Anti-Tax Group Launches Ballot Drive   

Michigan Alliance for Prosperity (MAP) this week launched the newest ballot proposal which requires all potential tax increases in Michigan be approved by a statewide public vote or a supermajority (2/3rds vote) in both the State House and Senate. Petitions are being circulated to gather the minimum of 322,609 valid signatures of registered voters in Michigan by July 9 in order to get the proposal on the November 2012 ballot. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce will be reviewing the language in the coming weeks. 

This MAP ballot proposal joins a growing list of ballot proposals that could be before voters in November including: two different proposals to allow for the expansion of casinos in the state; the Renewable Portfolio Standard proposal requiring utilities to obtain 25 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025; the Emergency Manager Law proposal which asks residents if they want to keep the placement of emergency financial managers in place (Public Act 4 of 2011); "Protect Our Jobs" proposal, sponsored by the unions, enshrines new collective bargaining rights into the Constitution for government and private sector employees; the SEIU proposal relating to the unionization of home health care workers; and "The People Should Decide" ballot proposal which requires a vote of Michigan residents before any new bridge between Detroit and Canada can be built.

In the coming weeks, the Michigan Chamber will provide analysis of these different proposals as well as share any position as determined by its Board of Directors. We will keep you informed of all the developments as we head toward the November election.

Fiscal Year 2012-13 Budget Moving Through Legislature 

Both the State House and the Michigan Senate are in the process of finalizing the 2012-13 state budget. Reports indicate that each Chamber will pass their budgets this week and meetings to negotiate differences will start as early as next week between the State House, Senate and the Gov. Rick Snyder Administration. 

On May 16, a Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference will take place where the Governor and the Legislature will agree upon the revenue projections for next year, and what money is available to spend. Following this meeting, the House, Senate and Administration will reconcile any differences and work to complete the budget. It looks probable that the budget could be completed sometime in early June, just as it was last year. This would be the second year in a row for an early completion of the budget allowing the state to avoid the embarrassing closure of government that happened frequently under the Granholm Administration. 

PPT Legislation Moves Through Committee Process 

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce will testify before the Senate Finance Committee today in support of Senate Bills 1065-1072, legislation to reduce Michigan's business personal property tax.   

The Chamber firmly believes that all Michigan job providers deserve and need personal property tax relief but believes this legislation is a very good step forward. 

Read the full testimony offered in committee today by Tricia Kinley, Senior Directory of Tax & Regulatory Reform.