|
 MESSA
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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