House Bill 4054, Make Michigan a "right-to-work" state: Passed 58 to 52 in the House
To prohibit employers from enforcing a union contract provision that compels employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment. The bill also includes a $1 million appropriation to make it "referendum-proof." All Democrats voted "no" and all Republicans voted "yes" except for Reps. Forlini, Goike, Horn, McBroom, Somerville and Zorn.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 116, Make Michigan a "right-to-work" state: Passed 22 to 16 in the Senate
The Senate vote on the same "right-to-work" measure described above. All Democrats voted "no" and all Republicans voted "yes" except for Sens. Casperson, Green, Nofs and Rocca.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
House Bill 4003, Extend "right-to-work" to government and school employees: Passed 22 to 4 in the Senate
To prohibit Michigan governments and schools from enforcing a union contract provision that compels employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5463, Subsidize new Red Wings Stadium: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate
To allow property tax revenue "captured" by the Detroit "Downtown Development Authority" to pay the debt on money borrowed to provide taxpayer subsidies for a particular developer's new sports stadium and associated projects (Mike Ilitch). The bill would also exempt DDAs from property and other taxes, and revise details of public officials' appointments to DDA boards.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5688, Create Detroit streetlight authority: Passed 25 to 13 in the Senate
To authorize a Detroit streetlight authority with the power to borrow money to restore the city's streetlights, 70 percent of which are reportedly out. The bill requires passage of House Bill 5705, which would let Detroit earmark current utility tax revenue to pay off the new debt, and Senate Bill 970, which would suspend a required city income tax reduction until the new debt is paid off. It also allows Detroit's city unions to bargain for the unionization of the authority's employees.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 909, Create Detroit regional mass transit authority: Passed 57 to 50 in the House
To create a new Detroit area regional transportation authority covering Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, and potentially others. Among other powers, the authority could levy property taxes (special assessments) and higher local vehicle registration taxes if approved by a majority of voters in the region, meaning a particular community could not “opt out” of the tax increase. The authority would be specifically authorized to create “rolling rapid transit” corridors along some streets and highways, potentially with dedicated lanes that other motorists could not use. It would be run by a board appointed by the counties and the City of Detroit.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 911, Authorize Detroit regional transit vehicle registration tax: Passed 57 to 50 in the House
To give the regional transit authority proposed by Senate Bill 909 (above) the power to impose a higher vehicle registration tax in the region to pay for buses and other public transportation. A vote of the people would be required, but if approved region-wide the tax would still be imposed on individual communities that vote against it (no local "opt-out").
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 612, Ban abortion coverage from "Obamacare“ exchange: Passed 27 to 11 in the Senate
To prohibit health insurance acquired (and subsidized) through an “exchange” created under the federal health care law from including coverage for elective abortion.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
House Bill 6060, Give county officials power to halt recall as "non-factual": Passed 65 to 43 in the House
To require county election commissions to determine whether the reasons for a recall petition are stated both "factually and clearly." Under current law, they must simply determine whether the recall language is clear. Note: This may violate Article 8, Section 8 of Michigan's constitution, which asserts that recallers don't have to justify their reasons, but only make them clear.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
House Bill 5776, Require parental permission to place student with "ineffective" teacher: Passed 60 to 49 in the House
To require a public school district to get the written consent of a parent or guardian before placing a child in a classroom with a teacher who is rated “ineffective” under a new state rating system.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
House Bill 6024, Authorize “essential services” tax on industrial plants: Passed 57 to 52 in the House
To give local governments the power to impose targeted property taxes on industrial and commercial property deemed by the bill to be “especially benefited” by fire, police and ambulance services. This would replace some of the revenue from proposed reductions in the property tax imposed on business tools and equipment ("personal property tax").
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 1293, Repeal BCBS tax exemption, regulate like other insurers: Passed 61 to 49 in the House
To convert Blue Cross Blue Shield into a “nonprofit mutual insurance company” (technically "owned" by the policy holders), make it subject to the same regulations as regular health insurers, and no longer exempt BCBS from state and local taxes.
Who Voted "Yes" And Who Voted "No"
Senate Bill 939, Give special treatment to firms submitting to “environmental leader” process: Passed 65 to 43 in the House
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"
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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