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Legislative Session Accomplishments Archive
Legislation
and Administrative Regulation
Hard Work and Grassroots Support Bring Results
2007 Legislative Session
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Victory! Single Business Tax Replaced
with Michigan Business Tax:
On July 12, our state officially enacted the Michigan
Business Tax. Michigan’s Single Business Tax expires
December 31, 2007, and the MBT takes effect January 1,
2008. The MBT is meant to be revenue neutral, meaning it
will produce about the same $1.9 billion a year as the SBT.
MGA worked for the last two years to make the new tax
friendly for the food industry, and we thank the state
Treasurer, and Senate and House leadership for hearing our
concerns that a tax based solely on gross receipts would
hurt our industry. Based on the member information we
received, we expect the MBT to be a fair tax. Notable
elements for our industry:
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The modified gross receipts provision allows you to
deduct inventory.
The compensation credit rewards employers who provide
benefits.
Special compensation credits reward businesses that
expand and grow in Michigan.
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MGA Calls for Repeal of
New 6% Tax on Services: MGA is a founding member of
a statewide coalition to repeal the new tax on services before
it does damage to our economy and costs Michigan jobs.
The Ax the Tax Coalition is made up of individual job
providers, trade associations and chambers of commerce from
across Michigan.
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Food Safety Law
Updated:
As part of a workgroup, MGA
spent over a year helping to craft legislation to keep our
state’s food safety laws updated. This comprehensive set of
changes helps us in the battle against food-borne illnesses
and strengthens Michigan’s food safety net enhancing consumer
confidence in the food chain.
Public Act 113 of
2007 was signed into law on October 16, 2007
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MGA
Participates in Homeland Security Training:
Michigan
Grocers Association participated in a two-day homeland
security training exercise to review, test and evaluate the
State of Michigan’s Emergency Public Information Plan.
The
Michigan Department of Agriculture and included Public
Information Officers and other staff from the governor’s
office and 12 State of Michigan departments, including the MDA,
Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality, Michigan Department of Labor and
Economic Growth and the State Police, initiated the exercise.
The food business has an obligation to be prepared for any
disaster. Having opportunities such as this for multiple
departments and organizations to collaborate will increase the
chances of successful disaster recovery.
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Support Proposals to Expand
Alcohol Sales: Bills have been introduced to allow
retail liquor licensees to sell alcohol:
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From 2 a.m. until 4 a.m. if the business
holds a late night permit, which would carry a $2,500
application fee. |
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On Sunday between the hours
of 7 a.m. and 12 noon if the business holds a Sunday morning
permit, which would carry an application fee of $1,500. |
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MGA worked on this issue
several years go, but it died during Lame Duck session. We
support the current bipartisan bills.
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Promote
Recycling; Stop Proposed Expansion of Bottle Deposit Law:
MGA continues to advocate for a statewide approach to
recycling that captures the majority of our solid waste and to
support Rep. Goeff Hansen’s Penny Plan for Recycling Makes
Cents. Legislation; we continue to oppose bottle bill
expansion. However, until the state’s budget deficit is
resolved, there are no plans to move Hansen’s legislation.
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Continue Efforts to Repeal Michigan’s Item Pricing Law:
We will continue efforts to modernize the Item Pricing Law,
encouraged by the support reform legislation has received in
both the House and Senate. However, Governor Jennifer
Granholm continues to indicate her opposition to any changes
to the archaic regulation and vows to veto any legislation we
successfully pass.
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Continue to Fight to Stop Development of State Ergonomics
Standard: Last year Governor Granholm vetoed
legislation that would have prohibited the state from
instituting onerous and costly ergonomics standards. We
support the federal government’s voluntary approach to
industry- specific ergonomics regulation and will continue to
advocate to stop MIOSHA from promulgating a job-killing state
ergonomics standard for Michigan businesses.
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Ensure
that Legislation to Limit Restrictions on Gift Cards Remains
Fair to MGA Retail Members: Senate Bill 387 would
prevent a company from charging an inactivity fee on a gift
card and from imposing an expiration date. SB 388 would
reinforce an Attorney General opinion that five years after
the purchase of a gift card any remaining balance on the card
reverts back to the state’s unclaimed property division. MGA
has met with legislators and participated in work groups as
these bills were drafted and considered by the Legislature,
and we will continue to fight to help ensure that any
legislation passed remains fair to MGA member retailers. |
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