Senate stops action on bills to fix Detroit lights
Republican leaders in the Michigan Senate have pulled the plug for now on bills to overhaul Detroit's street lighting system after some harsh words between lawmakers.
The House earlier passed legislation that would let Detroit create a lighting agency to take charge of tens of thousands of street lights. Utility taxes would pay for bonds that would be sold to raise money to repair lights.
The effort broke down in the Senate on Thursday when Democrats objected to the makeup of a board that would oversee the agency. Some appointees would be picked by GOP leaders in the Legislature.
Sen. Tupac Hunter of Detroit calls it "paternalistic," while Harrison Township Republican Sen. Jack Brandenburg says Detroit is a "financial mess."
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