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Every week, MichiganVotes.org sends a report to newspapers and TV stations showing how just the state legislators in each publication's service area voted on the most important and interesting bills and amendments of the past seven days. The version shown here instead contains a link to the complete roll call tally in either the House or Senate. To find out who your state senator is and how to contact him or her go here; for state representatives go here.
House Bill 5346, Authorize "aerotropolis"
corporate tax breaks and subsidies, passed 30 to 3 in the Senate
To create five new local corporate tax break and subsidy-granting entities
called “next Michigan development corporations,” which would give government
officials and appointees in each the power to grant a broad array of tax breaks
and subsidies to 25 businesses they select in an area near an airport, railroad
or waterway. This is in part about subsidizing businesses near Willow Run and
Detroit Metro airports in Wayne County (the "aerotropolis"), plus
others.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
House Bill 4917, Reform Detroit police and fire pension
board selection, passed 34 to 0 in the Senate
To prohibit Detroit police and fire unions from bargaining in contract
negotiations over whether a retiree will be selected to represent retired
employees on the pension board. The unions have sued to stop the appointment of
a retire on the board; there have extensive allegations of corruption related
to this board.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
House Bill 4817, Authorize resort owner and “green
chemistry” subsidies, passed 34 to 2 in the Senate
To authorize “21st Century Jobs Fund” business subsidies for “green chemistry”
projects. The bill was amended to also appropriate $10 million from this
subsidy fund to pay for promotional subsidies that benefit hotel and resort
owners ("Pure Michigan" ads).
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
House Bill 4493, Ban multiple passengers for beginning
drivers, passed 30 to 5 in the Senate
To ban first-year drivers under age 18 from having more than one passenger in
the car who is a minor unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, except for
driving to school.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
House Bill 4961, Kill "DRIC" project (for now);
motion to vote on it defeated in Senate, 11 to 23
A motion to vote on approving a Detroit River International Crossing (DRIC)
project. Defeat of the motion kills the project for now (although the campaign
for it probably begins anew in the 2011 legislative session).
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
Senate Bill 796, Increase state film subsidy transparency,
passed 97 to 2 in the House
To increase the disclosure requirements on state film subsidies. The Film
Office would have to post twice-yearly online reports that disclose how much
each film producer plans to spend in Michigan, details on the shooting
locations and jobs, and how many on the payroll were paid more than $250,000.
It would also have to report to the legislature the aggregate cost of
"refundable tax credits" that were actually cash subsidies, because
they exceeded the amount of tax the producer owed. Under a 2008 law, Michigan
pays up to 42 percent of the expenses incurred by film producers in this state.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
Senate Bill 276, Repeal “fuzzy dice” ban, passed 95 to 5 in
the House
To replace the law that bans driving with a "dangling ornament or other
suspended" object with more general language prohibiting an object that
obstructs a driver's vision.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
House Bill 4917, Reform Detroit police and fire pension
board selection, passed 63 to 38 in the House
To prohibit Detroit police and fire unions from bargaining in contract
negotiations over whether a retiree is selected to represent retired employees
on the pension board. The unions have sued to stop the appointment of a retire
on the board; there have extensive allegations of corruption related to this
board.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
Senate Bill 904, Revise "green schools" criteria,
passed 62 to 38 in the House
To revise the criteria by which a school may be designated as a “green school”
and establish new levels of “green-ness,” including “emerald” and “evergreen.”
The new criteria specify in more detail various types of recycling, and add
doing energy audits of students' homes, lobbying on environmental issues,
offering classes in energy or environmental issues, creating student
environmental organizations and “eco reading” programs, and much more. Some
criteria of the current "green school" statute are not included, such
as hosting a Sierra Club spokesperson, students dusting coils on cafeteria
refrigerators and checking bus tire pressure, etc.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
Senate Bill 1235, Authorize new transit-related debt and
spending, passed 90 to 12 in the House
To grant local governments the power to borrow and spend on “improvements”
within a half mile of a transit station, and on transit stations themselves.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
Senate Bill 1558, Sell and lease-back state school for the
deaf property in Flint, passed 92 to 3 in the House
To sell the state school for the deaf property in Flint for $1.3 million to a
particular developer (Lurvey White Ventures), who would build a new school for
the deaf facility and lease back to the state for $2 million annually,
reportedly for 30 years.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
House Bill 5346, Authorize "aerotropolis"
corporate tax breaks and subsidies, passed 84 to 11 in the House
To create five new local corporate tax break and subsidy-granting entities
called “next Michigan development corporations,” which would give government
officials and appointees the power to grant a broad array of tax breaks,
exemptions and subsidies to 25 businesses they select in an area near an
airport, railroad or waterway. This is in part about subsidizing businesses
near Willow Run and Detroit Metro airports in Wayne County (the
"aerotropolis"), plus others.
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
House Bill 4817, Authorize resort owner and "green
chemistry" subsidies, passed 88 to 6 in the House
To authorize “21st Century Jobs Fund” business subsidies for “green chemistry”
projects. The bill was amended to also appropriate $10 million from this
subsidy fund to pay for promotional subsidies that benefit hotel and resort
owners ("Pure Michigan" ads).
Who voted "Yes" and who voted "No"
SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit MichiganVotes.org.
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