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Michigan Bottle Bill Expansion:
In the summer of 2004, several environmental organizations
held a press conference to urge the passage of a bill to
expand the Bottle Deposit Law to include juice and water
containers. Groups are threatening to put the
measure on the 2006 ballot if legislative action is not
taken soon (see Bottle Bill Expansion link at left for
more details). One of our primary legislative
focuses remains preventing the expansion of the Bottle
Deposit Law if it requires used containers to be returned
to food stores. We oppose legislation that has been
introduced that would extend mandatory deposits to include
all other carbonated and non-carbonated beverages like
water, juice, ice tea and sports drinks if they are
packaged in metal, plastic or glass containers of a gallon
or less in size.
MGA
will not support any expansion of the Bottle Bill but will
support removing the redemption of dirty, pest-infested
beverage containers from grocery stores.
MGA supports the development of a comprehensive, statewide
recycling program that encourages greater curbside
recycling.
MGA continues to meet with legislators and environmental
groups to express our concerns about the political
movement in favor of bottle bill expansion. Of primary
importance is the compromise retailers would be forced to
make to protect the safe, sanitary nature of the food
store while increasing the amount of solid waste in the
back room. As founder of the Michigan Recycling
Partnership, MGA continues to work with others in the food
and beverage industry to find better solutions to the
problem of solid waste disposal.
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Repeal
of Item Pricing Law:
Michigan has the most restrictive item pricing law in the
nation. With very few exceptions, every item sold at
retail must be individually price marked. This antiquated
and redundant regulation thumbs its nose at the increased
accuracy and human resource efficiencies provided by
modern P.O.S. scanning technology. Working with
legislative leaders, MGA continues to back real reform of Michigan's
costly item pricing law, and lacking that opposes any
increase in retailer penalties. In addition, the
Association supports fair and reasonable enforcement of
the existing law -- a "level playing field" for all retail
formats.
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MGA Stops Retroactive Collection of Buy Down Tax on
Tobacco Sales:
The Michigan Department of Treasury has cited MGA members
during audits for not collecting sales tax on the "total
price" of a tobacco product. According to auditors,
if a manufacturer rebates a partial return of an item's
purchase price, the tax should be collect on the total
price of the item. We have successfully met with
Treasury officials to explain that this is both confusing
and a change in tax policy. Treasury officials have
agreed to not include this items in audits for now.
We will continue to meet with them to find a permanent
solution that does not require the retroactive payment of
taxes not charged by retailers.
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Internet Sales Law Levels Playing Field for Retailers:
MGA worked with legislators to advocate food
industry-friendly changes to the Streamlined Sales and Use
Tax legislation. We then supported passage to make
it easier for brick and mortar retailers to compete with
Internet and catalog businesses. The new law allows
Michigan to rejoin 42 other states and the District of
Columbia in developing a standardized system of collecting
sales and use taxes on catalog and Internet sales.
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MGA Holds Off Passage of Gas Stabilization Bill:
MGA opposed legislation introduced in both the House and
Senate to create the Petroleum Marketing Stabilization Act
to regulate gasoline sales and marketing in Michigan.
The bills include language prohibiting retailers from
offering a discount coupon on a gasoline purchase if the
consumer buys a featured food item. At our request,
the House legislation was sent to a special subcommittee
for review. At this time, the House Transportation
Committee says it will not approve the legislation as
written.
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Michigan Grocers First in Nation to Hold Food Security
Exercises:
Michigan grocers were the first in the nation to hold an
interactive food security reality check to help government
and industry leaders meet critical security challenges.
MGA was a key sponsor and organizer of the exercise held
on May 21, 2004 at Michigan State University's Kellogg
Center. More than 125 participants simulated four
aspects of a grocery store-related security situation,
moving through the threat, incident, response and recovery
stages to see how grocers, emergency response leaders and
government officials would react if food purchased in a
Michigan grocery store was purposely contaminated and
making people sick. The results: Face-to-face
communication between industry and government to find ways
to improve food security measures and response.
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Maintain Michigan's Current Electric Deregulation Law:
A controversial package of bills was introduced to change
the state's current electric deregulation law.
Passed in 2000, the current policy allows customers to
chose where they want to purchase electricity enabling
Michigan grocers, manufacturers, drug stores and schools
to save more than $100 million a year. MGA joined
the Consumers Choice Coalition to ensure that state
electric restructuring laws remain in place despite strong
opposition from DTE Energy and others.
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Continue to Oppose a State Ergonomics Rule:
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration
is in the process of drafting a rule to establish a state
ergonomics standard. In 2002, the federal government
opted for a voluntary approach rather than a
one-size-fits-all standard. MGA and the business
community support this voluntary ergonomics best practices
guidelines and oppose any state-mandated program that will
cost businesses millions of dollars and result in more
enforcement and fines from MIOSHA.
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Support Bills to Allow Pharmacies to Fill Long-Term
Prescriptions:
The Legislature is considering a five-bill package (HB
4987,
5435,
5436,
5437 and
5438), the Consumer Prescription Protection Act, to
allow local pharmacies to fill longer-term prescriptions
to better compete with mail order pharmacies.
Companies including the Big Three automakers, Blue Cross &
Blue Shield of Michigan and organized labor oppose the
bills. MGA is part of the Coalition for Quality
Health Care working to ensure passage of this important
legislation.
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MGA Fends Off Food Establishment License Fee Increase:
By working with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and
the Legislature, MGA was able to fend off an increase in
the Food Establishment License fee. MDA wanted to
increase the fee; instead, we urged legislators to find
money in the state budget to fund inspections. Our
efforts were successful leading to another MGA victory for
our members.
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Protecting the Food Industry from Frivolous Lawsuits:
MGA worked closely with the Michigan Restaurant
Association on House Bill 5809. Introduced by
Rep. David Palsrok (R-Manistee), the bill was signed by
the Governor on October 7. Public Act 367 of 2004
prohibits individuals from filing frivolous obesity civil
court suits against the food service industry.
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Reducing Taxes:
MGA supported resumption of the Single Business Tax
phase-out, and continuation of the rollback of State
Income Tax rates. With a projected $1.7 billion deficit
in the state's 2004 fiscal year, we will remain vigilant
in protecting the food industry from quick-fix tax and fee
increases to balance the budget.
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