KEY LEGISLATION:
Republicans
to Propose Alternate Tax Plan?
While interest groups and Republicans have been criticizing the governor’s
Single Business Tax (SBT) restructuring plan for picking winners and
losers,
no alternative proposal has surfaced to date. But that may change soon,
according to talk within the Capitol that suggests Republicans are
considering a substitute.
What isn’t yet known is the approach Republicans might take. One
idea being
floated is to scrap the SBT entirely, replace it with a 1-cent reduction
in
the sales tax and extend the sales tax to certain services.
Republicans have admitted that conversations have been taking place,
but
hint that any action, if it occurs, will happen in the Senate.
Senate Dems Plan Environmental Roadshow
Borrowing a page from their House counterparts last year, Senate Democrats
are scheduling their own roadshow to highlight their environmental package.
The main act is the reintroduction of the Water Legacy Act; Sen. Liz
Brater
(D-Ann Arbor) made it clear she believes passage of the bill cannot
wait
another day.
Brater dismissed the notion that the project to map Michigan’s
aquifers
should be completed before legislation moves, implying that other states
will suck up our supply of water if we stall. The aquifer-mapping project
is
scheduled to produce findings by fall.
Panel Studies
Restricting Sales of Violent Video Games
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony from those who think
legislation is needed to prevent minors from purchasing video games
containing violence and sexually explicit themes. The committee is
considering legislation to regulate retailers on how they display such
material and to whom they sell or rent it.
Numerous other states have tried such legislation and, for the most
part, it
has not survived constitutional scrutiny with regard to free speech
and
censorship issues. Data show that the vast majority of these games are
purchased either by the parent for a child or by an adult for personal
use.
Potential compromise legislation may include requiring retailers to
post
signage indicating the industry rating system to further educate parents.
KEY BILL INTRODUCTIONS:
HB 4636, sponsored by Rep. Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell),
to allow sale of
certain consumer items without pricing under certain circumstances.
HB 4656, sponsored by Rep. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor),
to clarify
insurer’s duty to timely pay benefits under a settlement or redemption.
HB 4658, sponsored by Rep. Joel Sheltrown (D-West
Branch), to require
notification of security breach of database containing personal identifying
information.
HB 4668, sponsored by Rep. LaMar Lemmons III (D-Detroit),
to prohibit
smoking in enclosed areas in which minors under age 18 are present and
provide penalties.
HB 4672, sponsored by Rep. Katy Angerer (D-Dundee), to require
security
freeze on certain credit reports on consumer request.
SB 0402, sponsored by Sen. Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit),
to prohibit sale of
light switches containing mercury.
SB 0416, sponsored by Sen. Alan Cropsey (R-DeWitt),
to prohibit sale or
rental of ultra violent video games to an individuals under 17 years
of age
and provide penalties.
SB 0426, sponsored by Sen. Gilda Jacobs (D-Huntington
Woods), to require
notice to, and consent of, a person before disclosure or sharing of
nonpublic personal financial information.
SB 0431, sponsored by Sen. Martha Scott (D-Detroit),
to expand prescription
coverage to include certain contraceptives.
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
