Teacher pension changes a top priority for Michigan GOP

The Detroit News reports:

Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature could be on a crash course with GOP Gov. Rick Snyder over plans to eliminate teacher pensions for new hires, end the state’s “prevailing wage” law and slash personal income taxes.

Snyder and legislative leaders are likely to find common ground more often than not in the new two-year session that begins Wednesday, but an increasingly conservative state House will not find a rubber stamp on the budget-focused governor’s desk.

“You’ve got to have three legs of the stool. You’ve got to have the governor there, too,” said Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, noting Snyder is “not always on the same page” as Republican legislators, especially on social policy. “There may be a rub on some of the conservative issues.”

Republicans maintain a 27-11 majority in the Michigan Senate and will return a 63-47 majority to the House after exceeding expectations in the Nov. 8 election. Although the GOP enjoyed the same numerical edge last session, more than 40 freshman representatives will provide a new perspective.

It's not the Michigan of 10 years ago.