11/4/2002
Welcome to "Michigan Votes: 2002," a weekly electronic newsletter and source guide distributed by the Division of University Relations at Michigan State University.
"Michigan Votes: 2002" connects reporters with MSU faculty experts and resources on a variety of election-related topics. It will be e-mailed to you every Monday afternoon through Nov. 11.
To request a faculty expert on an election topic not covered in the newsletter, call Kristan Tetens at (517) 432-0921.
Here are tips and story ideas for Monday, Nov. 4:
NEW LEGISLATORS FACE CHALLENGES DURING FIRST WEEKS IN OFFICE, SAYS MSU EXPERT
In combination with freshly laid district lines and term limits, the 2002 elections will redesign the political landscape in Michigan. The result will be a blitz of new legislators that must deal with tough policy decisions in a tight budget year.
"Many of the new faces in Lansing will be political novices who have never held any elected office," says Carol S. Weissert, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) at Michigan State University.
"They will soon be hit with the difficulty of meeting campaign promises and the demands of their constituencies at a time when the state coffers are low and falling. And there will be no legislative leaders who experienced similar rough times a decade ago to provide guidance and historical perspective."
One program that may help: IPPSR's Legislative Leadership Program for newly elected state legislators. The program provides a venue for discussing public policy issues in non-partisan sessions that can help prepare officials for later legislative situations when there is considerable pressure for action and minimal time for careful analysis.
Contact: Carol S. Weissert, (517) 355-6672, or weissert@msu.edu.
CITIZENS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TERM LIMITS, SEE LITTLE IMPACT
When the dust settles on the 2002 Michigan state legislative election, it is likely that around half of the 148 members will be new, with the Michigan Senate seeing the biggest change. The unprecedented turnover is the result of newly drawn district lines and term limits, which forced more than 70 percent of Senate members to step down.
This prompts the question: Are voters pleased with this scenario? According to new survey results from the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) at Michigan State University, they are.
"The results from this latest survey are clear: Michigan residents are happy with term limits," says Carol S. Weissert, professor of political science and director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. "Those who wish to modify or eliminate term limits have to provide evidence that they have caused harm. And they simply haven't done so."
Almost two-thirds of respondents (64.7 percent) in the State of the State Survey conducted by IPPSR this summer and fall reported that the performance of their representatives and senators was "about the same" as before term limits. Some 25.7 percent felt that the legislators were "better than before." Only 9.7 percent felt that they were "worse than before."
Republicans were more likely to feel that performance improved under term limits (36 percent compared to 21 percent of Democrats). Whites were much more likely than blacks to feel legislative performance improved under term limits (26 percent compared to 18 percent).
When asked whether they wanted to continue term limits, some 62 percent of Michigan respondents said yes, with no change to the current system; 14 percent wanted to continue term limits but allow additional terms of office; and 24 percent wanted to eliminate term limits. Black voters were more likely to support elimination of term limits than whites (30 percent to 23 percent).
The 2002 results are almost identical to those expressed by citizens in last year's survey.
The Fall 2002 State of the State Survey questioned 950 residents between Aug. 15 and Oct. 27. The sampling error is plus or minus 3.2 percent. More information on the quarterly State of the State Survey is available online at http://www.ippsr.msu.edu/SOSS
Contact: Carol S. Weissert, (517) 355-6672, or weissert@msu.edu.
FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION CHAIR TO VISIT MSU
David M. Mason, chairman of the Federal Election Commission, will speak at Michigan State University on Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Engineering Building, Room 1220.
The discussion will focus on institutional and constitutional issues involved in enforcing the McCain-Feingold campaign finance legislation.
This event is free and open to the public.
Contact: Jane Miller, MSU Department of Political Science, (517) 432-1125, or miller67@msu.edu.
MSU TO HOST POST-ELECTION WRAP-UP DISCUSSION
The Michigan Political History Society and the Michigan Political Leadership Program will host a post-election wrap-up event on Friday, Nov. 15, at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, S. Harrison Road, East Lansing.
Registration begins at 2:30 p.m. The program will start at 3 p.m. and concludes with a networking reception from 5 to 6 p.m.
"Off the Record-Live!" will feature Tim Skubick as moderator.
The program includes:
- A highlight of the gubernatorial race with Chris DeWitt, communications director for the Granholm for Governor campaign, and Dan Pero, campaign manager of the Dick Posthumus for Governor campaign.
- A review of the election results with top pollsters Steve Mitchell, Mitchell Research & Communications, and Ed Sarpolus, EPIC/MRA.
- A Michigan political history lesson with Bill Ballenger, host of "Inside Michigan Politics."
- A panel discussion of Michigan's transition into the future.
There is no cost associated with attendance, but pre-registration is required. During the reception, hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Please R.S.V.P. before Nov. 12 to Shannon Horvath at (517) 355-6672, Ext. 116, or shannon.horvath@ssc.msu.edu.
This event is sponsored by the Michigan Political History Society, the Michigan Political Leadership Program through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan, and the MSU Office of Governmental Affairs.