Archive for December, 2011

“The 2012 Election:

America’s Moment of Truth”

Mark your calendars for the next First Principles on First Fridays Event. It will be on Jan 6th and the subject matter is very compelling.

Click Here for Event Details

James W. Ceasar
University of Virginia
January 6, 2012
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

With the Iowa caucuses slated for January 3, 2012, and the New Hampshire primary scheduled a week thereafter, this presentation will outline what is at stake, and how citizens can understand the political and constitutional issues that will be decided.

James W. Ceaser is the Harry F. Byrd Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, where he has taught since 1976. Author of several books, including Nature and History in American Political Development, Presidential Selection, Liberal Democracy and Political Science, and The Perfect Tie: The True Story of the 2000 Presidential Election, co-authored with Andrew Busch, he has held visiting professorships at the University of Florence, the University of Basel, Oxford University, and the University of Bordeaux. He received his Ph.D. in government from Harvard Univers

Starting January 23, 2012

Romeo Area Tea Party meetings will be held at

 The Palazzo Grande

54660 Van Dyke, Shelby Township, Michigan 48315

It’s hard to believe the RATP began meeting in a basement only two years ago!  Within the first month of the organization, it was clear that we would need a larger facility to accommodate the growing membership.  John Bendzinski came to the rescue by allowing the RATP to use “The Capital Banquet Center”.  We would like to extend our sincere gratitude for all of his kindness, the use of his facility and his wonderful culinary skills!

We had the pleasure of hosting many informative speakers and community events at The Capital Banquet Center and we are truly grateful.

Yet again, our increasing membership dictates that we relocate to a larger facility.  We look forward to welcoming all of our members to our new venue.  We have much work to doe in the New Year!

Presented by:  Eagle Forum

December 19, 2011

In this MegaVote for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Balanced Budget Amendment
• Senate: Balanced Budget Amendment
• Senate: Defense Authorization, FY2012
• Senate: Reid-McConnell Amdt.; Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011
• Senate: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012
• Senate: Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012
• House: Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011
• House: Iran Sanctions
• House: Defense Authorization, FY2012
• House: Intelligence Authorization, FY2012
• House: Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012
• House: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• House: Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011

Recent Senate Votes

Balanced Budget Amendment – Vote Rejected (21-79)

The Senate rejected the Democratic balanced-budget amendment that would have taken Social Security off the books and prohibited Congress from cutting taxes for millionaires if the cut increased the deficit. A two-thirds majority is needed in both chambers to send constitutional amendments to the states for ratification.

Sen. Carl Levin voted NO  (202) 224-6221
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted YES  (202) 224-4822

Eagle Forum

Balanced Budget Amendment – Vote Rejected (47-53)

The Senate rejected the Republican balanced-budget amendment proposal that would have required a two-thirds majority in both chambers to increase taxes and limited federal spending to 18 percent of the country’s economic output. The August debt limit law required both chambers to consider balanced-budget amendments before the end of the year.

Sen. Carl Levin voted NO  (202) 224-6221

Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted NO  (202) 224-4822

Eagle Forum

Defense Authorization, FY2012 – Vote Agreed to (86-13, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared this $662 billion measure for the president that authorizes defense policies for the current fiscal year. The House passed the bill the previous day.

Sen. Carl Levin voted YES  (202) 224-6221
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted YES  (202) 224-4822

Eagle Forum

Reid-McConnell Amdt.; Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 – Vote Agreed to (89-10, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate approved this amendment to H.R.3630 that replaces the House bill with the Senate’s compromise bill. The amended bill would extend by 2 months the Social Security payroll tax cut and benefits for the long-term unemployed. The deal also includes a provision directing the White House to expedite the decision on the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The bill subsequently passed by unanimous consent. It is unclear as of press time if the House will pass the Senate bill.

Sen. Carl Levin voted YES  (202) 224-6221
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted YES  (202) 224-4822

Eagle Forum

Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012 – Vote Passed (72-27, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared this bill to provide $8.6 billion in disaster relief and to combat Social Security fraud, sending it to the president for his signature. The House passed this bill the previous day.

Sen. Carl Levin voted YES  (202) 224-6221
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted YES  (202) 224-4822

Eagle Forum

Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012 – Vote Agreed to (67-32, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate gave final approval to the conference report for this $915 billion “megabus” spending bill that provides funds for the rest of the fiscal year for the remaining nine annual appropriations bills. The nine bills are the Military Construction-VA, Defense, Energy-Water, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch and State-Foreign Operations appropriations bills. The House passed the bill the previous day. The president is expected to sign the bill.

Sen. Carl Levin voted YES  (202) 224-6221 
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted YES  (202) 224-4822

Eagle Forum

 Recent House Votes

Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 – Vote Passed (234-193, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed this Republican version of the payroll tax extension bill. The bill would extend the Social Security payroll tax cut for one year, prevent Medicare payments to doctors from being cut more than 27 percent, and overhaul the unemployment benefits program. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) called the bill “dead on arrival” in the Senate.

Rep. Candice Miller voted YES  (202) 225-2106

Eagle Forum

Iran Sanctions – Vote Passed (410-11, 12 Not Voting)

The House voted to strengthen sanctions against Iran that are intended to deny the regime resources to develop nuclear weapons. The Senate is unlikely to pass the bill.

Rep. Candice Miller voted YES  (202) 225-2106

Eagle Forum

Defense Authorization, FY2012 – Vote Passed (283-136, 14 Not Voting)

The House passed this $662 billion measure that authorizes defense policies for the current fiscal year. The Senate cleared the measure for the president the next day.

Rep. Candice Miller voted YES  (202) 225-2106

Eagle Forum

Intelligence Authorization, FY2012 - Vote Passed (396-23, 14 Not Voting)

The House gave final approval to this bill authorizing funds for 16 intelligence agencies for the current fiscal year. The amount is classified, but it is estimated to be around $78.6 billion. The Senate passed the bill on December 14 by unanimous consent. The president is expected to sign it.

Rep. Candice Miller voted YES  (202) 225-2106

Eagle Forum

Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012 – Vote Passed (296-121, 16 Not Voting)

The House passed the conference report for this $915 billion “megabus” spending bill that provides funds for the rest of the fiscal year for the remaining nine annual appropriations bills. The nine bills are the Military Construction-VA, Defense, Energy-Water, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch and State-Foreign Operations appropriations bills. The Senate gave final approval to the bill the next day. The president is expected to sign it into law.

Rep. Candice Miller voted YES  (202) 225-2106

Eagle Forum

Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012 – Vote Passed (351-67, 15 Not Voting)

The House passed this $8.6 billion bill to provide additional disaster relief funds to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers and to combat Social Security waste. The Senate passed the bill the next day, sending it to the President.

Rep. Candice Miller voted NO  (202) 225-2106

Eagle Forum

Upcoming Votes

Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 – H.R.3630

The House is scheduled to vote Monday night on the Senate version of the payroll tax extension bill.

This weekend 535 of my friends and competitors are all coming together to paint my house.

HEY!

After weeks of all my hard work and difficult negotiations, I’m bringing everyone together in the last few days before Christmas, in the spirit of unison.  My house looks really bad to about 160 million of the total U.S. population.  This being the holiday season, I feel it is important to put on a fresh look, so my friends and neighbors won’t look at my house in disgust.

Unfortunately, the paint I’m using is a very low grade and will not last two months.

I know that all of the scraping, sanding and other preparations required to paint my house will need to be repeated all over again in just two months, because I’m was unable to obtain the good paint.  But, it’s the holiday season and I just cannot have 160 million people looking at my house in disgust.  Though you would think my job as a professional painter gives me an advantage to getting good paint, it does not.  I’ve worked with my supplier so long that he no longer treats me with the respect of a new customer.

HEY!

A TWO MONTH PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY

IS NOT GOOD PAINT!

We still see your crumbling house beneath
that fresh coat.

December 16, 2011

Weekly local legislator roll call report for the Romeo Area Tea Party

Note: There will be no weekly roll call report during Christmas week.

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

Mackinac Center

Senate Bill 618, Eliminate charter school cap: Passed 22 to 16 in the Senate
To concur with the House-passed version of a bill to eliminate the cap of 150 on the number of charter schools that can be authorized by state universities, starting in 2015 (with 300 allowed in 2012 and 500 in 2013 and 2014). This vote sends the bill to the Governor for signature, which is expected.

House Bill 5187, Revise Oakland County board reapportionment: Passed 20 to 17 in the Senate
To give the Oakland County commission the authority to reapportion county commissioner districts, and to change the number of commissioners. Reportedly this is part of a plan to reduce the number of commissioners from 25 to 21. Under current law, the county’s reapportionment is done by a five-member board.

Mackinac Center

Senate Bill 760, Lower pistol length definition to 26 inches: Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate
To change the law defining any firearm less than 30 inches in length as a “pistol,” making this 26 inches. Some rifles with folding stocks are less than 30 inches, and so under Michigan law are technically subject to the same purchase and other restrictions as pistols.

Senate Bill 865, Prepare “vehicle” bill for extending Emergency Manager law if referendum: Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate
To pass a “shell” version of this bill with no substantive provisions, but which can be modified later to extend the Emergency Manager law passed earlier in 2011 if it is suspended in 2012 pending a potential referendum in November. This possibility was triggered by a statewide petition drive reportedly orchestrated by government employee unions unhappy with the power given to emergency managers appointed under that new law to throw out collective bargaining agreements they believe a fiscally failed municipality cannot afford.

Mackinac Center

House Bill 5014, Adopt supplemental appropriation without “Obamacare exchange” money: Passed 20 to 17 in the Senate
To concur with a House version of a mostly non-controversial year-end supplemental appropriation that does not include $9.8 million added by the Senate to create a state “exchange” to administer federal “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” subsidies.

Mackinac Center

House Bill 5014, Adopt supplemental appropriation without “Obamacare exchange” money: Passed 101 to 7 in the House
To adopt a version of a mostly non-controversial year-end supplemental appropriation that does not include $9.8 million added by the Senate to create a state “exchange” to administer federal “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” subsidies.

Senate Bill 855, Give particular firm $50 million state electric car subsidy: Passed 82 to 24 in the House
To authorize giving $50 million in state tax breaks and cash subsidies to a firm called “Townsend Ventures,” which wants to use the former Ford Motors Wixom plant to make systems related to electric car batteries. If enacted, this would be the second time the legislature has authorized a large cash subsidy for an outfit wanting to use this closed plant; the first deal fell through (see 2009 Senate Bill 777). The bill would also reduce by $25 million a similar subsidy for a Johnson Controls Corporation battery plant (which is also the beneficiary of almost $300 million in federal subsidies, and potentially up to $48.5 million in other Michigan subsidy/tax breaks).

Senate Bill 806, Revise unemployment insurance: Passed 61 to 47 in the House
To revise various elements of the state unemployment insurance social welfare system. This is part of the package authorizing state borrowing to pay off some $3.2 billion in unemployment system debt, owed because benefit payments exceeded payroll tax revenues. The bill would revise the formulas for assessing these payroll taxes on employers; require beneficiaries to accept alternative work at lower pay than currently required; increase required job-search disclosures and reporting by beneficiaries; clarify factors making an employee ineligible for unemployment benefits (like stealing or absenteeism); and more.

Mackinac Center

Senate Bill 569, Continue giving subsidies to film producers: Passed 92 to 15 in the House
To convert the state film incentive program into straightforward handouts to producers, rather than indirect ones paid through the expiring Michigan Business Tax, with payments of up 32 percent of a producer’s Michigan payroll expense, plus some additional subsidies. For 2012, $25 million was appropriated for these subsidies, but nothing in the bill limits how much the Michigan film office can authorize, and once it does the state is obligated to pay. Reportedly the bill sponsor wants to increase the annual payouts to $100 million.

Mackinac Center

Senate Bill 484, Authorize state borrowing to pay off unemployment debt to feds: Passed 64 to 44 in the House
To authorize a state unemployment “obligation assessment” imposed on all employers to service the debt incurred through state borrowing to pay off some $3.2 billion owed to the federal government for unemployment benefits paid to residents over the past several years. Senate Bill 483 authorizes the borrowing (“bond sales”).

Senate Bill 618, Eliminate charter school cap: Passed 58 to 49 in the House

To eliminate a cap of 150 on the number of charter schools that can be authorized by state universities, starting in 2015 (with 300 allowed in 2012 and 500 in 2013 and 2014). The bill would also allow charter schools to operate the same grade levels at multiple sites; create more transparency and conflict of interest regulations for charters; exempt charters from property tax; and more.

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit http://www.MichiganVotes.org.

Presented by:  Eagle Forum

December 12, 2011

In this MegaVote for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: Cloture on the Nomination of Richard Cordray to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
• Senate: Motion to Proceed; Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011
• Senate: Motion to Proceed; Temporary Tax Holiday and Government Reduction Act
• House: Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011
• House: Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• House: Payroll tax cut extension
• House: Defense authorization
• House: Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2012

Eagle Forum

Recent Senate Votes

Cloture on the Nomination of Richard Cordray to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection – Vote Rejected (53-45, 1 Present, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate failed to reach the sixty votes needed to move forward on the nomination of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB, which was created by the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul, is responsible for overseeing financial products like home loans and credit cards.

Sen. Carl Levin voted YES (202) 224-6221
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted YES (202) 224-4822

Motion to Proceed; Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011 – Vote Rejected (50-48, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to move forward on this Democratic proposal to reduce the employee share of the payroll tax from 4.2 to 3.1 percent for 2012. The employer share would stay at 6.2 percent. The payroll tax funds the Social Security trust fund. A law passed in December 2010 is set to expire at the end of 2011 that reduced the employee share from 6.2 to 4.2 percent.

Sen. Carl Levin voted YES (202) 224-6221
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted YES (202) 224-4822

Motion to Proceed; Temporary Tax Holiday and Government Reduction Act – Vote Rejected (22-76, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate rejected a motion to move forward on this Republican proposal to freeze the employee share of the payroll tax at 4.2 percent. The proposal offsets the cost by freezing federal pay and reducing the federal workforce by attrition.

Sen. Carl Levin voted NO (202) 224-6221
Sen. Debbie Stabenow voted NO (202) 224-4822

Eagle Forum

Recent House Votes

Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011 – Vote Passed (241-184, 8 Not Voting)

This bill would require congressional approval of federal regulations that are expected to cost the economy $100 million or more or have a significant effect on consumer prices. Currently, regulations take effect unless both Congress and the president approve a resolution disapproving of them. The White House opposes the bill.

Rep. Candice Miller voted YES (202) 225-2106

Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 – Vote Passed (268-150, 15 Not Voting)

This House-passed bill would prevent the EPA from revising air standards concerning dust from farm operations for one year. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill. The White House has also issued a veto threat.

Rep. Candice Miller voted YES (202) 225-2106

Eagle Forum

Upcoming Votes

Payroll tax cut extension – H.R.3630

The House is expected to take up a payroll tax bill this week.

Defense authorization – H.R.1540

Congress may wrap up work on the conference report for the 2012 fiscal year defense authorization bill.

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2012 – H.R.2055

Congress may also wrap up work on this $900 billion omnibus spending package that combines the nine remaining annual appropriations bills. The current stopgap spending bill runs out December 16.

Obama “Payroll Tax Cut”

Defunds Social Security

Enough of the gimmicks from Washington. President Obama is touting an extension of the quote, unquote “Payroll Tax” as a stimulus of sorts.  He claims that the middle class cannot afford to be without this tax cut. However, the Payroll Tax he wishes to extend is essentially payments into the Social Security Tax fund.  Now hypothetically, the Social Security Tax is one of the employee’s methods of saving for their own retirement. Yes, Yes, we know that Social Security is nothing more than a Ponzi Scheme. But, why do Liberals like President Obama want to “De-fund Social Security” by reducing the existing tax? Why not just cut the actual “Income Tax” at the Federal level by the same amount?

Oh, Oh, I get it. If you cut the Federal Income Tax you De-Fund the Federal Government.

So given the choice, would you rather your elected officials De-Fund their own cash reserves, or yours? Contact your Federally Elected Officials… and tell them to cut their Budget, not your retirement.

Enough of the gimmicks!

December 9, 2011

Weekly local legislator roll call report for the Romeo Area Tea Party

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

House Bill 4701, Transition state employees to defined contribution retirement health benefit: Passed 23 to 13 in the Senate
To eliminate the current “defined benefit” post-retirement health insurance system for new state employees, and instead offer a “defined contribution” Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), with the state matching an employee’s deposits up to 2 percent of salary, plus an annual lump sum contribution. Employees hired since 1997 could choose to switch to this system and get a lump-sum contribution of the value of benefits they had already earned. Also, to require state employees hired before 1997 to contribute 4 percent toward their traditional “defined benefit” pensions (replacing a 3 percent contribution required under a 2010 law), or else have their benefit levels “frozen” at the current level, with the state instead making contributions going forward into an employee’s 401(k) account. The Senate stripped out a House-passed provision excluding overtime pay from the basis on which the older employees’ conventional pension benefits are calculated (potentially enabling some degree of “pension spiking”).

House Bill 5002, Revise workers comp benefits: Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate
To modify requirements and benefits in the law that mandates employers obtain insurance covering injured workers compensation benefits. Among other things the bill would revise the formula by which compensation levels are set, require workers still able to work to make a “good faith effort” to find work, and more. The most controversial provision bases an injured worker’s compensation on pay levels for jobs that are “reasonably available,” rather than the person’s previous pay, even if the person can’t find one of those “reasonably available” jobs. Some of the proposed changes reflect what courts have already ruled. The bill would not apply to police and firefighters.

Senate Bill 855, Give particular firm $50 million state electric car subsidy: Passed 30 to 5 in the Senate
To authorize giving $50 million in state tax breaks and cash subsidies to a firm called “Townsend Ventures,” which says it wants to use the former Ford Motors Wixom plant to make systems related to electric car batteries. If enacted, this would be the second time the legislature has authorized a large cash subsidy for an outfit wanting to use this closed plant; the first deal fell through (see 2009 Senate Bill 777).

Senate Bill 864, Impose utility surcharge for low income subsidies: Passed 34 to 2 in the Senate
To create a state fund to collect money from a proposed mandate that would require utilities to impose an extra surcharge on customer bills to subsidize paying the delinquent bills of low income households. Reportedly this will impose around $60 million in extra charges on consumer gas and electric bills. The House has passed a rival bill (HB 5189) to use federal welfare money to provide these subsidies this year.

House Bill 4770, Ban government benefits for “domestic partners”: Passed 27 to 9 in the Senate
To prohibit the state, public schools, and local governments from providing medical benefits or other fringe benefits to an employee’s “domestic partner,” defined as someone who is not married to the employee and not a dependent or survivor. The Senate exempted state universities and community colleges from the bill.

House Bill 5086, Ban government sending payroll PAC money to union: Passed 62 to 46 in the House
To prohibit the state, school districts and local governments from deducting money from an employee’s paycheck and contributing it to a union Political Action Committee (PAC). The bill would grant residents the right to sue for violations.

House Bill 5030, Ban state workplace regulations more stringent than federal: Passed 62 to 46 in the House
To prohibit the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) promulgating rules more stringent than required by federal standards, unless specifically authorized by state statute.

House Bill 5187, Revise Oakland County board reapportionment: Passed 58 to 50 in the House
To give the Oakland County commission the authority to reapportion county commissioner districts, and to change the number of commissioners. Reportedly this is part of a plan to reduce the number of commissioners from 25 to 21. Under current law, the county’s reapportionment is done by a five-member board.

House Bill 5190, Prohibit utility surcharge for low income subsidies: Passed 62 to 46 in the House
To prohibit utilities from charging customers extra to pay the delinquent bills of low income households, which had been authorized in a provision of an earlier statute that was later repealed. Money the utilities have already collected for this would be returned to customers. House Bill 5189 appropriates $62 million in federal welfare money for the same purpose; Senate Bill 864 reauthorizes the repealed utility surcharges (see above).

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit http://www.MichiganVotes.org.

Presented by:  Eagle Forum

December 5, 2011

In this MegaVote for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes

• Senate: National Defense Authorization Act, FY2012
• House: Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act
• House: To reduce Federal spending and the deficit by terminating taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and party conventions and by terminating the Election Assistance Commission
• House: Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011
• House: Regulatory Accountability Act

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• House: Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011

• House: Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011

December 2, 2011

Weekly local legislator roll call report for the Romeo Area Tea Party

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

Mackinac Center

House Bill 4163, Require school bullying policies: Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate
To require schools to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying, but not one enumerating specific characteristics, including gender, race and sexual orientation. The bill does not include an exemption previously added by the Senate to its own bullying bill, Senate Bill 137, for “a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction.” That bill will be allowed to die in the House.

Senate Bill 484, Authorize state borrowing to pay off unemployment debt to feds: Passed 34 to 2 in the Senate
To authorize a state unemployment “obligation assessment” imposed on all employers to service the debt incurred through state borrowing to pay off some $3.2 billion owed to the federal government for unemployment benefits paid to residents over the past several years. Senate Bill 483 authorizes the borrowing (“bond sales”).

Senate Bill 806, Revise unemployment insurance social welfare program: Passed 23 to 11 in the Senate
To revise various elements of the state unemployment insurance social welfare system. This is part of the package authorizing state borrowing to pay off some $3.2 billion in unemployment system debt, owed because benefit payments exceeded payroll tax revenues. The bill would revise the formulas for assessing these payroll taxes on employers; require beneficiaries to accept alternative work at lower pay than currently required; increase required job-search disclosures and reporting by beneficiaries; clarify factors making an employee ineligible for unemployment benefits (like stealing or absenteeism); and more. It would also make employees in a “work sharing” program eligible for unemployment benefits.

House Bill 5125, Authorize elimination of road commissions: Passed 66 to 40 in the House
To establish that a county road commission can be eliminated by a county board if its creation was originally authorized by the county board, and eliminated by a vote of the people if that’s how it was originally authorized. If either happens, the county board would assume the duty of managing the county’s road system.

Senate Bill 567, Create another corporate subsidy program: Passed 95 to 11 in the House
To authorize cash subsidies of up to $10 million for firms selected by political appointees on the board of the state government’s “Michigan Strategic Fund,” who would have broad discretion to hand out these cash subsidies and subsidized loans to particular firms. This “Michigan Community Revitalization Program” would essentially replace subsidies provided through the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA), and also ones handed out under “brownfields” statutes, which were “open-ended,” whereas this program will hand out around $100 million annually (that’s the amount appropriated this year).

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit http://www.MichiganVotes.org.