MichiganVotes.org June 3 Weekly Roll Call Report

Every week, MichiganVotes.org sends a report on interesting votes and bills in the Michigan Legislature, and includes how each legislator voted. To find out who your state senator is and how to contact him or her go here; for state representatives go here.

Senate Bill 383, Revise state film subsidy program, passed 37 to 1 in the Senate
To revise details of the state’s unlimited film subsidy program, now limited by Gov. Snyder’s tax system overhaul (plus, the Legislature has appropriated a "pot" of $25 million that can be handed out to film producers). Under the bill, the state government film office could still grant “refundable tax credits” of up to 42 percent of a producer’s Michigan expenses, which in most cases likely results in the state writing checks to producers. However, the agency could also choose to give smaller credits to a particular producer.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4111, Provide liability waiver to volunteer conservation workers, passed 33 to 3 in the Senate
To establish that a volunteer working on a Department of Natural Resources wildlife habitat improvement project has the same immunity from civil liability as a state employee working on the project.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4111, Gleason amendment, ban replacing DNR conservation workers with volunteers, failed 10 to 26 in the Senate
To prohibit allowing volunteers to do work on Department of Natural Resources conservation projects that previously was done by paid full-time government employees.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 331, Repeal certain liquor tax, passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To eliminate a 1.85 percent tax imposed on the retail sale of liquor for off-premises consumption. The money from this tax is earmarked to the Liquor Control Commission, which oversees the state's liquor price controls and the regional liquor wholesaler and distributor monopolies the legislature has authorized for particular business owners.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4623, Let Detroit keep imposing higher income tax, passed 56 to 53 in the House
To allow Detroit to continue to uniquely impose an income tax of 2.5 percent on residents and 1.25 percent on nonresidents. Other cities are allowed to impose individual income taxes at 1 percent for residents and 0.5 percent for nonresidents; this is one of many laws that provides unique privileges or powers for "a city with a population greater than 750,000." The bill would lower that to 600,000 to accommodate Detroit's ongoing population decline.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4624, Let Detroit keep imposing higher utility tax, passed 57 to 52 in the House
To allow Detroit to continue to impose a 5 percent utility tax on telephone service, natural gas and electricity. This is one of many laws that provides unique privileges or powers for "a city with a population greater than 750,000." The bill would lower that to 600,000 to accommodate Detroit's ongoing population decline.

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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