STATE RELATIONS State Budget Update On Wednesday, September 16, the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader announced that they had agreed to budget targets that would entail approximately $1.3 billion in cuts. This amount matches the amount of budget cuts found in the Senate passed budgets. The target for the higher education budget is, again, the same as the budget passed by the Senate $1.508 billion. If the budget is passed as the Speaker and Majority Leader have agreed, that would probably mean the elimination of the Promise Grants and a reduction in other scholarships programs. It is assumed that the Speaker s strategy is to make the cuts and then, after the budgets are signed into law, enact revenue that would restore part or all of the cuts. He has said publically that he would like to preserve initiatives such as the Promise Grant. The Governor and Senate Democrats oppose this strategy. It is also questionable whether or not the Speaker s own Caucus would go along with this approach. If the Governor and Senate Democrats hold firm on their stance, a continuation budget could be enacted until an overall agreement can be reached. Workgroup on Stem Cell Research Legislation Senator Tom George has convened a workgroup on legislation that he has introduced that imposes certain regulations on stem cell research in the state. The workgroup consists of the three research universities; doctors and physicians organizations; Michigan State Medical Society; Right to Life; and former Speaker Rick Johnson on behalf of Cure Michigan. Sen. George is the lead sponsor on the bills (Senate Bills 647 652) and is the only lawmaker who has been involved in the two workgroup meetings thus far. He has said in the meetings that he intends to move on the bills and wants to do so with the input of the members of the workgroup. At this point, the URC universities have some concerns with the bills, as written, and are working together to provide input and/or alternative language to Senator George. Community College Baccalaureate Legislation The Office of Government & Community Affairs, along with the College of Nursing, continues to meet with lawmakers on the House Education Committee regarding House Bill 4837. This is Rep. John Walsh s legislation that would allow community colleges to offer four year baccalaureate degrees in three areas: nursing, cement technology and culinary arts. The Presidents Council has also been very active in their efforts to oppose this legislation. At this point, the chair of the House Education Committee, Rep. Tim Melton, has said that he would hold a hearing on this legislation but has not said whether or not there would be a vote in committee. While this legislation is not high on the Chairman s priority list, we can assume that there could be a hearing on the matter this fall. Speaker Dillon s Health Care Proposal At the time of this writing, hearings continue in the House on Speaker Dillon s proposal to consolidate health benefits for all public employees in Michigan. The Presidents Council is working with all universities to obtain information on their respective health care benefit plans and to craft a position on the issue. Warrior Caucus Luncheon A Warrior Caucus Luncheon took place on September 23 and featured a presentation from Robert C. Bobb, Emergency Financial Manager for the Detroit Public Schools. Mr. Bobb was invited at the
request of our Caucus chair, Rep. Kim Meltzer. Dr. Steve Kahn made a presentation on the success of WSU s Math Corp initiative. FEDERAL RELATIONS Congressional Staff Research Tour Congressional staff from 11 of Michigan s Congressional offices, including staff from both Senator Levin s and Senator Stabenow s offices, were on campus August 17th and 18th for the first leg of a joint WSU MSU UM tour. Staff arrived in Detroit Monday evening and attended a dinner with the President at the apartment. On Tuesday, the official tour kicked off with breakfast in the apartment, which included brief presentations by students from the E2 Challenge program and remarks from Randal Charlton and Judy Johncox. Chris Gardner, on campus for the FastTrac event, made a special appearance at the breakfast and spoke briefly to attendees. Following the breakfast meeting, participants visited and heard presentations from deans and faculty at the College of Engineering, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the School of Medicine (the College of Nursing was represented at the SoM). While at the College of Pharmacy, congressional staff had the opportunity to try out the Driving Simulator, a full size Chevy Impala equipped with a state of the art data collection system that is among the University s latest research tools. It enables researchers to study driver performance under hazardous conditions while in a safe environment. The Wayne State portion of the research tour ended at Next Energy, with remarks from Keith Cooley and a presentation by Simon Ng and Steve Salley at the National Biofuels Energy lab. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Campus Visit On Tuesday, September 15th, as part of a larger trip, several staff members from the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) came to Wayne State for a site visit (other sites visited included TARDEC, UM Dearborn, Next Energy, W Industries and Ricardo Industries). Senator Carl Levin, the Committee Chairman, requested that this group participate in this educational tour to receive briefings focused on energy research. Attending the presentations and tour were: Mr. Antonio Baines (Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison Programs Division Hardware Branch Chief) Dr. Arun Seraphin, Professional Staffer Member, SASC Mr. Michael Noblet Professional Staffer Member, SASC The group met with WSU principal investigators to discuss Department of Defense (DoD) funded research. They received presentations on four WSU projects (see below). After the presentations, the staff toured the Low Temperature lab. A luncheon was held following the tour of the lab. The four projects discussed were from the College of Engineering: Warfighter Focused UGV System Design: Human Factors Engineering for ATO Experimentation Combustion Optimization of Engine Driven Robots Low Temperature Navy Research Center (LTNRC) Electric Vehicle Engineering Education and Workforce Training Program
Washington, DC, Alumni Reception Government Affairs is working with Development and Alumni Affairs is hosting a reception at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on October 21, 2009, from 6:00 9:00 p.m. Members of Michigan s Congressional Delegation and other key Washington leaders and personnel will be invited to attend. Helen Thomas, often referred to as "The First Lady of the Press," will be a special guest at the event. She is a Wayne State alumnus and is the former White House Bureau Chief. Thomas also served for 57 years as White House correspondent for United Press International. She is now with Hearst Newspapers as a syndicated columnist. Alumni Relations plans to send email invites to more than 700 Wayne State Alumni. Health Care Reform Max Baucus, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, revealed sweeping legislation Wednesday, September 16, 2009, to remake the nation's costly health care system largely along the lines outlined by President Barack Obama. The bill would make major changes to the $2.5 trillion U.S. health care system, including a requirement that all individuals buy health insurance or pay a fine. Language in the bill also prohibits insurance company practices such as charging more to people with more serious health problems. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Baucus' plan would cost about $774 billion over 10 years, the lowest price tag among the health care reform packages currently under debate in Congress. The bill would extend insurance to about 29 million Americans who now lack it. Most of the features in the measure would not take effect until 2013, after the next presidential election. The measure does not include a public insurance option to compete with private insurers, but instead would create a network of not for profit health insurance cooperatives and state based insurance exchanges. Baucus' proposal has been anticipated eagerly because, of the several bills being considered in Congress, it is seen as the only one that could get support from Republicans as well as Democrats. President Obama had campaigned on a pledge of bipartisanship and has said he wants to reach a compromise with Republicans on a health care package. Liberal Democrats, however, doubt that Republicans can be persuaded to support any agreement and want President Obama to use his party's strong majorities in both chambers to push through legislation. It remains unclear whether he has the votes to do that. Democrats are now one vote shy of the 60 votes they need to block Republican efforts to derail the bill in the Senate. Also, with congressional elections approaching next year, some Democrats from conservative states are wary about supporting an overhaul that voters might see as too liberal. That means Baucus' plan may offer President Obama his best hope for getting health care legislation passed. When the Finance Committee meets next week to vote on the plan, Majority Leader Harry Reid intends to begin debate on the Senate floor as early as late this month or early October.
Student Aid Legislation The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, HR 3221, is being touted as the single largest government investment in helping make higher education affordable, although the bill does nothing to slow rising tuition and other college costs. The bill covers more ground than its title suggests. For instance, the bill would set aside billions so community colleges could expand their offerings and modernize their aging buildings. A separate pot of money would be set aside for early education programs to do the same. The bill also sets aside money to benefit veterans and colleges and universities that focus on serving minorities. There's also a provision for simplification of the daunting federal financial aid application form that some say discourages families from applying for federal student aid. The legislation would pump billions more into the popular Pell Grant program. If the bill becomes law, which is expected, the maximum Pell Grant in 2010 2011 would be $5,550, up from $5,350 this year. The bill also links a portion of the Pell Grant to the Consumer Price Index plus 1 percent starting in 2011 2012, which bill supporters say would help students keep up with increasing costs. This bill eliminates the Federal Family Education loan program and shifts all student loans to a government run and taxpayer financed system under Direct Loan program, as well as creates nine new programs and increases the federal government takeover early education, higher education, and school construction. COMMUNITY RELATIONS istart Warrior Service Day istart Warrior Service Day took place on Wednesday, September 2, from 9 a.m. to noon. Warrior Service Day is a city wide community service project for new incoming WSU students and is organized through a collaborative effort between Community Affairs, Community Engagement, and the Academic Success Center. More than 450 WSU students participated in volunteer activities. community projects throughout Detroit that included: Students were assigned to Harvesting vegetables at The D Garden Community revitalization and clean up in midtown and Corktown Assembling microscopes and other supplies at the Detroit Science Center Peer mentoring with at risk students at a community center Gardening and planting in Corktown Domestic violence shelter beautification Warehouse assistance and organizing at Gleaner s Food Bank Shelter organizing and assistance at COTS (Coalition on Temporary Shelter) CarFit CarFit is a program designed by AARP, AAA, AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) and the American Society on Aging. The goal of the program is to help individuals be as safe as possible when driving, allowing them remain independent as long as possible. CarFit is an educational
program that offers older adults an opportunity to find out how well their personal vehicles "fit" them. The CarFit program also provides information and materials on community specific resources that could enhance their safety as drivers, and/or increase their mobility in the community. On Friday, September 25, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., WSU hosted a CarFit event at the Wayne State University s Oakland campus in Farmington Hills. Student volunteers will receive training the morning of the event and will perform a 12 point inspection on the vehicles to ensure proper safety and comfort. Combined Charitable Contributions Campaign The University s 2010 Combined Charitable Contributions Campaign begins October 14, 2009, and will run through November 20, 2009. Robert R. Frank, M.D., Executive Vice Dean, School of Medicine, will chair the 2010 campaign. Donors will once again have the ability to give their contributions online through Pipeline. The charitable organizations participating in the combined campaign are the Black United Fund and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. The Black United Fund is a community based resource center that assists community efforts through referrals, funding, consultation and/or technical assistance. United Way provides our community with an independent safety net of health and human services by supporting a number of community service agencies. We will host two agency fair events, one on main campus and one at the medical school, showcasing organizations who receive funding from United Way for Southeastern Michigan and Black United Fund. The Campaign goal for this year is $125,000. Jackets for Jobs You Too Can Make It Jackets for Jobs, Inc., in partnership with TJ Maxx and Wayne State University, will host an event on Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 11am 1pm, titled You Too Can Make It, in the Wayne State University Law School Auditorium. Panelists will discuss how they overcame obstacles and are now succeeding. The event will be followed by a mini fashion show previewing the TJ Maxx fall line up, Succeeding with Style. Community organizations and WSU students will be invited to attend.