Legislative Issues

August 9, 2010

Primary Elections Are Over… What’s Next?

Historic General Election This November 2 – Stay Involved in the Political Process!

In early August, Michigan voters went to the polls to vote in Primary Elections across the state. These elections winnowed the candidates down to one Republican and one Democrat in each race (with some Independents, Libertarians, Greens, and other “third-party” candidates sprinkled throughout select races across the state).

The race for governor will pit Republican Rick Snyder against Democrat Virg Bernero. In a poll taken immediately after the Primaries by Rasmussen Reports, Snyder had a 12-point lead over Bernero outpolling him by a 49-37 percent margin.

At the end of August (after the deadline for this article), the Democratic and Republican Parties held their conventions, where they chose their nominees for Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Supreme Court, and various educational boards.

Michigan Legislature

All 38 seats in the Michigan Senate and all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives are up for election this year. Most of the next House and Senate will be made up of members who won their primaries, due to the makeup of most districts.

Michigan Senate

The Michigan Senate is currently controlled by Republicans, with a 22-16 majority. The GOP has controlled the Senate for nearly 30 years. Due to term limits, only nine sitting senators – five Republicans and four Democrats – are up for reelection in November:

• Glenn Anderson (D-6^th District – Livonia, Westland, Garden City)

• John Gleason (D-27^th District – Flint, southwest Genesee County)

• Tupac Hunter (D-5^th District – west Detroit, Dearborn Heights, Inkster)

•  Mark Jansen (R-28^th District – Kent County, suburban Grand Rapids)

• Roger Kahn (R-32^nd District – Saginaw and Gratiot Counties)

• Mike Nofs (R-19^th District – Calhoun County and most of Jackson County)

• John Pappageorge (R-13^th District – Royal Oak, Madison Heights, Berkley, Troy, Bloomfield, Birmingham)

•  Randy Richardville (R-17^th District - Monroe County, south Washtenaw County, east Jackson County)

• Gretchen Whitmer (D-23^rd District – Ingham County)

Of these nine senators, only Senator Roger Kahn is expected to have a tough re-election fight; the eight others are a relatively sure bet to be re-elected. The other 29 seats are running without an incumbent.

Michigan House of Representatives

The Michigan House is controlled by the Democrats, with a huge 65-42 majority, the third-largest in the history of Michigan (three seats currently sit open, due to the death of state Representative Mike Simpson of Jackson and the resignations of two other representatives). Thirty four current House members are term limited, and many others are running for other offices, such as state Senate, so there will be dozens of newly elected House members when the new Legislature convenes in January 2011.

Term limited are such notable figures as Speaker Andy Dillon, Majority Floor Leader Kathy Angerer (sponsor of our scope bill in the House, HB 5091), and Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer.

Again, it should be noted that all House and Senate districts will be re-drawn due to the 2010 Census.

Michigan Supreme Court

The recent ruling in the McCormick vs. Carrier auto no-fault case (see article September MAC Journal) underscores the importance of the make-up of the Supreme Court. Two sitting Justices – Republicans Elizabeth Weaver and Robert P. Young, Jr. – are up for reelection in 2010.

In 2008, the Michigan Democratic Party targeted Clifford Taylor, and the sitting Chief Justice was ousted by current Justice Diane Hathaway. This year, the Dems are going after Young, who once served as general counsel for AAA Michigan and is generally seen as a friend of the insurance industry. For example, Young signed the notorious decision in the Kreiner case, which severely restricts the ability of innocent auto accident victims to sue for noneconomic damages (this was overturned by McCormick). The case threw Michigan’s no-fault system substantially out of balance, according to George T. Sinas, Legal Counsel for the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault (CPAN). He recently told Michigan Lawyers Weekly, “That balance was almost perfectly achieved in the no-fault original legislation,” he said. “Kreiner thwarted its purpose and intent.” 

Justice Weaver will not be re-nominated by the GOP, but she has re-nominated herself, as is allowed by the Michigan Constitution. She is expected to be reelected.

NOW is the Time to Get Involved!

Now that the primaries are over, campaigns across the state are gearing up for the General Election in November. Now is the time to establish strong relationships with these candidates, who will be making decisions in Lansing that affect you and your practice every day. These relationships are critical to the success of the MAC’s legislative agenda. We could not have changed the chiropractic scope of practice without the relationships MAC members cultivated with legislators and candidates across the state.

There are a number of ways you can get involved, including volunteering your time going door-to-door passing out literature, making a financial contribution to the campaign, making phone calls supporting your candidate, etc.

The point is to get involved! Today!

May 21, 2010

BOC Approves New Instruments, Procedures Allowed Under Scope!

 At the May Board of Chiropractic meeting, the Board voted on and approved a list of analytical instruments, adjustment apparatus, physical measures, and tests allowed under Michigan’s new chiropractic scope of practice. After an analysis from the Michigan Department of Community Health, in consultation with the Board of Chiropractic, the list has been approved by the State and doctors of chiropractic in Michigan may immediately begin using the instruments and apparati, as well as performing all physical measures and tests, contained in the list.

The list includes:

• Physical measures used for correcting or reducing subluxations, misalignments and joint dysfunctions, including massage, mobilization, heat, cold, light, water, electricity, sound, traction, decompression, taping, and rehabilitative exercises

• Tests for the diagnosis of human conditions and disorders of the human musculoskeletal and nervous systems as they relate to subluxations, misalignments, and joint dysfunctions, including neurologic, orthopedic, muscle testing, gait, blood, urine, hair, and saliva (Review full list for prohibitions on some tests)

• Non-invasive imaging tests, consistent with modern technology and related to spinal subluxations

• Analytical instruments used in the diagnosis of human conditions and disorders of the human musculoskeletal and nervous systems as they relate to subluxations, misalignments, and joint dysfunctions

• Adjustment apparatus for correcting or reducing subluxations, misalignments and joint dysfunctions, including, but not limited to, traction devices, adjustment instruments, adjustment tables, and musculoskeletal stabilizers

Click here for the full list (and explanations for the instruments, apparatus, physical measures, and tests on it)