B ronco Legislative Network | August 2 016 


IN  THIS  ISSUE
The Office of Government Affairs works on behalf of WMU to
strengthen relationships with state, federal, and local policy makers.

WEEKLY UPDATES:  Interested in weekly updates on what's  happening around the State Capitol?  The Bronco Legislative Network  has a  weekly legislative update with detailed  articles of the top stories in the  legislature.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
  • September 6--Fall semester begins 
     
  • September 7--WMU Board of Trustees meeting, at the Bernhard Center. Visit the Board of Trustees website for more information.
     
  • WMU candidate forum--Michigan House Districts 60, 61, 62, 63, 7:30 p.m., October 5, Fetzer Center.
Advocate for your favorite university 

The Friends of WMU is a grassroots bipartisan state political action committee of Broncos helping Broncos, which was established to promote the interests of Western Michigan University. Learn how you can be more engaged as a WMU supporter on the  Friends of WMU website.
Points of Pride 

WMU's Heritage Hall renovation has won a 2016 Governor's Energy Excellence Award for the success it triggered in reducing energy waste, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced August 11 in East Lansing.  Read more at WMU News.
The Western Student Association will host a full slate of campus voter registration opportunities this fall.
forumVoters, mark your calendars
  • The WMU Community will hold a candidate forum at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 in the Fetzer Center main auditorium to provide voters the opportunity to learn more about candidates participating in local State House of Representative seats in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties. The forum is open to campus and the public free of charge.
  • October 11 is the last day Michigan citizens can register to vote through the Michigan Secretary of State to participate in the November 8 general election.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 8--general election
WMU webpage offers voter information

Would you like to learn more about the fall elections and how to more fully participate? Visit WMU's  voter information webpage for voter registration and candidate information, which will be updated with additional information throughout the election cycle. Bookmark wmich.edu/vote .

Primary results

August 2, 2016 was primary election day in Michigan--providing voters an opportunity to participate in local millage and public office holder choices. The Michigan Secretary of State has official results for all local primary races statewide.
 MIprimaryStraight-ticket voting option 
Vote election campaign glossy badge isolated on white

Straight-ticket voting--the ability to choose a party's list of candidates with a single mark--will likely remain an option for Michigan voters in the November elections.

A 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a recent ruling denying Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson's request for an emergency stay of the U.S. District Court's decision to block the state's 2015 law eliminating the ability of straight-ticket voting. The three-judge panel announced its decision with a unanimous opinion.
 
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced he would file an immediate appeal and request the entire 6th Circuit to hear the case, saying he will continue to defend the laws of Michigan and that "Michigan is no different than the 40 other states that have eliminated straight-ticket voting."
 
The Michigan Legislature eliminated the option of straight-ticket voting in December, 2015. In 2002, Michigan voters turned down a proposal that would have, among other things, eliminated straight-ticket voting.
summit WMU co-sponsor of statewide campus sexual assault summit
 
Michigan First Lady, Sue Snyder, has announced the 2nd Annual "Inform. Empower. Prevent. Let's End Campus Sexual Assault" Summit to be held on Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. WMU is one of several sponsors

The "Let's End Campus Sexual Assault" initiative brings together university officials, students, law enforcement, stakeholders and legislators for a discussion on how students can be best informed, survivors can be empowered, and sexual assault on campuses can be prevented. Information.

Gubernatorial appointments

Congratulations to these Broncos, who recently received gubernatorial appointments:
  • Mr. Alan Kuipers, of South Haven, Mich., a senior engineer lead for Consumers Energy, was reappointed on August 10 for a four-year term on the Electrical Administrative Board.
The Bronco Legislative Network is an advocacy network managed
by WMU's  Office of Government Affairs and University Relations.
Contact us at (269) 387-2072 or write:
bln-contact@wmich.edu 

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