Michigan motorists could legally drive faster on 1,500 miles of rural highway under bills that cleared a key hurdle Wednesday in the Legislature, where lawmakers also backed tougher voter ID requirements, finalized statewide regulations for ride-hailing companies and moved to join Michigan with 30 other states that compensate wrongfully convicted prisoners.
The speed limit would rise from 70 to 75 mph on 600 miles of interstate and from 55 to 65 mph on 900 miles of US- or M-numbered highways — if a safety study shows it is OK and the new limit is what no more than 15 percent of drivers surveyed already are exceeding. The main bill, which the Senate approved 28-8, was sent to the House, which previously approved an earlier version and was expected to send it to Gov. Rick Snyder before the two-year term ends next week.
Republican Sen. Tom Casperson of Escanaba, whose district includes much of the Upper Peninsula, said higher speed limits can be safer and the legislation would result in the issuance of fewer speeding tickets that increase auto insurance premiums. The higher limits would take effect no more than a year after the measure is signed.
In rural areas, "you're traveling forever and ever and ever — there's nothing there, just open wilderness and we're going 55," he said.
The Republican governor said he had not "spent a lot of time" on the issue and was waiting to see what lands on his desk.
Also Wednesday, a divided GOP-led House voted to change the procedure for voters who do not show photo identification at their polling place.
Those without an ID currently must sign a brief affidavit before voting, and their vote is counted. More than 18,000 people did that in the November election.
Under the legislation approved 57-50 and sent to the Republican-controlled Senate for possible consideration next week — the last of the two-year term — people could cast a provisional ballot but would have to visit the local clerk's office no later than 10 days after the election to ensure their ballot is counted.
They would have to present a photo ID or, as the alternative, a document establishing residency and an affidavit saying they cannot get a photo ID because they are poor or object to being photographed for religious reasons.
Democrats argued the proposal is unconstitutional and would disenfranchise minorities and low-income residents.
"This bill is designed to suppress the votes of those for whom voting is already a struggle," said Rep. Fred Durhal III of Detroit.
Republicans said the bill is based on an Indiana law that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and would provide free IDs and birth certificates so the poor would not be burdened.
"Every vote is diluted if fraudulent votes are cast, so the purpose of the legislation is to protect voting integrity," said Rep. Gary Glenn of Midland.
Earlier, the House gave final approval, 94-12, to a statewide regulatory framework for ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft and voted 104-2 to pay freed inmates $50,000, tax-free, for each year of their wrongful incarceration, along with attorney fees.
Some would not qualify for the money if they served simultaneous sentences for other crimes. Others would be ineligible because they successfully sued for civil rights damages, which can be a difficult effort since police and prosecutors often have immunity.
Michigan has released more innocent prisoners than all but four states.
The sponsor, Democratic Sen. Steve Bieda of Warren said the compensation is the least the state can do for people who were "just plucked out of their regular lives and lost their freedom, they lost their reputations, their opportunity to in some cases have a family but certainly a career ... It's a justice issue."
Snyder is expected to sign the measure into law once the Senate takes a final vote.
The House also voted to send the Senate legislation limiting the use of restraint and seclusion in schools, methods disproportionately used on students with disabilities. Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, whose daughter has autism, said the practices should only be used in emergencies.
"I heard from literally hundreds of parents that described situations where their child didn't really have access to a classroom, that they were put into a seclusion room for hours every day ... I believe this really is more of a civil rights issue — that kids with disabilities deserve the same access to community that everybody has," he said.
Separately, House Republicans announced they would not vote on bills — pushed by Detroit businessman Dan Gilbert and others — that would have let developers keep up to $50 million annually in taxes generated from pursuing "transformational" projects on contaminated brownfield sites.
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Follow David Eggert on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/author/david-eggert
