LANSING – The House passed all of its four business tax cut bills Wednesday, but added another bill that would increase the sales apportionment from 90 percent to 95, thereby lowering taxes for manufacturers. Though the bills passed easily, more Democrats came out against the package than their Senate counterparts had done the day before.

Rep. Doug Bennett (D-Muskegon) and Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Detroit) were the only Democrats to oppose the whole package, with Smith saying that she did not support the legislation because it would leave too big a hole in the budget, which would then impact families in the state in a variety of ways. She also said a comprehensive approach to the issue is needed and that the House was “doing an incomplete job here on the floor today.”

House Democrats tried to roll through a series of amendments that would have included taking tax cuts away from companies that ship jobs out of Michigan and those that violate pension protection laws, as well as make it a requirement for companies to report annually on how many jobs they sent overseas.

“We should know which companies are creating jobs in Michigan and which ones are taking them away,” Rep. Lisa Wojno (D-Warren) said.

Rep. Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee), who also offered amendments, said, “We should not be underwriting the exportation of jobs.”

For practically each amendment that was introduced by Democrats, Rep. Fulton Sheen (R-Plainwell) said, “The intention of this legislation is to send the governor the bills she already signed.”

That’s why Republicans denied several attempts by Democrats to add amendments to the bills, except for the apportionment amendment, which was offered by Rep. Paul Condino (D-Southfield). Republicans ended up amending and passing SB 634 that includes the reapportionment, which the Big Three and the Michigan Manufacturers Association support.

The apportionment wording was part of another bill that was approved by the governor last month, but ultimately did not go through because she vetoed two other bills tie-barred in that package.

Matt Resch, spokesperson for House Speaker Craig DeRoche (R-Novi), said the apportionment issue was going to be addressed in January when an overhaul of the Single Business Tax is to be worked on.

DeRoche said passing the package was an important first step toward improving Michigan’s business climate and economy, but said it is not the complete solution for solving those woes.

All Republicans voted in support of the tax package. The bill passage was as follows: HB 4982 (101-2), HB 5459 (94-9), HB 5460 (98-4), HB 5461 (97-6) and SB 634 (100-2).P>

The following Democrats voted against at least one of the bills in the package: Rep. George Cushingberry (D-Detroit), Rep. John Gleason (D-Flushing), Rep. Lee Gonzales (D-Flint), Rep. Morris Hood III (D-Detroit), Rep. Virgil Smith (D-Detroit), Rep. Mary Waters (D-Detroit), and Rep. Paula Zelenko (D-Burton).

Rep. Marsha Cheeks (D-Detroit), Rep. Brenda Clack (D-Flint), Rep. Carl Williams (D-Saginaw), Rep. LaMar Lemmons III (D-Detroit), Rep. LaMar Lemmons III (D-Detroit) and Rep. Michael Murphy (D-Lansing) were absent.

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