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

Senate Bill 1040, Senate vote on House pension reform proposal: Failed 16 to 22 in the Senate
To not concur with a House-passed version of the school pension reform bill, which sends the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences. The main dispute is over the Senate-passed provision to “close” the school pension system to new hires, and instead give them a 401(k) account (as has been done for new state employees hired since 1997). The House instead proposes keeping a somewhat less generous "defined benefit" pension system for new employees.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5015, Appropriate foreclosure lawsuit settlement money: Passed 31 to 6 in the Senate
To appropriate $88.8 million from a national mortgage foreclosure lawsuit settlement for various spending, including $25 million for urban “blight” reduction programs (of which $10 goes to Detroit), $20 million for home loan “debt counseling” and legal subsidies, $15 million for home loan subsidies, and more.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5566, Increase school and local “deficit spending” debt: Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate 
To greatly increase the level of borrowing from the state that school districts and local governments can use to cover past and current deficit spending that exceeds annual revenues. Specifically, a $5 million annual cap on this state lending would increase to $85 million through 2018, and the maximum amount per loan would increase from $3 million to $20 million. Short term, this would primarily authorize state money for the Benton Harbor, Muskegon Heights, Highland Park and Pontiac school districts.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5015, Appropriate foreclosure lawsuit settlement money: Passed 100 to 3 in the House
To appropriate $88.8 million from a national mortgage foreclosure lawsuit settlement for various spending, including $25 million for urban “blight” reduction programs (of which $10 goes to Detroit), $20 million for home loan “debt counseling” and legal subsidies, $15 million for home loan subsidies, and more.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 1130, Revise state “critical dunes” use restrictions: Passed 63 to 40 in the House 
To revise a law restricting the use by property owners of land considered to be “critical dunes.” Among other things this would require state approval of local regulations more restrictive than state ones, and allow use permits to be denied only when it is “more likely than not that the actual harm to the environment will significantly damage the public interest” according to burden of proof criteria specified in the bill.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

The Michigan Legislature has entered a summer recess. Many bills were passed in the legislative sessions just before the break.

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

Senate Bill 1129, Authorize local “pension obligation bonds”: Passed 25 to 11 in the Senate
To allow local governments to borrow money to cover unfunded employee pension liabilities if the local has closed its traditional “defined benefit” pension system to new employees. Unlike other local government borrowing (usually called “bonding” or “selling bonds”), no vote of the people would be required.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5477, Increase corporate subsidy overhead cap: Passed 29 to 7 in the Senate 
To increase from 15 percent to 25 percent a cap on the overhead expenses allowed for recipients under certain "Michigan Strategic Fund" corporate subsidy programs. Also, to require subsidy deals to contain more specific "claw-back" provisions requiring repayment of subsidies if specified performance measures are not met, the details of which would be open to the public. Finally, the bill would authorize investments or loans of taxpayer dollars to "micro-enterprise lenders."

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5414, Establish more “dark sky preserves”: Passed 26 to 10 in the Senate 
To designate Wilderness State Park, a portion of Port Crescent State Park and certain state forestland in Emmet County as “dark sky preserves.” Also, to prohibit any "dark sky preserves" in the Upper Peninsula, or restrictions on motorized and other recreational use based on the designation.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4116, Require review and posting of state agreements with feds: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To require that when 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 it does not violate the state constitution, or exceed the agency's statutory authority. Information on each agreement would also be posted on a state web site.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5468, Revise prepaid cell phone 9-1-1 tax: Passed 29 to 7 in the Senate 
To replace current taxes imposed on pre-paid cell phone service to cover the cost of government 9-1-1 service, with a new 1.92 percent levy imposed at the point of sale (like sales tax). The current 9-1-1 service tax regime would still apply to other kinds of cell phone accounts.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5714, Authorize temporary administrative law drug bans: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate 
To give a state agency the power to ban a drug it says poses an “imminent danger” even though the legislature has not voted for a new law banning the drug, and to establish procedures for this.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5164, End government inspections of non-motorized rental boats: Passed 31 to 6 in the Senate
To eliminate a requirement that rental boats that are non-motorized, including canoes, kayaks or rafts, must get government inspections. The bill would slightly increase the fees for annual rental motorboat inspections and revise other details of boat rental regulations.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 1146, Expand historic vehicle registration discount during Dream Cruise month: Passed 109 to 1 in the House
To establish that during the month of August all vehicles 25 years old or more which are owned solely as a collectors item and not used for daily transportation will be considered “historic vehicles” for purposes of obtaining a discounted vehicle registration. During August, use restrictions associated with the discounted licenses would be waived.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 789, Authorize temporary administrative law drug bans: Passed 107 to 0 in the House:

To give a state agency the power to temporarily ban a drug they say poses an “imminent threat,” even though the legislature has not voted for a new law banning the drug.>

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5701, Expand auto theft prevention authority: Passed 96 to 12 in the House 
To expand the duties of a state automobile theft prevention authority to include insurance fraud related to unlimited medical benefits provided by Michigan's no-fault law, overhaul its structure and authorize $21 million in assessments (taxes) on insurers to pay for this.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5302, Require local road agency reforms: Passed 63 to 45 in the House 
To make state funding of local road agencies contingent on their adopting “best practices,” including requiring employees to contribute a certain amount to their health insurance fringe benefit; capping the cost of employee retirement plans (watered-down from requiring that new employees get 401[k] plans rather than "defined benefit" pensions); and adopting specified transparency and accountability measures.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 1085, Project labor ban “re-do”: Passed 63 to 44 in the House 
To “re-do” the law passed in 2011 prohibiting “project labor agreements” in state, school and local public construction projects, so as to circumvent a union lawsuit that has prevented enforcement of PLA ban. Project labor agreements require non-union contractors bidding on a government project to pay employee union dues and contribute to union pension and health insurance benefit funds, even though their employees are not union members.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

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

House Bill 5699, Cut state income tax: Passed 31 to 7 in the Senate
To move forward to Oct. 1 2013 an income tax cut from 4.35 percent to 4.25 percent that under current law will happen on Jan, 1, 2013.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5700, Increase personal income tax exemption: Passed 32 to 6 in the Senate
To increase the personal income tax exemption from $3,700 to $3,950 on Oct. 1, 2012, and increase it to $4,000 on Jan. 1, 2014.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5246, Expand corporate research subsidies: Passed 28 to 8 in the Senate
To authorize two additional “certified technology parks” ("smart zones"), in which revenues "captured" from other local governments using “tax increment financing” schemes are used to pay the debt service on money borrowed by a government authority to benefit particular "large corporate research" operations.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5541, Borrow and spend more for university projects: Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate
To authorize $613 million in new government spending and debt for 18 state university construction projects.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5717, Authorize fruit grower crop loss loans: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To authorize $15 million in state-subsidized low-interest loans for fruit growers and producers who suffered crop damage due to an extended March warm spell followed by a hard freeze.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5660, Exempt frozen "drinks in pouch" from bottle deposit mandate: Passed 98 to 11 in the House 
To exclude frozen "drink a pouch" containers (such as a popular "Margarita in a pouch" beverage) from the state’s 10-cent bottle deposit mandate.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 1052, Repeal state “beach grooming” regulations and restrictions: Passed 82 to 28 in the House
To essentially repeal state regulations mandating a permit for "beach grooming." The restrictions were passed in 2003 during a period of low Great Lakes water levels, when many lakefront property owners and resorts were unable to access or use beaches because of excessive weed growth.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5225, Repeal pistol purchase permit mandate: Passed 74 to 36 in the House
To repeal the law that prohibits purchasing a pistol unless a person gets a "purchase permit" from local police. The bill would also require police departments to destroy the records they have accumulated under this law.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 248, Limit state government land ownership: Passed 58 to 52 in the House
To cap the amount of state-owned Department of Natural Resources land at 4,650,000 acres, with some exceptions, and 3,910,000 acres north of a line between Mason and Arenac counties. Also, to require the DNR to post on its website how much land it owns and to develop a strategic plan to guide the acquisition and disposition of state lands.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 803, Require voters to affirm citizenship: Passed 67 to 43 in the House
To require voters to affirm that they are a U.S. citizen when voting or applying for an absentee ballot.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 754, Regulate “third-party voter registration organizations”: Passed 66 to 43 in the House
To require “third-party voter registration organizations” to register with the state, turn in late registrations within 48 hours, provide their “voter registration agents” with state approved instruction in proper procedures, and require their agents to sign a statement affirming receipt of this instruction. This measure was introduced in response to widespread reports of alleged vote fraud committed by the ACORN organization's voter registration arm. The bill would also require a person to show a photo identification when registering in person to vote.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5711, Impose more abortion regulations: Passed 70 to 39 in the House
To require an abortion provider to ask a woman seeking an abortion if her husband, relatives, employer, the father or putative father, his parents or any other individual in a position of authority has threatened, intimidated, or coerced her into seeking an abortion, and require the Department of Community Health to produce information, screening tools, and protocols for this. Also, to impose more rigorous state “freestanding surgical outpatient facility” regulations on clinics that perform at least six abortions per month. Finally, the bill would establish that the remains of an aborted fetus are subject to the same laws that apply to the disposition of dead bodies of humans who have been born.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 316, Require kindergartners be 5 on Sept. 1: Passed 66 to 44 in the House
To require children to be age 5 by Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten, rather than by Dec. 1 under current law. This earlier age cut-off would be phased in one month at a time over three years, starting in 2013. A child who would have been eligible under the current requirements could still attend if the parents "opt in" by notifying the school by June 1. The phase-in and "opt-in" was negotiated because school districts get money from the state for each kindergartner, whose numbers would be reduced during the transition period.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5729, Cut state income tax rate: Passed 97 to 13 in the House 
To gradually cut the state individual income tax rate until it reaches 3.9 percent on Jan. 1, 2018.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 1040, Revise school employee retirement system: Passed 57 to 47 in the House 
To no longer provide post-retirement health benefits to new school employees, and instead give them a 401(k) contribution equal to 2 percent of their salary. Also, current retirees who are under age 65 on Jan. 1, 2013 would have to contribute 20 percent to the cost of these health benefits, up from 10 percent now. The bill would also authorize “prefunding” these retiree health benefits (which are optional and not an enforceable obligation on the state); the annual amount is not specified but is probably $100-$200 million. In addition, current school employees would have to contribute more toward their pensions, or else receive benefits calculated under a less generous formula. The House did not adopt a Senate-passed provision to “close” the school pension system to new hires and instead give them a 401(k) account (as has been done for new state employees hired since 1997).

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

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

Senate Bill 1125, Authorize more state government housing subsidy debt: Passed 33 to 5 in the Senate
To increase from $3 billion to $4.2 billion the amount of debt the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) may incur in performing its role of providing taxpayer-backed mortgage loan guarantees, subsidies to certain developers and more.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 620, Authorize “parent trigger” charter school conversion of failing schools: Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate
To require a public school that is in the lowest-achieving 5 percent of schools statewide to be essentially converted into a charter school if 60 percent of the parents sign a petition requesting this, or 51 percent of the parents plus 60 percent of the teachers. Employees in the resulting "conversion school" would not be subject to the district's union contract or necessarily included in the state-run school pension system. Republicans Caswell, Emmons, Hansen, Jones, Rocca and Schuitmaker joined all Democrats in voting "no."

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 1146, Expand historic vehicle registration discount during Dream Cruise month: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To establish that during the month of August all vehicles 25 years old or more which are owned solely as a collectors item and not used for daily transportation will be considered “historic vehicles” for purposes of obtaining a discounted vehicle registration.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 1130, Revise state “critical dunes” use restrictions: Passed 26 to 12
To revise a law restricting the use by property owners of land considered to be “critical dunes.” Among other things this would prohibit local regulations more restrictive than state ones, and allow use permits to be denied only when it is “more likely than not that the actual harm to the environment will significantly damage the public interest” according to burden of proof criteria specified in the bill.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5009, Exempt senior center poker from (private) gambling ban: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To exempt low stakes card games (25-cent maximum “ante” and $5 maximum "pot" and initial "buy-in") in government (but not private) senior centers from state prohibitions on (private) gambling. Under current law the exemption applies only to senior citizen housing facilities.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 859, Regulate “portable electronic device” extended warranty plans: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To impose new regulations on extended warranty and service plans sold to cover portable electronic devices. The bill would define these agreements as “insurance” and regulate them under the same comprehensive regulatory regime imposed on the sale of regular insurance policies.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 984, Repeal ban on non-contiguous state long gun purchase: Passed 36 to 2 in the Senate
To repeal a prohibition on Michigan residents buying rifles or shotguns in another state unless it is contiguous with Michigan. Under the bill, Michigan residents could buy long guns in any state.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5372, 2012-2013 state education budget: Passed 21 to 17 in the Senate
The state K-12, college and university budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2012. House Bill 5365 authorizes the rest of state government spending. This bill appropriates $12.944 billion for K-12 public schools, compared to $12.359 billion the previous year; $1.399 billion for state universities, compared to $1.364 billion the previous year; and $294 million for community colleges, vs. $283 million the previous year. Of these amounts, $1.798 billion is federal money, and $1.839 billion comes from Michigan taxpayers.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5372, 2012-2013 state education budget: Passed 58 to 51 in the House
The state K-12, college and university budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2012. See previous vote for details.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 351, Earmark some sales tax money to roads: Passed 71 to 37 in the House
To earmark up to $100 million of sales tax revenue realized from fuel sales to road projects each year, based on a formula specified in the bill

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5223, Require drug testing of welfare applicants: Passed 71 to 37 in the House
To require drug testing of recipients of state welfare benefits if an "empirically validated screening tool" suggests a reasonable suspicion, and prohibit benefits if a person tests positive.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5548, Increase health benefit contribution by retired legislators: Passed 100 to 8 in the House 
To require former legislators receiving the lifetime health insurance benefits granted at age 55 to those who spent at least six years in office to pay 20 percent of the cost, rather than the current 10 percent. This benefit was recently repealed for future legislators, although the state Senate succeeded in amending it so that 36 out of 38 current state Senators and 14 out of 110 current House members will still get the benefit.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5246, Expand corporate research subsidies: Passed 87 to 20 in the House
To authorize two additional “certified technology parks” ("smart zones") in which “tax increment financing” would be used to pay the debt on money borrowed by a government authority to benefit particular "large corporate research" operations.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5541, Borrow more for university projects: Passed 85 to 23 in the House 
To authorize $613 million in new government debt for 18 state university construction projects.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5705, Use Detroit utility tax for streetlights instead of pay income tax: Passed 92 to 14 in the House
To allow $12.5 million in annual revenue from a Detroit utility tax originally intended pay for police officers to instead be used to pay for the streetlights provided by the municipal lighting authority proposed by House Bill 5688. This bill also requires passage of another one (Senate Bill 970) which would allow Detroit to raise its city income tax to 3.0 percent for residents and 1.5 percent for non-residents who work in the city.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5699, Cut state income tax: Passed 103 to 5 in the House
To move forward to Oct. 1 2013 an income tax cut from 4.35 percent to 4.25 percent that under current law will happen on Jan, 1, 2013. Also, to increase the personal income tax exemption from $3,700 to $3,950 on the same date. All told, this would save taxpayers $103 million this year.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5566, Increase school and local “deficit spending” debt: Passed 73 to 34 in the House
To greatly increase the level of borrowing from the state that school districts and local governments can use to cover “deficit spending” that exceeds their current revenues. Specifically, a $5 million annual cap on this state lending would increase to $100 million each year through 2018, and the maximum amount per loan would increase from $3 million to $20 million.

 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 visithttps://www.michiganvotes.org.

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

House Bill 5365, 2012-2013 state budget (non-education part): Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate
The non-education part of an "omnibus" state government budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2012. (House Bill 5372 contains school, college and university spending.) This would appropriate $34.355 billion, compared to $33.022 billion the previous year. Of this, $16.237 billion comes from state tax, fee and other revenue, and the rest is federal money ($18.118 billion, compared to $17.469 billion the previous year).

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 961, K-12 public schools budget: Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate

The House-Senate conference report for the school aid budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2012. This would appropriate $12.944 billion, compared to $12.659 billion the previous year. The bill would increase the per-pupil foundation grant to school districts that currently get less than average by $120, and other districts would get smaller increases based on student performance and their adoption of fiscal best practices.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 951, Department of Corrections budget: Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate
The Department of Corrections budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2012. This appropriate $2.000 billion in gross spending, compared to $1.936 billion enrolled in 2011. A Senate-passed plan to save money by outsourcing the management of one prison was not agreed to by the House. This conference report was also folded into House Bill 5365.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4096, Place state spending information on-line: Passed 110 to 0 in the House
To require the state to post online a free searchable database containing the details of all agency purchases, contracts and grants.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5196, Require government & school employee compensation disclosures: Passed 110 to 0 in the House
To require schools and local governments post online the number of employees in each job classification, total annual wages paid, the annual cost of benefits, and the terms of any severance agreement. The bill was introduced after a Wayne County political appointee severance pay scandal.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5660, Exempt "drinks in bag" from bottle bill: Passed 91 to 19 in the House
To exclude "drink in a bag" containers from the state’s 10-cent bottle deposit mandate. Specifically, containers made of aluminum and plastic, or aluminum and paper, where the aluminum represents less than 20 percent of the unfilled container weight, and less than 5 percent of the total weight of the filled container.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4513, Require kindergartners be 5 on Sept. 1: Passed 64 to 45 in the House
To require children to be age 5 by Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten, rather than by Dec. 1 under current law. This earlier age cut-off would be phased in one month at a time over three years, starting in 2013. A child who would have been eligible under the current requirements could still attend if the parents "opt in" by notifying the school by June 1. The phase-in and "opt-in" was negotiated because school districts get money from the state for each kindergartner, whose numbers would be reduced during the transition period

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5365, 2012-2013 state budget (non-education part): Passed 61 to 49 in the House
The non-education part of an "omnibus" state government budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1, 2012. (House Bill 5372 contains school, college and university spending.) This would appropriate $34.355 billion, compared to $33.022 billion the previous year. Of this, $16.237 billion comes from state tax, fee and other revenue, and the rest is federal money ($18.118 billion, compared to $17.469 billion the previous year).

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" 

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

Senate Bill 1052, Repeal state “beach grooming” regulations and restrictions: Passed 26 to 11 in the Senate
To essentially repeal state regulations mandating a permit for "beach grooming." The restrictions were passed in 2003 during a period of low Great Lakes water levels, when many lakefront property owners and resorts were unable to access or use beaches because of excessive weed growth.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4653, Ban office-holder names on polling place materials: Passed 35 to 1 in the Senate
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.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 300, Restrict credit score use in insurance underwriting: Passed 103 to 4 in the House
To prohibit insurers from using “credit information” (under a broad definition of that term contained in the bill) to deny, cancel or choose to not renew a policy. Also, to impose restrictions, plus requirements for credit-status confirmation, disclosures and more, on an insurer using credit or credit-based “insurance scores” to determine the price at which it will sell an insurance policy.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5611, Allow alcohol at 2013 NHL “Winter Classic” in Michigan Stadium: Passed 105 to 3 in the House
To allow the sale of alcohol at the Jan. 1, 2013 National Hockey League “Winter Classic” game to be held in the University of Michigan football stadium in Ann Arbor. The nationally televised hockey game will be between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs.

 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 visithttps://www.michiganvotes.org.

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

Senate Bill 1040, Adopt school employee pension reforms: Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate
To close the current "defined benefit" public school pension system to new employees hired starting in 2013, and instead give them 401(k) accounts with employer contributions equal to 4 percent of salary. New hires also would no longer be eligible for retirement health insurance benefits, but instead would get extra contributions into their 401(k) accounts. Current retirees would have to pay 20 percent of the cost for their health benefits, up from 10 percent now. Current school employees would have to contribute more toward their pensions, or else receive benefits calculated under a less generous formula.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 1040, "Prefund" school retiree health benefits: Failed 18 to 20 in the Senate
Amendment offered by Sen. Gretchen Whitmer to strip out a provision of the school pension reform bill that would end post-retirement health insurance benefits for new employees hired starting in 2013, and instead make annual contributions sufficient to prefund these benefits (which under current law are optional). Reportedly the annual prefunding amount would be around $500 million. Last year, providing these optional benefits to current retirees cost $795 million.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 939, Give special treatment to firms submitting to “environmental leader” process: Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate
To give certain businesses special treatment in awarding state contracts, eligibility for government subsidies, environmental permit and inspection mandates, and more, if the firm submits itself to a government “environmental leader” designation process. This would require a company to demonstrate that it has no outstanding permit violations or serious past ones, adopt certain practices not required by law, submit to certain additional reporting mandates, participate in “workshops,” etc.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 127, Vehicle trade-in “sales tax on the difference” only: Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate
To exempt from sales tax the value of a trade-in on the purchase of a new motor vehicle or titled watercraft. The buyer would only pay tax on the difference between the value of the trade-in and the purchase price of the new item. The tax cut would be phased in biannual installments through the end of 2017.

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5477, Revise corporate subsidy program details: Passed 97 to 12 in the House
To increase from 15 percent to 25 percent a cap on the overhead expenses allowed for recipients under certain "Michigan Strategic Fund" corporate subsidy programs. Also, to require subsidy deals to contain more specific "claw-back" provisions requiring repayment of subsidies if specified job creation, commercialization, or other metrics are not met, details of which would be on the public record and subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Finally, the bill would authorize investments or loans of taxpayer dollars to "micro-enterprise lenders."

  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

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

Senate Bill 1069, Cut tax imposed on manufacturers' tools and equipment: Passed 23 to 14 in the Senate 
To eliminate (starting in 2015) the so-called “personal property tax” on tools and equipment used by manufacturing firms (including things like assembly lines), starting with new equipment acquired from the start of 2012. The bill would also phase out the tax on existing equipment over a seven-year period beginning in 2015. Senate Bill 1072 would earmark tax revenue that now pays for previously-granted “corporate welfare” tax breaks and subsidies to reimburse local governments for the proposed reduction in revenue caused by this tax cut. The “personal property tax” currently costs businesses statewide around $1.2 billion annually, which would eventually be reduced by around $470 million.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 1070, Cut tax imposed on small business tools and equipment: Passed 23 to 14 in the Senate 
To exempt commercial businesses (including ones that aren't manufacturers) whose tools and equipment in a particular community have a taxable value of less than $40,000 from the so-called “personal property tax,” which is imposed at the same rate as regular property taxes on buildings and land. Senate Bills 1069 and 1071 would exempt all tools and equipment used by manufacturers from the tax. This is part of the package would save businesses around $70 million annually.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 933, Exclude medical marijuana from workers comp insurance: Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate
To exclude medical marijuana treatment from reimbursement under the coverage provided to injured and disabled workers through the worker's compensation insurance that employers are required to maintain. Another bill in the package would exclude medical marijuana from the coverage provided to individuals seriously injured in vehicle wrecks under the state's no fault auto insurance law.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5164, End government inspections of non-motorized rental boats: Passed 106 to 0 in the House 
To eliminate a requirement that rental boats that are non-motorized, including canoes, kayaks or rafts, must get government inspections. The bill would slightly increase the fees for annual rental motorboat inspections, and revise other details of boat rental regulations.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 768, Ban electronic cash register dirty tricks devices: Passed 107 to 0 in the House
To prohibit the possession, manufacture or sale of an automated sales suppression device (also called a “zapper” or “phantom-ware”), defined as a “software program carried on a memory stick or removable compact disc . . . that falsifies the electronic records of electronic cash registers and other point-of-sale systems.”

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Among other actions this week, the House and Senate in effect rejected all the budgets passed by the other body the previous week, which is a procedural means of getting these into conference committees to work out the differences. The goal is to complete work by June 1 on budgets for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

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

Senate Bill 315, Require kindergartners be 5 by Sept. 1: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To require children to be age 5 by Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten, rather than by Dec. 1 under current law. This earlier age cut-off would be phased in one month at a time over three years, starting in 2013. A child who would have been eligible under the current requirements could still attend if the parents "opt in" by notifying the school by June 1. The phase-in and "opt-in" was negotiated because school districts get money from the state for each kindergartner, whose numbers would be reduced during the transition period.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4594, Restrict insurance company use of consumer credit scores: Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate
To prohibit insurers from using “credit information” under a broad definition of that term contained in the bill to deny, cancel or choose to not renew a policy. Also, to impose restrictions, plus requirements for credit-status confirmation, disclosures and more, on an insurer using credit or credit-based “insurance scores” to determine the price at which it will issue an insurance policy.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 802, Require state agencies post spending plans online: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate
To require state agencies to submit and get approval within 60 days of their annual budget's enactment of a spending plan that includes a "schedule" or list of programs covered under each line item, and the amount they plan to spend on each.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4925, Expand allowable ORV road-shoulder riding locations: Passed 84 to 26 in the House 
To expand a law that allows counties in the northern part of the state to allow off road vehicles to be driven on the shoulder of some or all streets and roads, so that it would be available to all counties statewide. The bill would also eliminate a 2013 sunset on this law.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 269, Raise small claims cap: Passed 107 to 2 in the House
To gradually increase the maximum amount that may be recovered in small claims court from $3,000 to $7,000, with the increase coming in several steps from 2012 through 2024. In small claims court actions a lawyer is neither required or allowed, which makes them more accessible to regular people; as introduced the bill would have increased the cap to $10,000 immediately.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5468, Revise prepaid cell phone contract 9-1-1 tax: Passed 106 to 3 in the House
To replace current taxes imposed on pre-paid cell phone service to cover the cost of government 9-1-1 service, with a new 1.92 percent levy imposed at the point of sale (like sales tax). The current 9-1-1 service tax regime would still apply to other kinds of cell phone accounts.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4851, Revise medical marijuana law regulations: Passed 105 to 4 in the House
To prohibit a doctor from prescribing medical marijuana unless there is a “bona fide physician-patient relationship,” as defined in the bill. This would require the doctor to get the patient's medical history, perform a physical and keep records. The bill also requires medical marijuana grown outside to be securely locked in a fenced area, and when transported to be in the trunk or a case inaccessible to vehicle occupants.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

In both the House and Senate, this week was dominated by appropriations committee deliberation on the state budget for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1. There were only a few final-passage floor votes on noteworthy bills, or ones of general interest.

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

House Bill 4393, Give drunk minors immunity if they turn themselves in: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate 
To extend immunity from “minor in possession” of alcohol and related laws for a drunk minor who shows up at a health facility for observation or treatment. This would also apply a friend who accompanies the drunk one, or who contacts the proper authorities.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5245, Increase penalty on delinquent hotel marketing tax: Passed 83 to 26 in the House 
To increase from 1.5 percent to 3.0 percent the monthly "delinquency charge" imposed on a hotel or motel owner who is late paying a room tax imposed to pay for regional marketing schemes, or to pay the debts of regional convention facilities. (For Detroit metro area lodging facilities this means Cobo Hall debt.) The "delinquency charge" is imposed on top of a 1.5 percent per month interest charge. As introduced by Rep. Wayne Schmidt, the bill would have increased this extra charge to 10 percent per month.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 29, Allow concealed pistol permit holders to keep and bear tasers: Passed 106 to 4 in the House
To allow holders of concealed pistol licenses (CPLs) to also keep and bear tasers (electro-muscular disruption devices), subject to the same regulations and restrictions that apply to legally carrying concealed pistols, plus the requirement to obtain training in the use and effects of tasers. Under current law, citizens who are not law enforcement officers are prohibited from possessing tasers.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week. Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting

House Bill 4929, Ban using public school resources to deduct union dues: Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate; Passed 56 to 54 in the House
To prohibit school districts from using public resources (including their payroll processing systems) to deduct union dues or fees from employees’ pay, and then sending the money to a union. This practice is the current norm, so the bill would require unions to make alternative arrangements to collect dues from school employees. The Senate added a small appropriation, which makes the bill "referendum-proof" under a 2001 state Supreme Court decision. Republicans Casperson, Caswell, Colbeck, Green, Nofs and Proos joined all Democrats in voting "no."

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" in the Senate

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No' in the House

House Bill 4246, Limit unionization of student research assistants: Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate; Passed 63 to 47 in the House 
To establish that state university graduate students who work as research assistants are not considered government employees for purposes of enrolling them into a union, if their work terms do not meet an IRS "20 factor test" for employee status. Originally introduced with a different purpose, the Senate amended this bill in a parliamentary maneuver to get the provision into law before U of M student researchers are unionized in an upcoming Michigan Employment Relations Commission meeting.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" in the Senate

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" in the House

Senate Bill 877, Authorize prison privatization: Passed 20 to 18 in the Senate
To allow, but not require, the Department of Corrections to privatize a prison, but only if it would save at least 10 percent. This could include a contract with a private prison in Baldwin whose previous state contract was revoked by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2005. Republicans Casperson, Caswell, Emmons, Hildenbrand, Jones, and Nofs joined all Democrats in voting “no.”

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4859, Give LP gas companies immunity from customer improper use: Passed 90 to 20 in the House
To extend immunity from liability to LP gas companies and employees for injuries or death to a customer who modifies, repairs or uses equipment improperly.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Interested in a cumulative list of all weekly Roll Call Report Votes for 2012?

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.

MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week.

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

Senate Bill 971, Limit unionization of grad student research assistants: Passed 62 to 45 in the House
To establish that state university graduate students who work as research assistants are not considered government employees for purposes of enrolling them into a union, if their work terms do not meet an IRS "20 factor test" for employee status.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5335, Ban local government body “phone-in” voting: Passed 94 to 11 in the House
To establish that if a member of a public body is allowed to cast a vote on a decision by the body without being physically present, this is a violation of the state Open Meetings Act.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4134, Grant property tax breaks to residential developers: Passed 74 to 33 in the House
To exempt homes, condos and other "residential structures" built "on spec" by residential real estate developers from property tax until the property is occupied.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 778, Restrict ad hoc road-end “marinas”: Passed 96 to 11 in the House
To establish that unless a property deed or easement expressly provides for it, a waterfront road end may not be used for boat hoists or docks, overnight boat mooring, or any activity that obstructs access to the water.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4619, Bring unemployment benefits extension to a vote: Failed 44 to 62 in the House
A motion to bring to a vote by the full House a bill that would extend state unemployment benefits from 20 weeks to 26 weeks. This vote was on the motion, not the bill.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4846, Authorize fine on water-skier with no PFD: Passed 36 to 1 in the Senate
To authorize a $100 civil fine for operating a boat that is towing skiers or people on a raft who are not wearing personal flotation devices, and the same fine for a skier or towed raft rider age 16 or older who does not wear a life vest.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 712, Ban welfare for big lottery winners: Passed 26 to 10 in the Senate
To explicitly authorize in statute an existing asset cap for food stamp eligibility (currently $5,000); and also to include money won in lottery or other gambling as part of “countable income” for purposes of determining eligibility for food stamps and other state welfare benefits.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week.

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

Senate Bill 971, Limit unionization of grad student research assistants: Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate
To establish that state university graduate students who work as research assistants are not considered government employees for purposes of enrolling them into a union, if their work terms do not meet an IRS "20 factor test" for employee status.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 683, Pre-fund (optional) state retiree health benefits: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate
To appropriate $250.9 million to "pre-fund" optional post-retirement health insurance benefits the legislature has chosen to give state government retirees. Under current law, these benefits are paid each year out of regular state government revenue. Unlike pensions, the Supreme Court has ruled these are not "accrued benefits" and so may be eliminated or cut at any time; former employees who get them are still eligible for Medicare at age 65.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 929, Revise “21st Century Jobs Fund” business subsidy program: Passed 35 to 2 in the Senate
To revise the procedures by which beneficiaries of the "21st Century Jobs Fund” business subsidy program are selected, transferring authority from “independent experts” to political appointees on the Michigan Strategic Fund board. The bill would also reduce program reporting requirements; reduce the amount grant recipients can spend for "overhead;" and make other changes.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 370, Bring unemployment benefits increase bill to a vote: Failed 26 to 12 in the Senate
To discharge a bill increasing state unemployment benefits from 20 weeks to 26 weeks from committee and bring it directly to the Senate floor for a vote.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4445, Provide transition classes to insolvent Highland Park Schools students: Passed 23 to 13 in the Senate; Passed 63 to 45 in the House.
To appropriate $4 million to pay school districts and charter schools near the effectively-bankrupt Highland Park school district to provide classes this year to the children in that district. Highland Park reportedly spent $16,000 per student, on revenues of $14,000 per student, and can no longer meet payroll. The bill also authorizes $12.5 million for programs intended to assess kindergarten and government "early childhood education" programs; spends $4 million in federal "edu-jobs" stimulus money; and makes several smaller appropriations. Finally, it adjusts school aid distributions to reflect lower than expected local property tax revenue and other factors.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" in the House

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" in the Senate

House Bill 5033, Ban welfare for big lottery winners: Passed 67 to 39 in the House
To explicitly authorize in statute an existing $5,000 asset cap for food stamp eligibility; and also to include money won in lottery or other gambling as part of “countable income” for purposes of determining eligibility for food stamps and other state welfare benefits.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week.

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

Senate Bill 752, Ban “stealth conventions” by minor political parties: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate

To require minor political parties to notify the Secretary of State of any upcoming county or state convention to nominate candidates. This would prohibit schemes like the “stealth convention” and candidate nominations organized by a fake “Tea Party” political party in 2010.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 750, Authorize criminal penalties for extreme campaign finance scofflaws: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To authorize criminal penalties for candidates and campaign treasurers who fail to file mandated campaign finance reports more than two years late. Contributions and other assets of the campaign committee would be subject to state seizure. These sanctions would only apply to campaign committees with balances of more than $20,000.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5085, Ban government sending payroll PAC money to union: Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate
To prohibit the state, school districts and local governments from deducting money from an employee’s paycheck and contributing it to a union Political Action Committee (PAC). Government payroll systems could still be used to extract union dues and fees from employee paychecks and deliver them to the union.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 754, Regulate “third-party voter registration organizations”: Passed 26 to 12 in the Senate
To require “third-party voter registration organizations” to register with the state, turn in late registrations within 24 hours, provide their “voter registration agents” with state approved instruction in proper procedures, and require their agents to sign a statement affirming receipt of this instruction. This measure was introduced in response to widespread reports of alleged vote fraud committed by the ACORN organization's voter registration arm. The bill would also require a person to show a photo identification when registering to vote.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 803, Require voters to affirm citizenship: Passed 30 to 8 in the Senate
To require voters to affirm that they are a U.S. citizen when voting or applying for an absentee ballot.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 602, Ban certain window blinds in child care centers: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate
To ban window blinds or other window coverings in child care centers if they have pull cords or inner cords capable of forming a loop and posing a risk of strangulation to a young child.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 603, Ban sale of certain window blinds: Passed 34 to 4 in the Senate
To prohibit the sale of window blinds that do not include cleats, hardware, and instructions for installation in a way that lets cords be secured, and a warning about the danger of accidental hanging or strangulation from a window blind cord that is not secured.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4601, Limit certain asbestos liability: Passed 62 to 46 in the House
To limit the liability of a company that had acquired another company which may have produced or sold asbestos in the past. The bill would prohibit a court from imposing asbestos damage judgments that exceed the value of the acquired company. Under current law a court can order damages up to the value of the entire enterprise, even if the acquired subsidiary represents only a small part of the overall firm's value.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

MichiganVotes.org sends a weekly report to newspapers and TV stations around the state showing how state legislators in their service area voted on the most important or interesting bills of the past week.

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

House Bill 5075, Court consolidation package: Passed 34 to 4 in the Senate
To consolidate and reduce the number of judges in Michigan courts, as recommended by the State Court Administrative Office. This is one of several dozen bills reducing the number of Michigan judges in particular district, circuit and probate courts. Of little import to regular citizens, this is a matter of intense interest to county political establishments, which for more than a decade have succeeded in obstructing the reform despite widespread recognition the state has too many judgeships (and the costs associated with them). The bills are passing now with unanimous or near-unanimous votes.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5125, Allow elimination of road commissions: Passed 63 to 41 in the House
To establish that a county road commission can be eliminated by a county board if the road commission's members are appointed, and eliminated by a vote of the people if they are elected. If either happens, the county board would assume the duty of managing the county's road system. Reportedly, Democratic opposition was (mostly) reversed when the Republican House Speaker made a deal to increase spending on government "early child education" programs by $12.5 million. 

House Bill 5142, Expand “corridor improvement” borrow/spend/tax authorities: Passed 100 to 6 in the House
To expand a 2005 law authorizing local “corridor improvement authorities” that can borrow for various government spending projects (generally but not necessarily related to mass transit), and then repay the loans with money levied in "special assessments" (property taxes), or with tax revenue "captured" from other local government taxing units by means of “tax increment financing" schemes. The bill would authorize multi-government versions of these authorities.

Who Voted "Yes and Who Voted "No"

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"