KEY LEGISLATION:
GOP Introduces
Water Bills
Three Senate bills to regulate water withdrawals and diversions were
introduced last week. Sen. Patty Birkholz (R-Saugatuck), chair of the
Senate
Natural Resources Committee, is the primary architect of the package
and
sponsor of the main bill, SB 850. The bills will be debated in her committee
before moving to the Senate floor.
Republican sponsors consulted business groups in the drafting of their
bills, and the end product reflects that. The bills call for:
• Immediate regulation of all new water withdrawals in excess of
two million
gallons per day;
• Prohibition on diversions of water through pipeline, barge, rail
or other
methods of bulk water shipment;
• Focus on new and expanding high-capacity water users on surface
water,
natural resources and nearby existing wells;
• Creation of a more consistent and accurate water-use reporting
system;
• Continued authorization of the Groundwater Conservation Advisory
Council
to provide ongoing recommendations for improvement.
Birkholz held several workgroups this week to hash out concerns over
the
proposal, and she is planning another for Monday. She has indicated
that the
bills will be taken up in committee next week and are scheduled for
debate
at least three days next week prior to moving to the Senate floor.
The bill package has only Republican sponsors, as the Democrats have
put out
their own, less business-friendly water proposal.
Speaker’s
Tax-Cut Plan Shifts Focus
House Speaker Craig DeRoche (R-Novi) appeared to be painted into a corner
on
the tax cut plan recently sent to him by the Senate. Business groups
did not
wholeheartedly favor the plan, and Gov. Granholm used it to claim
Republicans weren’t helping the state economy. DeRoche went on
offense,
however, and unveiled a tax plan that combines the recently passed Tobacco
Securitization proposal and the governor’s 21st Century Jobs Plan.
DeRoche’s latest plan calls for $700 million of the $1 billion
from
securitization to fund a tax cut. This move enables DeRoche to claim
that
his plan has a more immediate impact on job creation in the state.
Specifics of the proposal have not been released, but business groups,
including MRA, are interested in the proposal and might embrace the
plan
over those previously released.
Ergonomics Rule
for Michigan Under Discussion
The Michigan Ergonomics Standard Advisory Committee has been meeting
to
discuss the promulgation of a state-specific ergonomics rule. Such a
rule—which could be implemented by the administration without legislative
approval—would be harmful to businesses in Michigan. Implementation
is
estimated to cost close to a half-billion dollars. If Michigan were
to
implement such a standard, it would be only the second state to do so,
after
California.
Rep. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) has agreed to sponsor legislation preempting
such regulations, however—a bill which MRA will enthusiastically
support.
KEY BILL INTRODUCTIONS:
No new introductions at this time.
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
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