State lawmakers ready to address abortion, strikes

House and Senate leaders resisted the urge to call the Legislature back earlier this month when Detroit Schools chief David Adamany refused to fine striking teachers. But House Speaker Chuck Perricone (R-Kalamazoo Township) said requiring the penalties will be one of the first priorities for majority House Republicans.

"Teachers should not be paid for days that they are on the picket line and there is broad support for that in the caucus," Perricone said.Under a state law passed in 1994, teachers can be fined one day's pay for each day they are on the picket line. But the school district must first officially notify the Michigan Employment Relations Commission of the strike, a requirement Perricone and Senate Majority Leader Dan DeGrow (R-Port Huron) want to end.

"It's self-evident have problems. We need to correct them," DeGrow said. "The trigger puts superintendents in an untenable position.''

Perricone would not say exactly how fines would be imposed under the legislation. But he said he hoped the plan would be introduced and debated in committee as early as this week.

House Democratic Leader Mike Hanley of Saginaw said he doubts the proposal will get much support from members of his party, since Democrats opposed the law outlawing teacher strikes when it was passed in 1994. "The Republican mentality on this is to punish teachers like they are little children," Hanley said. "It's important that teachers are motivated and want to be in the classroom. To force them in there just creates more fighting.''

Also expected to be debated in the House this week is a package of bills that would require abortion clinics performing 50 more abortions a year to be licensed and report any complications to the state.

Supporters say the proposal would improve healthcare standards for women who seek abortions, but opponents say it's just another tactic to limit women's access to abortions.

Planned Parenthood has promised to challenge the legislation in court if it passes.

Officials said there is little official scheduled in the Senate next week. Tomorrow, a Senate task force on agriculture plans to release a report detailing what needs to be done to shore up the farming industry and the family farmer in Michigan.

The report stems from 40 hours of testimony given during eight hearings held around the state, said Gary Henderson, an aide to panel chair Sen. George McManus (R-Traverse City).

"This aims to provide a benchmark where the agriculture industry is today," Henderson said. "Agriculture is in a state of crisis currently.

"There will be recommendations that impact all levels of government

The bills that would regulate abortion clinics are House Bills 4599-4601.

09-20-99