Michigan's Newest Lawmakers Get Crash Course on Statewide Issues
Freshmen spend three-days at Michigan State University
Media Contacts: AnnMarie Schneider and Elizabeth Moore
Release Date: December 7, 2006
EAST LANSING, Mich. – New State Representatives came to East Lansing for a crash course in Michigan policy issues this week. Twenty-two of the 32 freshmen legislators voluntarily participated in a three-day conference covering pressing state issues like the economy, healthcare, education and the businesses tax. They’ll report for their new jobs January 10, 2007.
The Legislative Leadership Program is sponsored by Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and MSU Extension. Since 1994 LLP has offered newly elected legislators this education forum to help meet the challenges of serving in a state with term limits. To help freshmen lawmakers meet these challenges, the LLP preps new lawmakers by introducing them to the most current research and evidence-based information on emerging issues affecting Michigan. The program links university resources with the legislative process through a series of presenters.
Several resource people from across the state participated along with Michigan State University professors including economist Charlie Ballard and education policy expert Shariff Shakrani . Ingham County Department of Community Health Medical Director, Dean Sienko, Ingham University of Michigan Economist Rebecca Blank, Citizens Research Council of Michigan Director of State Affairs, Tom Clay and W.E. Upjohn Institute’s Tim Bartik were among the presenters at the 2006 forum.
“Legislators who attend the policy orientation tell me that, from their participation, they get a better grasp of our statewide situation, an opportunity to talk about issues with their new colleagues, and some ideas on where to find information resources once they are in the Capitol.", said AnnMarie Schenider, program director.
Originally funded by the W.K.Kellogg Foundation, the program is now solely supported by Michigan State University.
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IPPSR is the nonpartisan public policy network at MSU. Housed within the College of Social Science, the institute is dedicated to connecting legislators, scholars and practitioners through survey, evaluation and applied research, policy forums and political leadership briefings. |
