Advocacy

MRA’s advocacy efforts have deep roots.

Founded in 1940, MRA first advocated on behalf of retailers against a proposed sales tax. Since then, MRA’s Government Affairs works continuously to secure passage of retail friendly legislation in Michigan and protect the retail industry from costly and harmful taxes and regulations.

What does advocacy mean to you?

  • Keeping you informed – we track and update you on current and pending Michigan legislation and rules. 
  • Getting you access – when you have a question, we’ll get you an answer. We have relationships with all state departments and agencies and can get help with any program you’re facing with state government. So remember, Ask Us First! 
  • Acting as your shield – we tackle tough issues on behalf of all our members so you can stay out of the spotlight and focus on your business.
  • Election guidance – every 2 years we evaluate and recommend “Friends of Retail” candidates so you don’t have to.

When it comes to retail, trust us to protect your bottom line. 

Critical Accomplishments:

  • Pre-empted local governments from passing ordinances and policies dealing with employee wages and benefits
  • Prohibited local product bans or local taxes on plastic bags, food, and beverages
  • Enacted Main Street Fairness and Marketplace legislation to help level the playing field for Michigan retail businesses by ensuring Michigan sales tax is collected fairly on every purchase
  • Modernized the state’s costly and burdensome item pricing law by giving retailers price marking flexibility and saving retailers and consumers money
  • Cracked down on organized retail crime through the passage of the Organized Retail Crime Act and creation of the Organized Retail Crime Advisory Board
  • Pro-retail changes in sales tax collection
  • Phased out the Single Business Tax and replaced the Michigan Business Tax with a more business-friendly corporate profits tax

 

The Government Affairs Team

Bill Hallan headshot

Willam J. Hallan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Prior to joining Michigan Retailers, he was a litigator in the Dykema Gossett law firm’s Bloomfield Hills office. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Toledo School of Law, where he was Articles Editor for the Law Review, and a graduate of Denison University.

Tom Clement

Thomas Clement
Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel
Clement was previously General Counsel for the Michigan Supreme Court, where he managed litigation matters involving the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and the State Court Administrative Office. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University and a Juris Doctorate from the Michigan State University College of Law.

Drew Beardslee
Vice President, Government Affairs
Andrew has over a decade of experience in state government, serving in policy roles with the Michigan House Republican Policy Office, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, the Michigan Department of Transportation, and member offices in the Michigan Senate and Michigan House of Representatives.