Marietta Robinson, an attorney from Detroit, announced her campaign for State Supreme Court earlier this week. Robinson joins Macomb County prosecutor Carl Marlinga as the second Democrat to announce a campaign for the court.
Three seats are up for grabs on the stateÕs highest court this year. Republican Justices Robert Young, Stephan Markman and Clifford Taylor all will face re-election opponents in November.
Justice Taylor is scheduled to speak before the MRA Board of Directors in the near future. MRA will continue to update our membership as the primary and general elections approach.
MRA-supported amendments were approved when the Medicaid reimbursement dispensing fee was reinstated into budget language reported out of the Senate Appropriations Community Health Subcommittee earlier this week. After MRAÕs spirited legislative effort last year to reinstate the fee, legislators were more willing to accept the industryÕs arguments in support of the $3.72 fee.
As this legislation moves through both the Senate and the House, we will keep our membership updated. MRA will continue to fight vigorously to ensure that retail pharmacies are fairly compensated for filling Medicaid prescriptions.
Macomb County business executive Brian Palmer announced he would not run against U.S. Rep. David Bonior for his congressional seat this year, stating that he cannot now devote the time needed to effectively campaign for the seat. Palmer, who ran in 1998, had the best showing of any candidate in recent years against Bonior. Palmer did not rule out running for the seat in the future.
Just a year ago, Secretary of State Candice Miller was thought to be the Republican who would beat Bonior this time around. However, she stunned the party when she announced she would not seek the post. Republicans are now left scrambling to find a candidate.
Two bills providing tax relief to Michigan residents and businesses now move to Governor John Engler for his signature. The Senate passed House Bill 5389 sponsored by Rep. Jim Howell (R-St. Charles) accelerating the income tax cut by dropping the rate to 4.2 percent this year. Under legislation passed last year, the income tax rate was scheduled to be reduced to 4.3 percent.
The House passed Senate Bill 1040 sponsored by Sen. Phil Hoffman (R-Horton). The legislation will increase the investment tax credit rate under the stateÕs Single Business Tax (SBT) for businesses with less than $5 million in gross receipts during the planned phase-out of the tax. Certain business taxpayers would otherwise see an increased SBT liability during the early years of the phase-out because of a change to the investment tax credit from the existing capital acquisition deduction credit.
HB 5475, sponsored by Rep. Robert Gosselin (R-Troy), to deduct federal excise tax on fuel oil for home heating from gross proceeds for determination of sales tax liability.
HB 5476, sponsored by Rep. Lynne Martinez (D-Lansing), to establish commission on state land use policy; to provide powers and duties; to provide October 1, 2002 sunset.
HB 5478, sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Brater (D-Ann Arbor), to clarify disclosure of individuals with access to medical records and provide penalties.
HB 5479-5480, sponsored by Reps. Nancy Quarles (D-Southfield) and Andrew Richner (R-Grosse Pte. Park), to prohibit reporting credit information for individuals not signed in credit card agreement and provide penalties.
HB 5501, sponsored by Rep. Charles LaSata (R-St. Joseph), to regulate unsolicited consumer telephone calls. HB 5502, sponsored by Rep. Wayne Kuipers (R-Holland), to allow term of imprisonment of minor possessing alcohol.
SB 1061, sponsored by Sen. Joanne Emmons (R-Big Rapids), to assess property tax on vending machines to the owner at the ownerÕs location.
SB 1062, sponsored by Sen. Bill Schuette (R-Midland), to allow conscientious objection by health care providers and health facilities to participate in certain health care services.
SB 1064, sponsored by Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek), to allow breweries that annually produce under 200,000 barrels of beer on-premises consumption; to revise tax credit.
SB 1065, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Miller, Jr. (D-Warren), to prohibit disclosure of consumersÕ personal information. SB 1066, sponsored by Sen. Miller, to require issuance of a new driverÕs license number when driverÕs license has been stolen.
SB 1067, sponsored by Sen. Miller, to require credit providers to verify a change of address.
SB 1164, sponsored by Sen. Mat Dunaskiss (R-Lake Orion), to revise conversion date to wage record system.
For back issues of Capitol F@cts on-line visit MRA's web site at http://www.retailers.com/capfax/capfax.html.
Specific comments or questions regarding this bulletin should
be directed to:
Jason Klonowski, MRA's Manager of Governmental Affairs at jklonowski@retailers.com.
Michigan Retailers Association 603 South Washington Avenue Lansing, MI 48933
517.372.5656
800.366.3699
Fax: 517.372.1303
govt_affairs@retailers.com
http://www.retailers.com
http://www.mallofmichigan.com
Click
here to find more information about any of the bills referenced above.