Commentary

February 28, 2014, MichiganVotes Weekly Vote Report

House Bill 4168, Repeal mandate for sheriffs to kill unlicensed dogs: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate

To repeal a 1919 law that requires county sheriffs to locate and kill all unlicensed dogs, and which defines failure to do so as nonfeasance in office.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

 

Senate Bill 631, Revise carrier pigeon licensure mandate: Passed 34 to 0 in the Senate

To prohibit a person from getting a state-mandated carrier pigeon license if his or her facilities do not meet regulations imposed by the local government, but preempt locals from banning carrier pigeons outright.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

 

House Bill 4855, Expand lottery winner government debt garnishment: Passed 107 to 1 in the House

To revise a law that requires the state lottery bureau to deduct any unemployment benefit overpayments, child support arrearages or debts to the state from the winnings of a person who wins $1,000 or more. The bill would also require any debt or liability to the state welfare agency to be deducted from the winnings.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

 

Senate Bill 630, Let Lansing TIFA extend debt duration: Passed 110 to 0 in the House

To let a “tax increment finance authority” in the city of Lansing refinance debt with new loans that have maturities beyond what is currently allowed, and exempt these new loans from a 2001 law that restricts refinancing loans if there is no overall benefit to the municipality. Lansing wants to stretch out its loan repayments for cash flow purposes, because the extra tax revenue it presumed would result from projects funded by the debt (garage structures) has not been forthcoming. This would be the second time the legislature has allowed Lansing to extend debt in a manner not permitted by that 2001 municipal debt reform.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

 

House Bill 5108, Repeal ban on ticket scalping: Passed 66 to 42 in the House

To repeal a state law that bans ticket “scalping” at sports and entertainment events, or reselling tickets at a higher price through some service or agency.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"


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 https://www.michiganvotes.org.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.