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Bridges4Kids LogoMESSA Expects Fair Report
MIRS, May 23, 2005
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The lead attorney for the Michigan Educational Special Services Association (MESSA) says he expects a fair report will be issued in July concerning cost competition in the education health care sector and the possible creation of state government operated system for Michigan schools.

Jeffrey Nyquist appearing at a meeting of the Michigan School Investment Association says he has met with the researchers who are compiling the July report at the request of the Senate Majority Leader and the chair of the Senate Appropriations committee.

According to Nyquist, during the meeting some of the initial negative perceptions the researchers had of MESSA were resolved to the point that one of them asked, "If they go to a state-run program, could MESSA administer it?"

Nyquist reports that under the company's current by-laws it can only provide the service for Michigan Education Association (MEA) members.

He says he had a favorable impression of the team's objectivity. He told the researchers a state run fund would not produce any health care cost savings even if it had more members in the pool. He argues the only way to squeeze out any money would be to lower benefits.

Nyquist also told them local control over those benefits would be lost as a politically appointed six person state board would set the benefits instead with two appointees coming from the governor and two each from the Majority Leader and House Speaker.

With regard to a House bill that would force MESSA to share more data with local school boards eager to reduce their health care budgets, the MESSA lawyer says, "we give out information based on our rating areas...so the bill is not necessary at all."

House Republican Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Midland) who appeared at the same conference disagreed. He called on the MESSA group to sit at the table with lawmakers to see if a cooperative agreement could be ironed out.

Switalski And MHSAA Don't See Eye To Eye On Steroid Testing
MIRS, May 23, 2005

Sen. Mickey Switalski (D-Roseville) says it's time for random steroid drug testing at high school tournaments, and has introduced legislation on the topic. But the Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) says thanks but no thanks.

The Senator quietly introduced his measure last week and in a surprise twist he reports he also has a way to fund the exams. He wants to impose a one-dollar surcharge on every tournament ticket now priced at six dollars.

"That is not too onerous," he explains.

His own teenage son in a way prompted the Senator to act. While writing an essay for his DARE class, Switalski says his son opined that "there was one drug he would be tempted to take and that's steroids."

The younger Switalski is an avid basketball player.

The lawmaker says young athletes see what the professional jocks are doing to enhance their performance on the field and they want to "emulate" that behavior he fears.

According to Switalski, the MHSAA opposes the measure on two fronts:

- It doesn't like the one-dollar surcharge, and;

- It wants to govern itself.

He also adds, "They are dead wrong."

If the association does not voluntarily impose the random testing, Switalski suggests the Legislature should.

    

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