The Michigan Daily-Friday, July 13, 1979-Page 7
State Senate bill would overhaul PSC
LANSING (UPI) - Senate Majority
Leader William Faust (D-Westland),
yesterday introduced legislation, draf-
ted by Attorney General Frank Kelley,
THE SENATE normally holds con-
firmation hearings on top ad-
ministration appointments, but was
unable to do so this week because of the
budget crunch. Lawmakers hope to
finish the budget and adjourn for the
summer this week.
Appointments not rejected by the
Senate automatically become effective
in 60 days - and that period would have
run out before the Senate returns Sept.
18.
Milliken agreed to withdraw last
week's appointment of Schneidewind
and resubmit it July 23. That will give
the Senate three days in September to
consider the nomination before the 60
days expires.
FAUST SAID the compromise was
acceptable.
"That's all the time we need," Faust
said.
"We'll hold the confirmation hearing
during the summer recess and take
Senate action, if that's the wish, in Sep-
tember."
In the meantime, Schneidewind will
be a participating member of the three-
member PSC, which sets utility rates.
REJECTION BY the Senate would
have made utility regulation difficult, if
not impossible, for the summer because
it would have resulted in one-to-one
Democrat-Republican tie votes. The
two Republican PSC members
generally vote in favor of rate hike
requests and the Democrat, Willa Mae
King, frequently votes against them.
A tie would have brought rate action
to a virtual halt.
The PSC is scheduled to consider a
Consumers Power Co. rate case this
summer.
Kelley said his legislation, calling for
the election of PSC members, would
make the utility panel more responsive
to ratepayers.
"One major reason that utility rates
have doubled in the last five years is the
Public Service Commission," he said.
"The commission simply isn't doing
the job for which it was created -
namely, to serve as an independent
agency representing the public in
regulating utilities.
Eighty-two per cent of all American
women do not get early, adequate
prenatal care, according to the
National Foundation-March of Dimes.
The sooner a woman sees a doctor, the
better protected she is for a healthy
outcome of pregnancy.
TEACHERS WANTED
All K-8 grades. Low income Catholic
schools in Texas. Small monthly stip
end, furnished housing and basic
needs provided. Begin Aug. 12. Write
Volunteers for Educational and Social
Services, Box N, 3001 South Congress,
Austin Texas 78704.
Kelley
to completely overhaul the Public Ser-
vice Commission (PSC).
The package of bills calls for the
direct election of PSC members and
would make stockholders, rather than
rate-payers, financially responsible for
new facilities that cost more or produce
less energy than anticipated.
IN A RELATED action, Gov. William
Milliken yesterday bowed to Senate
Democratic leaders and agreed to give
them additional time to scrutinize his
appointment of Eric Schneidewind to
the PSC.
Faust had threatened to torpedo the
appointment if Milliken did not delay it.
Milliken last week named
Schneidewind, 34, as a Republican
member of the PSC. He succeeds Len-
ton Sculthorp, who did not seek reap-
pointment.
769130
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