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.
Senate Bill 1578, Authorize county arts taxes, passed in the Senate (35 to 2)
To allow counties to create an arts authority with the power to impose a
property tax of up to .2 mils for up to 20 years, with the money going
to subsidize art museums. A county vote of the people would be required.
The bill opens the door to an Oakland, Macomb and Wayne County arts tax
to subsidize the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
Senate Bill 1150, Borrow-and-spend $630 million for new college buildings, passed in the Senate (28 to 9)
To authorize borrowing and spending $630 million for a number of state university and college building projects.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
Senate Bill 1515, Increase hotel and motel tax, passed in the Senate (31 to 7)
To increase from 2 percent to 5 percent the amount of room tax that can
be imposed on hotels and motels by any local convention and tourism
marketing bureau.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
Senate Bill 1456, Allow customer rate hikes to subsidize special Hemlock Semi utility deal, passed in the Senate (38 to 0)
To allow an exception to an anti-"cross subsidization" law so as to
protect the special rates granted by Consumers Energy to Hemlock
Semiconductor; in effect it would cause residential and other business
customers to subsidize Hemlock's below-cost rates.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
House Bill 6224, Grant wine wholesaler monopolies & repeal Sunday morning alcohol ban, passed in the Senate (25 to 13)
To grant wine wholesalers within defined regions a monopoly, and repeal
the ban on Sunday morning liquor sales if the local government doesn't
have a ban.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
House Bill 5618, Earmark some state pension money indirectly to minority-owned firms, passed in the House (57 to 43)
To require state pension managers to direct a portion of state pension
funds to businesses located in one of eight so-called "cities of
promise" (meaning eight decaying, economically declining urban-core
cities)
. Reportedly this policy is a priority of the Obama
administration, and indirectly a way to direct more government money to
minority-owned businesses.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
House Bill 6484, Authorize state government debt for rail projects, passed in the House (67 to 31)
To authorize up to $100 million in state borrowing and additional debt
(“selling bonds”) to build a new “fixed-guideway transit” system and
other rail projects.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
House Bill 6435, Authorize “plug in” electric car charging station tax break, Passed in the House (65 to 39)
To authorize a $20,000 business tax break for gas station owners who
install charging points for “plug in” electric cars. The bill amends a
2008 law that also authorizes $20,000 tax breaks for installing “E-85”
ethanol pumps.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
House Bill 4493, Ban multiple passengers for beginning drivers, passed in the House (79 to 19)
To prohibit drivers under age 18 with a level two graduated driver
license from having more than one other unrelated minor in the car
unless accompanied by a parent or guardian; or from using a cell phone
while driving; or driving after 10 p.m. and before 5 a.m.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
House Bill 6093, Give tax break to North Honda Motorsports, passed in the House (56 to 44)
To grant a brownfield tax credit for North Honda Motorsports in
Menominee. Reportedly the tax break was previously denied by the
Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
House Bill 6224, Grant wine wholesaler monopolies; repeal Sunday morning alcohol ban, passed in the House (81 to 21)
To grant wine wholesalers within defined regions a monopoly, and repeal
the ban on Sunday morning liquor sales if the local government doesn't
have a ban.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
House Bill 6407, Allow customer rate hikes to subsidize special Hemlock Semi utility deal, passed in the House (82 to 19)
To allow an exception to an anti-"cross subsidization" law so as to
protect the special rates granted by Consumers Energy to Hemlock
Semiconductor; in effect it would cause residential and other business
customers to subsidize Hemlock's below-cost rates.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
House Bill 5858, Borrow-and-spend $1.15 billion for new college buildings, passed in the House (66 to 35)
To authorize borrowing and spending $1.15 billion for a number of state university and college building projects.
Who voted yes and who voted no.
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.