Bipartisan, Bicameral Transportation Package Introduced

A package of 30 bills was introduced into the House and Senate Thursday, calling for increased funding for Michigan roads and the creation of a regional transit system for Southeast Michigan. All the legislation was referred to the House and Senate Transportation Committees where both Chairs, Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) and Representative Paul Opsommer (R-DeWitt), respectively, have indicated the priority will be legislation related to the Southeast Michigan regional transit issue.

The legislation should begin receiving hearings before the Committees soon. A brief run-down of the package:

· SB 909, HB 5309: Establishes a regional transit authority for Southeast Michigan. Sponsored by Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) and Rep. Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak), respectively

· SB 910, HB 5312: Creates an optional county registration fee to benefit public transit. Sponsored by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) and Rep. Douglas Geiss (D-Taylor), respectively

· SB 911, HB 5311: Creates optional registration fees for regional transit authority. Sponsored by Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) and Rep. David Rutledge (D-Ypsilanti), respectively

· SB 912, HB 5310: Amends the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act to exempt Southeast Michigan regional transit authority public transit facilities from local zoning ordinances or regulations. Sponsored by Sen. Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) and Rep. Jim Townsend (D-Royal Oak), respectively

· SB 913, HB 5302: Requires local road agencies to adopt best practices and asset management standards as a condition of receiving funds. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake Township) and Rep. Roy Schmidt (D-Grand Rapids), respectively

· SB 914, HB 5301: Modifies conditions to receive funding from the Michigan transportation fund. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake Township) and Rep. Amanda Price (R-Holland), respectively

· SB 915, HB 5306: Revises criteria for funding the comprehensive transportation fund and makes miscellaneous changes. Sponsored by Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair) and Rep. Kevin Daley (R-Lum), respectively

· SB 916, HB 5307: Amends definition of public transportation corporations. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake Township) and Rep. Lesia Liss (D-Warren), respectively

· SB 917, HB 5308: Revises eligibility for funding from comprehensive transportation fund. Sponsors Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake Township) and

Rep. Marilyn Lane

(D-Fraser), respectively

· SB 918, HB 5298: Implements a wholesale tax on fuel. Sponsored by Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township) and Rep. Rick Olson (R-York Township), respectively

· SB 919, HB 5300: Modifies vehicle registration fees. Sponsors Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township) and Rep. Jud Gilbert (R-Algonac), respectively

· SB 920, HB 5299: Eliminates the flat tax rate on fuel and establishes an 18-month limitation period for filing refund claims. Sponsored by Sen. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township) and Rep. Rick Olson (R-York Township), respectively

· SB 921, HB 5304: Changes conditions for funding and creates sunset for meetings of complete streets advisory council if the State Transportation Commission adopts a complete streets policy. Sponsored by Sen. Mark Jansen (R-Gaines Township) and Rep. Mark Ouimet (R-Scio Township), respectively

· HB 5303: Creates commercial corridor fund and requires satisfaction of certain conditions for funding. Sponsored by Rep. Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit)

· HB 5305: Changes bidding requirements for contracts between State Transportation Commission, county road commissions, and cities or villages. Sponsored by Rep. Matt Lori (R-Constantine)

· HB 5313: Modifies conditions to receive funding from Michigan Transportation Fund. Sponsored by Rep. Bradford Jacobsen (R-Oxford)

· HB 5314: Allows dedication of lane for public transit. Sponsored by Rep. Rudy Hobbs (D-Lathrup Village)

posted by PAA Online , Friday, January 27, 2012 10:51 AM
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State Income Tax Reduction Introduced

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Township) introduced legislation this week to return Michigan’s individual income tax rate to 3.9 percent by 2017. Senate Bill 906 was referred to Sen. Brandenburg’s Committee where he has identified it as a priority. The measure received 10 Republican and 1 Democratic co-sponsor.

In 2007, the income tax rate was raised from 3.9 to 4.35 percent with a reduction schedule. During the widespread tax reform of 2011, the reduction schedule was altered to delay the roll-back to 4.25 until January of 2013, and then lock the rate there.

Under Senator Brandenburg’s bill, the rate would decrease to 4.1 percent in 2014, to 4.05 percent in 2015, to 3.95 percent in 2016 and finally to the pre-2007 rate of 3.9 percent in 2017. Estimates are that each 0.1 percent will generate $175 million in revenue.

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) has indicated his preference to see what the numbers look like at the May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference before making decisions on the proposal.

posted by PAA Online , 10:50 AM
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Detroit Income Tax Revenue To Take Hit

The good news is that things are beginning to show signs of improvement in the City of Detroit. The bad news is that these improvements have caused the City to fail in meeting three of the four criteria necessary to prevent a roll-back of the income tax rate.

Michigan’s City Income Tax Law was amended in 1998 to begin rolling-back Detroit’s tax rates; however, it also included a provision that allowed the roll-backs to be paused if the City meets at least three of four criteria:

· Unemployment rate of 10-percent or higher

· Withdrawal from “rainy day” fund for previous two years or a zero balance in the fund

· Income tax revenue growth rate of .95% or less

· Local tax base growth rate of 80 percent or less of the statewide tax base growth rate

According to a report released by the Citizens Research Council of Michigan (CRC), the City of Detroit has met the first two; however, it will not meet either of the last two. This will cause the City to reduce the income tax rate beginning at the start of the new fiscal year, July 1^st, potentially costing Detroit $8.5 million in revenue. The rate reductions will be from 2.5 to 2.4 percent for residents and from 1.25 to 1.2 percent for non-residents, unless state law is amended.

posted by PAA Online , 10:50 AM
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Schuette Rolls Out Public Safety Proposal

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette took to the podium this week to lay out a proposal for increased public safety – more than a month ahead of the Governor’s expected special message on public safety. The Governor, Speaker of the House Jase Bolger (R-Marshall), and Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) are reviewing the proposal.

The first of the two pillars of Mr. Schuette’s proposal calls for the use of $140 million of the budget surplus to hire 1,000 new police officers. This piece, however, was met with mixed responses from some members of the Legislature as they cautioned against the state going down the road of committing to expenditures that may not be able to be paid for in future years.

The other pillar of the proposal calls for an automatic 25-year prison sentence for an individual convicted of a fourth violent felony. The “VO-4” proposal allows for the first three felonies to be any combination of violent or non-violent; however, if the fourth is violent (examples include carjacking, kidnapping, armed robbery, manslaughter, criminal sexual conduct, etc.) the individual would receive a mandatory 25-year sentence.

Other portions of the Attorney General’s proposal include the enhancement of laws targeting human trafficking, child sexual abuse, and tougher sentencing for public officials convicted of taking bribes.

posted by PAA Online , 10:49 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Clover Adams Heads to DEQ

Jamie Clover Adams has taken a position as Director of Policy at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Quality of Life Group and will be leaving the Senate, where she currently serves as Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville’s Deputy Chief of Staff. Ms. Adams has been on staff in the Michigan Senate since coming to the state from Kansas in 2003.

Carey to Serve as Interim Spokesperson

State Representative Jeff Irwin’s (D-Ann Arbor) Legislative Aide, Katie Carey, will serve as interim spokesperson for the House Democratic Caucus. Current press secretary Jessica Tramontana is on maternity leave following the birth of a healthy baby girl. Ms. Carey was formerly communications director for the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Waters Running in 14th

Former State Representative Mary Waters (D-Detroit) announced her intention to run for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 14^th Congressional District. The race already includes Democratic Congressmen Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit) and Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) facing off, as well as Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence.

Redistricting Maps Gain US DOJ Approval

Despite an ongoing lawsuit in the Eastern District of the U.S. District Court filed by the NAACP, the U.S. Department of Justice granted approval to the maps signed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in August. The federal Voting Rights Act requires the review.

posted by PAA Online , 10:45 AM
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