning home. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/25/20080611_Gilbert_Homestaed_Exemption.mp36/11/2008Senator Kuipers comments on Senate Bill 842: legislation that will help younger children continue to read at grade level as they progress through school. The bill will help more students graduate. This has a two-fold benefit as the majority of adults incarcerated in Michigan are high school drop outs. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/30/20080611_Kuipers_Literacy.mp36/11/2008Senator Nancy Cassis addresses the Senate on her amendment to eliminate refundability of the credit for conversion or installation of E-85 ethanol fuel pumps. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/15/20080610_Cassis_FilmCredits.mp36/10/2008SENATOR JASON ALLEN'S WEEKLY INTERVIEW ON WKNW, SAULT STE. MARIE Senator Jason Allen's Weekly Interview on WKNW, Talk Radio 1400 in Sault Ste. Marie Morning Show with Paul "Junior" VanWagoner http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/37/20080610_Allen_WKNW.mp36/10/2008Senator Pappageorge comments on Senate passage of bills to aid in downtown development. These bills provide tools to help revitalize downtown urban areas and give incentives that will help businesses and people to return to our Michigan's city centers and make them an attraction to tourism and commerce. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/13/20080605_Pappageorge_DDA.mp36/5/2008SENATOR JASON ALLEN'S WEEKLY INTERVIEW ON WTCM'S "NORTHERN MICHIGAN FOCUS" Senator Allen's interview with WTCM Radio - Northern Michigan Focus. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/37/20080605_Allen_WTCM.mp36/5/2008Senator Richardville comments on Senate passage of bills to aid in downtown development. These bills provide tools to help revitalize downtown urban areas and give incentives that will help businesses and people to return to our Michigan's city centers and make them an attraction to tourism and commerce. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/17/20080605_Richardville_DDA.mp36/5/2008Lansing Connection with Senator Nancy Cassis: June 2008 Edition. Senator Cassis discusses the state's financial situation with economists Howard Ryan and David Zin. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/15/20080601_Cassis_Cable.mp36/1/2008Senator Bill Hardiman's "From the Capitol to the Community" - June 2008 Senator Hardiman speaks about adoption with Brian DeVos, Director of Bethany Christian Services, and Kimberly Offutt, Michigan co-ordinator of Project Open Arms. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/29/20080601_Hardiman_Cable_128.mp36/1/2008Northern Michigan Update with Senator Jason Allen, June 2008 Edition. Senator Allen interviews Dr. William Anderson, Director of the Michigan Department of History Arts and Libraries. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/37/20080601_Allen_Cable.mp36/1/2008Current Events with Senator Tom George M.D.: June Edition. Senator George interviews Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice, the Honorable Clifford W. Taylor. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/20/20080601_George_Cable.mp36/1/2008Senator Michelle McManus - In Touch With Northern Michigan - June 2008 Edition Senator McManus interviews David Bertram of the Michigan Townships Association. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/35/20080601_McManus_Cable.mp36/1/2008From Lansing To The Lakeshore with Senator Patty Birkholz: June 2008 Edition. Senator Birkholz interviews Wayne State University Law Professor Noah Hall on invasive species to the Great Lakes. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/24/20080601_Birkholz_Cable.mp36/1/2008SENATOR JASON ALLEN'S WEEKLY INTERVIEW ON WTCM'S "NORTHERN MICHIGAN FOCUS" Senator Allen's interview with WTCM Radio - Northern Michigan Focus. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/37/20080529_Allen_WTCM.mp35/29/2008Senator Garcia hosts the 2008 annual Senate Memorial Day Service. The service, held on May 22nd, honors all men and women, past and present, serving in our armed forces. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/22/20080522_MemDay_Service.mp35/29/2008Senator Cassis comments on legislation she introduced to help move the Cobo Hall Expansion. The legislation would make available $50 million in seed money for the proposed expansion of Cobo Hall if the players in the project sign a consensus agreement in conjunction with a financial commitment of public and private funds. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/15/20080527_Cassis_Cobo.mp35/27/2008SENATOR JASON ALLEN'S WEEKLY INTERVIEW ON WKNW, SAULT STE. MARIE Senator Jason Allen's Weekly Interview on WKNW, Talk Radio 1400 in Sault Ste. Marie Morning Show with Paul "Junior" VanWagoner http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/37/20080524_Allen_WKNW.mp35/24/2008Senator Kahn comments on Senate Bill 975. Senator Kahn's bill rewrites the Neighborhood Enterprise Zone Act to give cities more tools to aid in the ongoing revitalization process. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/32/20080523_Kahn_SB975NEZ.mp35/23/2008SENATOR JASON ALLEN'S WEEKLY INTERVIEW ON WTCM'S "NORTHERN MICHIGAN FOCUS" Senator Allen's interview with WTCM Radio - Northern Michigan Focus. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/37/20080522_Allen_WTCM.mp35/22/2008SENATOR JASON ALLEN'S WEEKLY INTERVIEW ON WKNW, SAULT STE. MARIE Senator Jason Allen's Weekly Interview on WKNW, Talk Radio 1400 in Sault Ste. Marie Morning Show with Paul "Junior" VanWagoner http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/37/20080520_Allen_WKNW.mp35/20/2008SENATOR JASON ALLEN'S WEEKLY INTERVIEW ON WTCM'S "NORTHERN MICHIGAN FOCUS" Senator Allen's interview with WTCM Radio - Northern Michigan Focus. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/37/20080515_Allen_WTCM.mp35/15/2008SENATOR KAHN COMMENTS ON SENATE PASSAGE OF THE GREAT LAKES WATER COMPACT. The compact is an agreement between the 6 states bordering the lakes and two Canadian provinces that will help protect the Great Lakes Basin from diversion of water by other parties not located in the basin. http://www.senate.michigan.gov/gop/audio/32/20080515_Kahn_Compact.mp35/15/2008