LANSING The electric choice law, meal and entertainment tax deductions, U-Pick Farm Market Directory are the topics this week of the Small Business of Michigan news update.

Michigan Senate Asked Not To Reopen Michigans Electric Choice Law

SBAM asked the Senate Technology and Energy Committee in Lansing not to reopen Michigan’s electric choice law (PA 141) and instead allow the Michigan Public Service Commission to continue opening up the state’s regulated electric industry to competition. “Just as Michigan electric customers are poised to begin benefiting from PA 141, the Michigan Electric Restructuring Act, the utilities want to go back and change the system, making it harder for customers to shop for alternative power,” said SBAM Vice President Government Relations Barry Cargill. “The bottom line is that the Michigan legislature did the right thing in 2000 when it passed the act. The law is working. Utilities are profitable. Customers are saving money on their electricity costs. And the opportunity for further savings and benefits to our small business employers is coming into focus.”

Meals, Entertainment Tax Deductions Benefit Small Businesses

Small incorporated firms benefit more than larger firms from the meals and entertainment deduction, according to a study released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Small firms that take advantage of this deduction reduce their effective tax rate by 0.75 percent on average, while larger firms only receive a 0.11 percent reduction in their effective tax rate.

Michigan Ag Department Looking For Listings For U-Pick Directory

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is recruiting farm markets, farmers markets, u-pick operations and other agricultural tourism businesses (cider mills, pumpkin patches, wineries, etc.) from across the state to be included in the Department’s 2004-2005 Farm Market and U-Pick Directory. Published since 1979 and available/searchable online at www.michigan.gov/mda since 1999, the Directory is MDA’s most popular publication. It is distributed across the state to welcome centers, local visitors and convention bureaus, Michigan State University county extension offices and a variety of other locations. A listing in the directory, which is used for a two-year period, costs $75

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