Jan. 27, 2012 MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call

Note: There will be no roll call report next week. Any noteworthy votes next week will be included in the Feb. 10 roll call report.

Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

Senate Bill 204, Eliminate county commissioner vacancy special election requirement: Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate
To eliminate a requirement that a special election must be held when a county commissioner vacancy occurs during an odd numbered year. Under current law, special elections already are not required if the vacancy occurs in an even-nubered year (a regular election year, that is).

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 721, Impose "plastic bulk merchandise container” transaction regulations: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To impose new recordkeeping and other regulations on the buying and selling of 10 or more "plastic bulk merchandise containers” such as those used by soft drink and bread manufacturers. Reportedly, people steal these and sell them to plastics recyclers.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4658, Repeal prison store sales tax exemption: Passed 93 to 13 in the House
To eliminate the sales tax exemption on purchases by prisoners at prison stores.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4116, Require review and posting of state agreements with feds: Passed 106 to 0 in the House
To require that before entering any memorandum of understanding, agreement, compact, or similar binding agreement between this state and the federal government or another state, a state agency must assert that the agreement does not violate the state constitution, and does not exceed the authority granted to the agency by the legislature. Information on each agreement would also be posted on a state web site. A requirement that the Attorney General approve each agreement was not included in the final bill.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4653, Ban office-holder names on election materials: Passed 106 to 0 in the House
To prohibit the name of an elected or appointed official from being printed on any election-related material that is posted, displayed, or distributed in a polling place on election day, subject to fines of $100 to $250. House Bill 4656 would apply the prohibition to absentee ballot materials given or mailed to a voter, and passed by the same margin.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 130, Ban drivers license renewal if three unpaid parking tickets: Passed 58 to 48 in the House
To reduce the number of unpaid parking tickets a person can have before the Secretary of State will not renew a driver license from six to three, which then requires paying an additional $45 "clearance fee." This vote sends the bill to the Governor for signature or veto.

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.

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