04/28/2008
This week in Lansing:
Legislature
Michigan House and Senate
The Michigan House and Senate are in session this week.
IssuesHealth Insurance
The Senate Health Policy Committee is expected to report out Blue Cross-supported legislation that would change the rules for the individual health insurance market. It is unclear whether the legislation will be the Senate substitutes that were offered by Sen. Tom George to replace the original House bills, or substitutes from Sen. Jason Allen and other committee members that are more agreeable to Blue Cross. Last week, NFIB testified against all of the proposed bills as looking to fix a problem that doesn't exist. Other business groups that testified in support of the Blue Cross bills substantially admitted that the real problem is that they are losing members and money as employers and employees discover they can obtain comparable coverage in the individual market for less money than the business association backed programs.
NFIB will give a presentation Monday on small business and health care at the Michigan Health Policy Forum held on the Michigan State University Campus.
Taxes
Last week the Senate passed SB 1198, a bill supported by NFIB that would raise the owner income threshold for filing under the Alternative Profits Tax (instead of the MBT) from $180,000 to $250,000. In addition, SB 1217 also passed. This bill, also supported by NFIB, clarifies the deductions from gross receipts for contractor materials and supplies under the "purchases from other firms" definition in the MBT. Both bills face an uncertain future in the House. Businesses from all over the state have reported sticker shock when they begin to examine their tax liability under Michigan's recently passed Michigan Business Tax. Increases of 200 to 300 percent are not uncommon. NFIB will continue to work on corrections to the MBT to help small business.
NFIB is working with other interested groups in forming a coalition to put a ballot proposal before the voters that would require a two-thirds majority of both chambers before any tax could be increased or a new tax created.
Part-time legislature
NFIB continues to collect signatures for a ballot proposal to move Michigan to a part-time legislature. Turn Michigan Around is a ballot initiative committee supported by NFIB, the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce the Homebuilders Association of Greater Kalamazoo and a grassroots network of citizens represented by the ballot initiative committee Reform Michigan Government out of Clarkston, Mich.
NFIB 2008 agenda
The NFIB Small Business Agenda is available for review. Remember that this is really your agenda as we at NFIB respond to your priorities and concerns via your votes on member ballots and surveys.
PoliticsCandidates
This week, NFIB will meet with candidates for the Michigan House, Peter Pettalia (Alpena area) and Dave Tietema (Grand Rapids area).
NFIB membersLeadership Council
The NFIB Leadership Council will meet in Lansing on Wednesday this week.
Area Action Councils - Unemployment Insurance Mini-Seminars
- Escanaba Area, Wednesday, May 7, 7:30 a.m., Comfort Suites-Escanaba
- Marquette Area, Wednesday, May 7, 12 p.m., Country Inn & Suites-Marquette
- Sault Ste Marie Area, Thursday, May 8, 7:30 a.m., Holiday Inn Express-Sault Ste. Marie
- Charlevoix Area, Thursday, May 8, 12 p.m., Edgewater Inn-Charlevoix
For more information contact our office at 517-485-3409 or e-mail amanda.radaz@nfib.org.
2008 National Small-Business Summit in Washington, D.C.
Join other small business owners from around the country at the 2008 National Small-Business Summit in Washington, D.C., June 8-10.
For more information, please visit www.NFIB.com/summit.
