LANSING – A top priority for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce for the coming year will be repealing the surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax that helped to balance the current budget and to urge the Legislature to cut spending to make up the loss.
But the Chamber, among its 10 goals, will push for more spending on transportation and will itself be spending money to influence the coming House and Supreme Court elections.
Many of the goals outlined Tuesday are carry-overs from prior years. The Chamber will oppose changes that would allow injured drug users to sue over federally-approved drugs and pushing legislation that would block proposed ergonomics standards.
And the group had opposed the MBT surcharge as it was adopted.
“Our members are very concerned, even angry about the tax situation in Michigan,” said Tricia Kinley, director of tax policy and economic development.
And she said rather than see the tax relief Governor Jennifer Granholm had proposed in her State of the State Address for businesses creating new jobs, Kinley said the Chamber would prefer to see more broad-based tax cuts.
The Chamber is pushing adoption of the Great Lakes Compact and a comprehensive energy plan for the state.
“We support the Great Lakes Compact and we want to see it get done this session,” said Doug Roberts Jr., director of environmental and energy policy. “We think that water could be used to bring jobs and development back to Michigan.”
And while he said the Chamber still supports competition in the electric market, he said changes need to be made to ensure that growing demand is met, and that if the demand is met with renewable power, the cost does not increase excessively.
The Chamber will maintain its opposition to plans to increase the high school dropout age to 18 unless other reforms are made to the education system in the state, said Jim Sandy with the Michigan Business Leaders for Education Excellence housed in the Chamber.
But Sandy said the group would also oppose any efforts to cut back the state’s new graduation requirements. “There’s a real battle to loosen up those requirements,” he said, noting some schools are finding many students not able to meet them.
MBLEE would support the proposal to provide grants to create small high schools, but Sandy said the program should be opened up to more than just traditional school districts. And he said the group would support giving the superintendent of public instruction the authority to close chronically underperforming schools.
In addition to the policy efforts, the Chamber will also be involved in the coming elections, said Bob LaBrant, senior vice president of political affairs and general counsel. “The reelection of (Chief Justice) Clifford Taylor is perhaps our highest political goal,” he said.
Phil Guyesky, political affairs director, said the Chamber expects to make maximum donations in at least 25 of the open seats this November. “Our goal is simply to elect a pro-business legislature to the Michigan House,” he said.
But the Chamber, among its 10 goals, will push for more spending on transportation and will itself be spending money to influence the coming House and Supreme Court elections.
Many of the goals outlined Tuesday are carry-overs from prior years. The Chamber will oppose changes that would allow injured drug users to sue over federally-approved drugs and pushing legislation that would block proposed ergonomics standards.
And the group had opposed the MBT surcharge as it was adopted.
“Our members are very concerned, even angry about the tax situation in Michigan,” said Tricia Kinley, director of tax policy and economic development.
And she said rather than see the tax relief Governor Jennifer Granholm had proposed in her State of the State Address for businesses creating new jobs, Kinley said the Chamber would prefer to see more broad-based tax cuts.
The Chamber is pushing adoption of the Great Lakes Compact and a comprehensive energy plan for the state.
“We support the Great Lakes Compact and we want to see it get done this session,” said Doug Roberts Jr., director of environmental and energy policy. “We think that water could be used to bring jobs and development back to Michigan.”
And while he said the Chamber still supports competition in the electric market, he said changes need to be made to ensure that growing demand is met, and that if the demand is met with renewable power, the cost does not increase excessively.
The Chamber will maintain its opposition to plans to increase the high school dropout age to 18 unless other reforms are made to the education system in the state, said Jim Sandy with the Michigan Business Leaders for Education Excellence housed in the Chamber.
But Sandy said the group would also oppose any efforts to cut back the state’s new graduation requirements. “There’s a real battle to loosen up those requirements,” he said, noting some schools are finding many students not able to meet them.
MBLEE would support the proposal to provide grants to create small high schools, but Sandy said the program should be opened up to more than just traditional school districts. And he said the group would support giving the superintendent of public instruction the authority to close chronically underperforming schools.
In addition to the policy efforts, the Chamber will also be involved in the coming elections, said Bob LaBrant, senior vice president of political affairs and general counsel. “The reelection of (Chief Justice) Clifford Taylor is perhaps our highest political goal,” he said.
Phil Guyesky, political affairs director, said the Chamber expects to make maximum donations in at least 25 of the open seats this November. “Our goal is simply to elect a pro-business legislature to the Michigan House,” he said.
This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com
a>>
