LANSING – Legislation enabling the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to designate three new SmartZones drew the ire of some Republicans on Wednesday as the House ultimately voted the measure over to the Senate on a 79-29 vote without granting the bill immediate effect.

While HB 5609 was introduced in mid-January, the House Commerce Committee, which had reported the bill out earlier in the day, had not posted a hearing on the bill until noon on Tuesday and some GOP members felt the legislation was moving too quickly through the process without having all their questions answered.

Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) said the legislation begs questions like what does this do to the 12 other Smart Zones? Can the program be successful without seed money? And why did the MEDC designate only two of the five additional SmartZones it had available when the Legislature last amended the act in 2002?

Huizenga also charged that the MEDC fought previous SmartZones expansions when he chaired the committee last term and said it was political that the quasi-government agency was now backing them.

House Minority Floor Leader Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell) told the chamber he felt the bills were moving too quickly without his members’ questions being answered and he hoped the Senate would hold more deliberation on the bills.

While he supported the bill, Rep. Bruce Caswell (R-Hillsdale) said that if lowering the taxes in these certified technology parks is good for some communities, the state should be taking a serious look at how expanding them statewide could affect the economy.

But Commerce Chair Rep. Andy Meisner (D-Ferndale) argued that the MEDC had answered every question thoroughly and that the committee always acts in a methodical and quick way to address the concerns of lawmakers from both parties. Meisner also countered that the committee acted just as urgently when Hildenbrand had a Grand Rapids issue that needed to be taken care of.

While the final passage vote came out with enough members to garner immediate effect, Hildenbrand asked for a record roll call, and that garnered less than the two-thirds required.

Meisner stood up and addressed the chamber again, saying the bill was about creating jobs and it was Republicans who were now playing a political game. He urged them to reconsider their immediate effect vote. But Hildenbrand said their members would be willing to vote for immediate effect once the bill comes back from the Senate. And Rep. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) was gaveled down for not addressing the immediate effect issue after he commented about the Legislature approving higher taxes.

While the bill opens eligibility to entities applying between February 1, 2008 and December 1, 2009), Jackson County officials testified in support of the bill, the House agenda sent to members said “HB 5609 allow a smart zone in Jackson County,” and the bill sponsor, Rep. Mike Simpson (D-Liberty Twp.) said in a press release it would paves the way for the county to apply.

That caused House Minority Leader Craig DeRoche (R-Novi) to warn that Governor Jennifer Granholm had vetoed a transit bill last session dealing with just Grand Rapids and the Legislature had to approve another bill including the whole state, so that should be taken into consideration as the measure moves forward as well.

The second immediate effect vote garnered six Republican and 58 Democratic supportive votes, which was not enough to attach immediate effect.

This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com

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