December 14, 2012, MichiganVotes.org Weekly Roll Call

Note: Due to lengthy House and Senate sessions, some votes from this week will be included in the next Roll Call Report.

Senate Bill 116, 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 workers 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. This vote sent the bill to the Governor to sign, which he did the same day.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4003, Extend "right-to-work" law to government and school employees: Passed 58 to 51 in the House
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, except for police and firefighters, who could still be dismissed for failing to pay union dues or fees. This vote sent the bill to the Governor to sign, which he did the same day.

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 865, Replace repealed "Emergency Manager" law: Passed 63 to 46 in the House
To replace the Emergency Manager law passed in 2011 and repealed by a statewide referendum with a new law, which will give fiscally-failed cities or school districts a choice of either entering a reform plan consent agreement with the state, entering mediation to create such a plan, being allowed to declare bankruptcy in federal court, or having an emergency manager appointed with powers similar to those that triggered the union-sponsored referendum (to invalidate unaffordable or unsustainable government union contract provisions). The replacement also adds a public information meeting requirement to the process; specifies procedures and conditions for exiting the financial emergency; explicitly gives a school EM authority over academic matters; and contains a modest appropriation that makes it "referendum-proof."

 Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 5711, Impose more abortion facility regulations: Passed 27 to 10 in the Senate
To impose more rigorous state regulations on abortion clinics, including expanded licensure and inspection regimes. Also, to require abortion providers to screen women to ensure they are not being intimidated into having an abortion; prohibit "telemedicine" remote doctor exams to prescribe "morning after pill" abortions; 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; and more.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 6024, Authorize “essential services” tax on industrial plants: Passed 23 to 14 in the Senate
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"

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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