KEY LEGISLATION:
Senate Majority Leader Names Recycling Task Force
Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema (R-Wyoming) recently
created a Republican
task force to study recycling in Michigan. The task force is especially
timely as Governor Granholm is expected to make mention of pending
legislation to expand the bottle deposit law in Michigan.
Efforts to expand the law to require deposits on such
items as fruit juices,
teas, sports drinks, and water bottles have been attempted for years,
but
have always been defeated by industry groups like MRA. The issue is
continuing to evolve however, and a petition initiative to place this
issue
on the ballot is a very good possibility. Numerous opinion polls have
shown
the public overwhelmingly behind the current law and expansion of it.
This
fact has caused industry groups to rethink our strategy and be proactive
in
our efforts.
The Michigan Recycling Partnership is a coalition of
industry groups,
including MRA, concerned about the current bottle deposit mandate, and
determined to win relief for those required to deal with this onerous
law by
moving returns out of retail locations and into either curbside recycling
programs or drop-off centers. MRP has been working diligently to change
the
focus from simply a bottle deposit law and those items that should be
included in it, to one of an overall comprehensive recycling strategy
for
the state. MRP hopes to show that Michigan’s recycling efforts
overall have
lagged far behind other states, and this is partly due to our state’s
narrow
focus on bottle deposits.
Sen. Sikkema’s task force will provide a good venue
for MRP to make our
educated argument to the legislature. The task force is expected to
meet
approximately 8 times before the fall in various locations throughout
the state.
Members of the task force are: Sens. Cameron Browne,
Mike Bishop, Patty
Birkholz, Alan Cropsey, Jud Gilbert, and Michelle McManus.
Tax Group Advocates for Tax Increases/Shifts
As a result of the estimated $1.6 billion deficit the
state is facing,
several groups, including primarily the Michigan Education Association
(MEA), have formed the Red Cedar Group. This group is calling for additional
taxes to help hold education funding harmless throughout the budget
crisis.
The Red Cedar Group is advocating among other things a tax "shift."
This
"shift" would reduce the percentage of sales tax on products
while placing a
new tax on services. While certainly not an original idea, the group
is
claiming this would roughly net the state an additional $8 billion per
year.
MRA and numerous other business groups will oppose such a plan if acted
upon, as it would constitute a tax increase.
There has also been some mention about a new tax on
advertising. MRA as well
as the press and a majority of those who advertise through this medium
too
would obviously oppose this.
Granholm Set to Deliver 1st State of the State
Governor Jennifer Granholm will deliver her first State
of the State message
next Wednesday, February 5th. This date is also important to Granholm,
as it
is her birthday. In her message, she is expected to present her solutions
for the budget deficit, some of which may be to increase so-called sin
taxes
on items such as beer and liquor. A complete report on her address will
be
covered in this publication on the 6th.
Granholm to Create Land Use Commission
Governor Granholm announced recently her intentions
of setting up a
commission to study land use issues in Michigan. Apparently she would
like
former Attorney General Frank Kelly and former Governor William Milliken
to
chair the commission. Republican leaders have warmed to the idea of
a land
use commission, but would like to have considerable Republican input
as well.
It is not yet know what the make-up of the commission
will look like, but
preliminary indications point to around 20 members, with around half
coming
from Speaker Rick Johnson (R-Leroy), and Senate Majority Leader Sikkema
(R-Wyoming). The rest would presumably be at the request of the governor.
It
is also thought that various professions or industries will be represented
on the commission, with realtors and farmers considered a good bet.
KEY BILL INTRODUCTIONS:
SB 008, sponsored by Sen. Shirley Johnson (R-Royal
Oak), to eliminate health
care costs from tax base.
SB 006, sponsored bySen. Beverly Hammerstrom
(R-Temperance), to require
pharmacist to print cost of prescriptions on receipt in addition to
copayment.
SB 069, sponsored by Sen. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor),
to create midwest
pharmaceutical compact.
SB 075, sponsored by Sen. Bruce Patterson (R-Canton),
to create multistate
pharmaceutical purchasing program.
SB 096, sponsored by Sen. Shirley Johnson, to
expand to include vendors
permitted to hold on-premises wine tasting to have SDM licenses.
SB 051, sponsored by Sen. Gilda Jacobs (D-Huntington
Woods), to create
health care information protection and privacy act.
SB 054, sponsored by Sen. Johnson, to provide
for "catering Permit" for
on-premises licenses to serve alcohol at locations other than the premises
under certain circumstances.
SB 121, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Cassis (R-Novi),
to require publication of
letter ruling.
HB 4051,4052. sponsored by Rep. Fran Amos (R-Waterford),
prohibit display of
social security number on benefit card.
HB 4053, sponsored by, Rep. Amos, to prohibit
retailer from failing to
honor gift certificates.
HB 4037, sponsored by Rep. Craig DeRoche (R-Novi),
to allow sale of certain
consumer items without item pricing under certain circumstances.
HB 4040, sponsored by Sal Rocca (R-Sterling Heights),
to exempt
nonprescription medications.
To view the content and current status of retail-related
bills, visit BillTrack,
MRA's legislative tracking database exclusively for members, at
www.retailbilltrack.com
If you are currently receiving Capitol F@cts by fax
and would like to receive
it via e-mail, please contact Kathleen Wilson at 517.372.5656 or
kawilson@retailers.com.
For back issues of online Capitol F@cts, visit MRA's main Capitol F@cts page.
Specific comments or questions regarding this bulletin
should be directed to:
Kathleen Wilson, Administrative Assistant to the Governmental Affairs
Office at
kawilson@retailers.com.
Michigan Retailers Association
603 South Washington Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933
517.372.5656
Toll-Free: 800.366.3699
Fax: 517.372.1303
govt_affairs@retailers.com
www.retailers.com
www.mallofmichigan.com
