With the National Safety Council recommending that all states ban cell phone use while driving, many state legislatures may soon be considering the idea.

So far six states have such a law. And the idea has surfaced several times in Lansing as well, but has died on the side of the road.

There was (and will be again) the usual talk about “nanny government,” overregulation and so on.

But there’s another reason it will be tough to get the votes. Many lawmakers have become accustomed to conducting a lot of work on the road to and from the Capitol on the phone.

The state will soon start making the new enhanced driver’s license available to Michigan motorists.

The Enhances Driver License was proposed as a way to make it easier for travelers to speed their return from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean, because it can also serve in lieu of a passport.

Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all travelers, including those from the United States, must produce a passport or an approved document to enter the country by land or sea beginning in June.

So how does this new driver’s license work?

It has an imbedded long-range chip that can be read from up to 20 feet away.  In fact, you could put it on your dashboard as you approach a border and it could be read before you actually reach the crossing guard.

But the idea of a chip on your driver’s license is something that has caused some concern from those worried about privacy invasion. Officials are quick to note, however, that there is no personal information on the chip; it only provides a “pointer” to a database.

Still, it’s hard to forget about the idea of carrying something in your wallet that can be read by someone else, even if it’s “fully secure.”

The enhanced driver’s license will cost more than a standard Michigan state
driver’s license.  


A recent report says Michigan's food stamp needs are not rising nearly as high as many other states.

But some say that is misleading, and increases lie ahead. Ismael Ahmed, Michigan's director of the Department of Human Services, is predicting a big increase in food stamp needs over the next year or so. Currently the food stamp caseload is about $1.3 million, but he expects that to increase by nearly a third, to $1.7 million.

A recent survey by the Kaiser Foundation says Michigan's food stamp participation rose just 3.3 percent. Critics say that's misleading since the report puts an emphasis on change, and not need.  As a result, Michigan doesn't rank badly because so much bad news has already happened in the state.


While banks have been in the news regarding the poor economy and lending crisis, credit unions in Michigan are in a full court press to improve their position.

The head of the Credit Union League in Michigan says their growth rate nationally is at a whopping 40 percent, especially in lending.

Dave Adams says many of their members are saying loan growth is going up as high as 80 percent.  Many consumers who have kept their money in banks are switching to credit unions, which they say have largely escaped the lending-related problems experienced by other lenders.

Credit unions in Michigan are also participating in special loan programs called "Invest in America" designed to boost sales of American-made vehicles. The incentives began in four states for GM and 12 for Chrysler late last year as the finance arms of the automakers found it difficult to make car loans. The new expanded programs will let customers get lower interest rates or pare monthly payments.


Child poverty continues to worsen and fewer have health insurance coverage in Michigan.

That, according to a new "Kids Count" report from the Annie E-Casey Foundation.

Jane Zehnder-Merrell of the Michigan League for Human Services says in some categories things have improved for children, such as their health. But the report also says child poverty in Michigan increased by 40 percent from 2000 to 2007 and that fewer are covered by health insurance.  And what's worse, Zehnder-Merrell says it's especially bad for young children in child poverty, as 23 percent of young children now live in poverty. That translates to one out of four young children in Michigan.

The poverty level is $21,000 per year income for a family of four.  The reasons for the worsening numbers, she says, are the bad economy paired with poor public policy decisions.

She's hopeful that the federal stimulus package will help prevent any more cuts in human service programs, especially since the state's budget deficit continues to worsen.


Lansing just may be a very busy place this year, since it’s not an election year and there’s a growing number of people who are saying Michigan government needs some serious restructuring.

As of this writing (before the State of the State address), even the governor’s office is sending signals that some big ideas are being thrown around.

Some business groups admit that while they want changes to the new business tax, there will have to be some serious horsetrading to get there. Watch for some major tax reform being proposed.

Of course it will all be in the lap of one of the most inexperienced legislatures in memory.

Lawmakers will be tested for sure.

		Rob Baykian is director of news and operations at the 67-station Michigan Radio Network. He has been covering the Capitol since 1981.