Now Featuring: from the Property Rights Network

A review of the votes and proposals of the Michigan Legislature — Vol. 3 No. 6 — November/December 2009 DON’t tread on me artProperty Rights Networkappeal By bruce edward walker ing be removed — or else. Placing art on one’s property hat a person’s home is his or might seem unremarkable, her castle is one of the first provided there’s nothing principlesT of property rights. As that might prove offensive in long as the rights of neighbors or accordance with public standards. passersby are respected, property In fact, in some communities, owners should be free to use their lawn sculptures and other forms property as they see fit. This would of decorative art are the norm. include issues of design, as was The city of Grosse Pointe Park, the case when Erica and Laurent however, begged to differ when Chappuis placed inoffensive, artist Erica Chappuis placed one original art in front of their home of her own paintings in the front in Grosse Point Park and encoun- of her own house. Declaring tered a four-year hailstorm from the painting of a young girl city officials demanding the paint- See “Art Appeal,” Page 6

Commentary INSIDE THE ISSUE Page 5 The Lowdown 7 Mississippi Balancing Act Not State budget battle adds ButBurning its economy new twist to old squabbles has been hotter 9 By Kenneth M. Braun The bipartisan budget than Michigan’s Good Tax cooperation was ultimately Gone Bad? he creation of the fiscal 2010 undone by dozens of lawmakers By Michael D. lafaive Mouth & Spine state budget saw a surprising from both parties in the House development:T The Republican unwilling to buck the Michigan “ eporting Michigan” and other leadership of the Michigan Senate Education Association school Lansing-based newsletters and the Democrat leadership of employees union by casting votes Rreported in October that while the Michigan House came together for relatively modest cuts to the scolding the Legislature for and agreed to try a unique K-12 school budget. not raising taxes, Gov. Jennifer bipartisan gambit that would have The story begins back on Granholm took a gratuitous swipe paid the state’s bills and balanced Feb. 12, when Gov. Granholm at the state of Mississippi. The its books by spending less than made her budget recommendation comment raised the eyebrows of requested by Democrat Gov. for the coming fiscal year. This economists who actually follow and Jennifer Granholm. This raised included some modest spending care about statistical reality and

the possibility of the governor reductions, some increases, and truth. Some Mississippi legislators

Midland, Michigan 48640 Michigan Midland, receiving bipartisan budgets and also a collection of “revenue and bloggers also took umbrage at

Permit #1776 Permit

P.O. Box 568 568 Box P.O. refusing to sign them, setting the adjustments” (i.e., tax and fee the sneer, and rightfully so.

Fenton, MI Fenton, 140 West Main Street Main West 140

PAID PAID

Mackinac Center for Public Policy Public for Center Mackinac stage for the most peculiar state hikes). As the Oct. 1 dawn of According to Gongwer

U.S. POSTAGE POSTAGE U.S.

Capitol Confidential Capitol NONPROFIT ORG. NONPROFIT spending battle in a decade already the new fiscal year drew closer, News Service, Gov. Granholm full of them. See “Balancing Act,” Page 12 See “Mississippi,” Page 4 Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 2 Are you new to Michigan Capitol Confidential?

Many of you have already e-mailed, written or phoned us to say that you’d like to remain on the mailing list for Michigan Capitol Confidential. If you haven’t contacted us yet, but would like to remain on our mailing list, please let us know! If you are reading this newspaper for the first time, thank you for taking the time to look over this publication from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. We selected you for this mailing because you have shown an interest in the public policy issues that we discuss. Inside, you will find a review and analysis of important state legislative policy issues that do not always receive attention from the general media. Every two months, we send this publication to make it easier for you to keep tabs on your elected representatives in Lansing. Subscriptions are FREE, but to remain on our mailing list you must let us know by sending your name and home address. Enclosed is a postage-paid business reply envelope to make this easier — just fill in your name and address and send it in! Even easier still — just put the same information in an e-mail and send it to [email protected]. When you write to us, please feel free to include the names and addresses of family and friends who you think will enjoy Michigan Capitol Confidential as much as you do. Additionally, you can help us keep Michigan Capitol Confidential coming to households just like yours by joining the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. The Center is dedicated to providing a free-market perspective on public policy issues that impact the Michigan economy. We provide that perspective through timely policy studies, commentaries, interaction with media and policymakers, and events for targeted audiences throughout the state. Our issues are economic in focus, but as diverse as taxation; government budgeting; science, environment and technology policy; labor policy; privatization; property rights; and general economic education. The Mackinac Center’s mission is to educate Michigan residents on the value of entrepreneurship, family, community, private initiative and independence from government. We believe, as our country’s Founders did, that liberty and sound policy can never be taken for granted. Their preservation requires vigilance during each generation from both us and citizens like you. If you share this goal, we would welcome your generous contribution to the Mackinac Center in any amount. Even a $40 donation is a tremendous help. The Mackinac Center is a 501(c)(3) educational institute, and your donation is deductible on your federal income taxes. Thank you for any help you may be able to give us — and don’t forget to let us know if you want to continue your FREE subscription to Michigan Capitol Confidential!

Sincerely,

Kenneth M. Braun, Senior Managing Editor, Michigan Capitol Confidential

[email protected] 989-631-0900 Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 3 ad liberties Michigan. Some states forbid, this fact and deal with it boldly, historic relationship with unions or limit, unionization of other reforms will likely produce is almost in a class by itself. And government employees that marginal results. we know how fast Michigan’s already have generous civil We aren’t ready to precisely fortunes are falling relative to Will the Real Reform service and tenure protections. quantify unions’ effects on other states. It’s time for the real + What if lawmakers want to public policy and our economy. reform to please stand up. start with a half-step toward But we do know unions are Please Stand Up? one of these bold strokes? They the one policy area Michigan Joseph G. Lehman is president of the Mackinac Center for could: politicians seem most afraid to Public Policy. By Joseph G. Lehman will be enough. Mackinac Center • Enact right-to-work for touch. We also know Michigan’s analysts recommend hundreds government employees only, or ne question of ideas, large and small, that just public school teachers. comes up again add up to billions of dollars in • Convert state employee health Dear Readers of Oand again when my state savings and rejuvenated insurance plans to health savings Welcome to the new and improved version of The Refuge! It has Mackinac Center economic growth. Just because accounts, or adopt an idea joined efforts with another Mackinac Center publication — Michigan Capitol colleagues and I there is no single legislative similar to Democratic House Confidential. For readers ofT he Refuge, if you have enjoyed what you have speak to groups of “silver bullet” doesn’t mean a Speaker Andy Dillon’s, which been reading about property rights during the first two issues, then this all kinds around Michigan. What legislative “bold stroke” is not would put public school teachers change is going to mean two things: reforms will fix Michigan’s prob- also necessary. and state employees on the same 1. You’ll be getting The Refuge more frequently: Michigan Capitol lems? Michigan doesn’t just have plan. This could save hundreds of Confidential is published six times per year, rather than quarterly. While Michigan’s private economic problems; it has millions of dollars annually. 2. You’ll be getting MORE than just The Refuge. In addition to news sector economy and population major PR problems. Michigan • Repeal the “prevailing wage” about protecting your home and property from the covetous eyes of have shrunk, lawmakers have needs a big change that not law. The cost of this pernicious government, you’ll now get the inside story on what else your elected expanded our government even only has significant impact law appears in no budgets, but it officials are up to. faster than inflation. Michigan on economic growth, but also increases the cost of everything What this change will NOT mean is any reduction in content on the has the weakest economy of captures national attention and the government builds from property rights news that you have come to rely upon from The Refuge. all 50 states by any number says Michigan is serious about bridges to schools by hundreds You’ll still get everything you signed up for — just more frequently! You’ll be of current annual measures, reversing its slide. of millions of dollars per year. able to find it right here, in a dedicated “Refuge” section, inside of Michigan including unemployment, What would a bold stroke Repeal it and unions would Capitol Confidential. decline in personal income (over look like? Here are some again have to compete with Both of these publications are relatively new outreaches for the Mackinac more than 3 years), decline in examples: nonunion construction workers. Center. During the short history of both periodicals, each of us have visited gross state product, number of • Pass a right-to-work law. Under Sometimes, we’re asked if and spoken to dozens of audiences across Michigan. And what we learned jobs destroyed, population loss right-to-work legislation, no repealing legislative term limits very quickly is that, for the most part, you’re all the same people with the and others. Our state rankings worker could lose a job for or converting to a part-time same concerns. So, it didn’t take us long to figure out that we might be able in tax burden and regulatory deciding not to join or support a legislature would help. Perhaps, to serve you more than twice as well by combining our efforts. climate are uncompetitive. Our labor union. RTW is already on but evidence from other states For longtime readers of Michigan Capitol Confidential, this is just one union culture seems hostile to the books in 22 states. is mixed. more improvement upon our mission to bring you news about YOUR those who have capital to build • Eliminate one major tax. My colleague Jack McHugh government that you might not be getting elsewhere. Future issues will now businesses and create jobs. Michigan taxes personal noticed a pattern when he was come with several more pages of content — literally a brand new dedicated These facts alone would give income, business, retail sales investigating whether states section just for property rights news. Michigan a black eye. But then, and property ownership. States without term limits or full- If you haven’t already told us that you want to remain on the FREE there are the national headlines: that do not levy all these taxes time legislatures outperformed permanent mailing list, please do so. We’d hate to cut you off because you historic bankruptcies and tend to outperform Michigan. Michigan. But the pattern was never told us how much you enjoyed what you are reading. And, as always, federal takeovers of Michigan Michigan should replace not related to term limits or please don’t hesitate to recommend the addresses of friends and family you firms, embarrassing political the tax with spending cuts lawmaking schedules. States think might also enjoy this information. (Somebody referring YOUR name scandals in our largest city, recommended by the Mackinac that tend to have the same kind might be why you’re reading this issue right now!) chronic budget deficits and Center and others. of problems as Michigan have While this is a free publication, it is funded by the donations of patriots the failure of our highest state • Bring government-sector something else in common: such as you. If you can spare a contribution in any amount, it will greatly officials to even enact a state employee benefits in line with oversized, heavily unionized enhance our ability to serve you better and find more people just like you budget on time, forcing brief private-sector benefits. Despite government workforces. in the future. The Mackinac Center is a 501(c)(3) research and educational government shutdowns two out the conclusions of studies You may have noticed that institute, and your generous support is tax deductible on your federal the last three years. written by tax-funded university most of the “bold strokes” above income taxes. I don’t think the millions professors, public employees are related to unions in some But above all, if you’re already a short- or long-time subscriber of either of dollars the state spends on typically enjoy the kind of way. That’s because when one publication, thank you for your continued support. We hope you’ve enjoyed TV ads touting “the Michigan benefits that went out of style starts down the path of free- the road we’ve traveled with you so far, and can’t wait to show you where we advantage” are fooling anyone. long ago in the private sector. market reform in Michigan, plan to go in the future. Bad public policy didn’t • Repeal the Public Employee the major obstacle blocking the Cordially, create all of Michigan’s Relations Act. This is the law path is very often a law that Russ Harding, Director, Mackinac Center Property Rights Network problems. But we can’t fix that resulted in the near- favors unions or the political Bruce Edward Walker, Editor, The Refuge the problems without better universal unionization of power of the unions themselves. Ken Braun, Senior Managing Editor, Michigan Capitol Confidential policies. No single policy change government employees in Until our elected officials face Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 4 mississippi Hurricane Katrina four years ago. not lost on all Michigan politicians. bloggers found Gov. Granholm’s Magnolia State pass it by in wealth In the last five years, the Shortly after Gov. Granholm’s comments — shall we say — and in prestige. The way to prevent from Page One Magnolia State ranked 18th in Mississippi remark, freshman lacking in southern graciousness? that is for Michigan to stop the nation in per-capita personal lawmaker Tom McMillin offered One blogger mocked the Yankee raising the cost of living, working, argued that, “What we’re income growth. Michigan’s an amendment to a tax hike bill governor by posting, “halp us and investing here and instead + fighting for is Michigan not personal income growth ranking? suspending the increase until geinfr grandhome — weer frum decrease taxes and regulation. becoming Mississippi.” She Dead last. Michigan’s unemployment rate Missippi.” (See related story, Page 10.) was presumably referring to During the same time period, (15.2 percent) dropped below Has Mississippi been a Michael D. LaFaive is director of the Mississippi’s historical standing Mississippi’s state gross domestic Mississippi’s (currently 9.5 percent). relatively poor state? Yes. But Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative at the as a relatively poor state. But a product increased by 5 percent, As mentioned, some if present trends continue, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He may more nuanced examination of while Michigan’s fell 4 percent. Mississippi legislators and Great Lakes State may watch the be reached at [email protected]. the data suggests several reasons In addition, since 2003, that this single cliché provides unemployment rates also have a spurious argument at best been rising in Michigan and falling for advancing higher taxes in in Mississippi, not counting the Michigan. current recession when joblessness For starters, states with an has increased in both states. The “agricultural legacy” such as unemployment rate trend lines Timely. Relevant. Principled. www.mackinac.org/blog Mississippi typically have a long crossed in March 2006; since then, history of lower incomes. In a Michigan’s unemployment has paper on right-to-work states, been higher than Mississippi’s. economist W. Robert Reed wrote In fact, Michigan’s that an “important determinant” unemployment rate has led of current wages is how large a the nation for 43 consecutive share of a state’s total income months. Only three times since in the past was generated by 1976 has a state recorded higher the agricultural sector: “The unemployment than Puerto Rico: economic past still casts a long twice this year by Michigan and shadow on the economic present.” once by Louisiana, for just one Scholars (or politicians) who fail month immediately following to consider a state’s economic Hurricane Katrina. past may misinterpret reasons for Michigan and Mississippi its economic well-being or lack per-capita personal income as a thereof today. percent of U.S. PCPI In 1929, average incomes in 1929-2008 Mississippi were a whopping 35 60 percent below the national Michigan average. In contrast, in 1929 0

Michigan incomes were 13.3 Mississippi percent above the national -35 average. These figures are relevant starting points, but more -70 important for us today are the 1929 1953 1977 2008 Source: Author’s calculations based on data from overall trend lines. the Bureau of Economic Analysis In plain terms, Michigan was a relatively wealthy industrial It is true that Mississippi’s powerhouse in the first half of poverty rate is much higher that the 20th century, but over the Michigan’s — another legacy of past 60 years has trended lower. the state’s agricultural past and Mississippi started in extreme other unique factors (concentrated poverty and has made great poverty rates that are 50 percent strides against long odds and higher than the state’s average are obstacles. (See chart.) found in 14 rural Mississippi-delta Is it possible that not long counties). However, since 2005, from now Mississippi incomes Michigan’s poverty rate increased will exceed those of Michigan? I by 9 percent while Mississippi’s wouldn’t bet against them. has been unchanged, and over Indeed, on many key economic the past 20 years, the trend has indicators, Mississippi has been toward less poverty in the outperformed Michigan in this southern state. decade, despite being blasted by These compelling statistics are Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 5

A publication of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy Fall 2 0 0 9 “A man’s house is his castle — et domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium” – Sir Edward Coke Ikeda Page 8

to create a paper trail regarding Document their dealings with government Property Rights regulators. The following steps should be taken: WHAT GOVERNMENT • Take detailed notes of Lessons From Motown all communications with OFFICIALS TELL YOU regulators, including phone By Russ Harding officials’ decisions are commonly conversations and site visits. overridden by their supervisors, • Transcribe notes into a letter resident Ronald Reagan or they may change their and include your understanding warned Americans to “trust position when other interested of any agreements or Pbut verify.” There is no better parties object. Lines of clear commitments on the part of advice when dealing with federal, authority and delegated decision- the government as well as any state and local government of- making are often not clear in commitments you made. Be sure ficials. As director of the Property government bureaucracies. to include any dates agreed to. Rights Network for the Mackinac Risk-taking by government • Send letters by registered mail By Kurt Bouwhuis in the early days of Motown. Center for Public Policy, I am in employees is discouraged and to appropriate government Undeterred, Gordy was a smart frequent contact with landown- even punished in many instances, officials and request a response uppose you were tasked with guy and solved this issue by ers throughout the state who causing government employees in a reasonable time frame (two selecting the best candidate purchasing all the surrounding have learned the hard way that a to “reconsider” their prior weeks is common). forS creating one of the biggest homes in the neighborhood and government official’s word cannot commitments. • Keep all correspondence and most influential record labels turning them into offices. Only always be trusted. Landowners dealing with professional, factual and to the of all time. Would the following a system of private property Often, a government official government officials would be point. Emotional or sarcastic individual’s application be at the rights would allow such a will make a verbal promise or wise to consider three priorities letters are not helpful. top of your list? business model to emerge. commitment, only to renege on — document, document and Creating a paper trail may • Born in Detroit Today, with modern zoning laws the commitment or deny it was document. This advice sounds seem time-consuming, but it is • Dropped out of high school and countless other regulations ever made. This may happen for simple, but unfortunately, most essential. Verbal commitments in 11th grade to become a See “Motown Lessons,” Page 8 several reasons — government landowners do not take the time See “Trust but Verify,” Page 8 professional boxer • Boxed until drafted for the Korean War in 1950 Property Rights Network • Opened a record store after ‘Wild River’ a Property returning from Korea in 1953 • Worked on the assembly line at Produces Boardman Ford’s Lincoln-Mercury plant Rights Classic • Quit his job at the plant River Dam Video to become a professional By bruce edward walker songwriter By bruce edward walker Proponents of the dam • Secured an $800 loan to start a removals include city and county mong the many great movies of the past that have slipped through record company out of a house he latest Property Rights officials and such groups as Trout the cracks before reaching classic status is director Elia Kazan’s in a crowded residential area in Network video relates the Unlimited — all wishing to see A1960 film “Wild River.” It’s hard to imagine that a film made by the Detroit Thorrors experienced by property the Boardman River flow freely director of “On the Waterfront” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” and The resume above belongs to owners on the Boardman River through Grand Traverse County as featuring actors Montgomery Clift, Jo Van Fleet See “Wild River,” Page 10 Berry Gordy, founder of Motown outside Traverse City. Of the four it winds its way to Lake Michigan. Records. dams on the river, three have been Without dams, they argue, the There is a valuable property slated for removal by city and river will attract tourism dollars rights lesson from his story. county officials. On its surface, from the fishermen, kayakers and Few would have chosen this removal of the dams seems like canoeists who will flock to a river business model as viable, because a good idea. In reality, however, that doesn’t require portaging playing music at all times of elected officials and bureaucrats around the dams. the day and night in a crowded are using every tool in their arse- Grand Traverse officials also residential area may concern a nal to usurp the rights of indi- intend to turn the Boardman’s few neighbors. In fact, Gordy did viduals who own land on the dam banks into an extended park for receive several noise complaints impoundments. See “Boardman Dam,” Page 10 Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 6

“The city of Grosse Pointe Park art appeal asserts that the plan [sic] reading from Page One of the ordinance makes it plain as the smile of Mona Lisa’s face, innocently frolicking with her that a reasonable and common horse in violation of the city’s sign sense definition of sign would ordinance, Grosse Pointe Park fined automatically include art,” wrote Laurent Chappuis, Erica’s husband, Morrow in his opinion. “As such, I have just finished my first issue of Michigan Capitol Confidential [July/August 2009] and found it and ordered the picture removed. Appellant was found guilty of worthwhile even though I didn’t find anything in it particularly startling. But I do have objections to two “We had an air-conditioning violating Section 27-101(f) of the unit that was placed in the front City Code, Illegally Erecting a sign. of the articles. of our house,” explained Erica. “It “This court finds that Section I disagree with the article “Left Behind.” It is true that government job training programs are wasn’t very attractive, so Laurent 27-101(f) is unconstitutionally generally ineffective, not only because they are poorly run, but because it is extremely difficult, as the and I decided to place one of my vague and as such reverses the paintings in front of it.” ruling of the lower court and article pointed out, to forecast what kind of jobs are going to be in demand. And it is absolutely true, The painting prompted remands this case of the lower as the article points out, that low taxes and a light, intelligent regulatory burden are the best route to pedestrians who jogged, bicycled court to be dismissed prosperity. But are our taxes particularly high? Not from the reading I have done. They seem to be pretty or walked their dogs in front of the “The entire text of a statute close to average. And our state revenue, as a percentage of personal income has fallen over the last eight years. That is the same period of time we have lost 300,000 jobs. “Job training is also ineffective without job creation,” is not precisely correct. This is, to a large degree, a chicken and egg problem. A state with a skilled, educated workforce will find that job creation is much easier than otherwise. The days of plentiful unskilled, good paying jobs are over. Surely, you would not advise an individual against going to a community college or vocational school and acquiring a marketable skill? Of course not, even though he might not find employment in his field right away. Similarly, the NWLB [No Worker Left Behind] program is going to have failures. That does not mean we shouldn’t be concerned, as liberals are not, with the relationship between inputs and outputs. I also disagree with your opposition to imposing a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. Mr. Nunez, in his contest winning letter, said, “Anytime we infringe on legal businesses to choose their customers, we are practicing ‘big brother’ tactics.” But we infringe on legal businesses every day. We prevent businesses from polluting the air and water and we prevent them from maintaining unsafe Chappuis residence to comment must be examined to determine working conditions for their employees. In each case, we are preventing them from externalizing their that they enjoyed the artwork. whether or not it is vague. The “We never heard anyone state that State must provide a person of costs, or preventing their customers from externalizing theirs. Doing so is one of the fundamental the painting offended them,” Erica ordinary intelligence a reasonable reasons we have government. said. “Everyone we talked to said opportunity to know required On the other hand, I wholeheartedly endorse your opposition to efforts to maintain the cap on they really liked it.” behavior. Reading the entire text Everyone, that is, but local [of] this code does not alert a the number of charter schools in Detroit. I was really upset by Detroit’s rejection of Mr. Thomson’s government officials, who declared reasonable person that a permit is generous offer. I sent an E-mail to Representative Dian Slavens and Senator Bruce Patterson opposing that the couple was breaking the required for ‘art.’” the legislation retaining the cap on charter schools. city’s law against signs placed in The common sense ruling of residential areas. The Chappuises Judge Morrow didn’t prevent the refused to remove the painting, city of Grosse Pointe Park from Sincerely yours, however, sparking a four-year legal appealing, but in late October the Charles Richards, Canton, MI battle with Grosse Pointe Park after city dropped its appeal. Laurent Chappuis was charged The case may not be resolved, with violating the city code. however. As Erica pointed out, The case went to trial in there’s nothing preventing the city November 2007. Grosse Pointe from rewriting the code in the Park Municipal Court Judge future to prohibit her paintings Carl Jaboe found Laurent guilty from being displayed in front of + in October 2008. The couple her home. Their votes, your views. appealed to Wayne County Circuit Court, where last August the Bruce Edward Walker is communications manager for the Mackinac Center’s guilty verdict was overturned Property Rights Network and editor and the ordinance found of The Refuge. He may be reached unconstitutionally vague by Judge at [email protected]. Engage. Join in. Get involved. Bruce Morrow. Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 7

MICHIGAN TAXPAYERS ALLIANCE: MICHIGAN TOO COSTLY FOR PERKS, PROPERTY TAXES AND MORE CALIFORNIA CONVICTS “What if local politicians were prohibited from In August, California Secretary of Corrections providing benefits to government employees that exceed Matthew Cate rejected an offer to house some of the cost of benefits in the private sector? In other words, that state’s surplus inmate population at a maximum what if there was a cap on the amount that government security prison in Standish, Mich., telling the Michigan employee benefits could cost?” Department of Corrections that its daily fee was This is the question being posed by Leon Drolet, “significantly higher” than the cost being charged by head of the Michigan Taxpayers’ Alliance. Dubbed other states. Cate also noted that the Standish facility, “Rescue Michigan” on the MTA Web site, the idea is while considered “maximum-security” by the MDOC, to amend the Michigan Constitution so as to cap the is not secure enough to accommodate California’s cost of public-sector employee benefits at no more than maximum security prisoners. As an alternative to a that paid for the benefits provided to private-sector Mr. Perks of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance proposed closing of the Standish prison, which opened workers. Using data from an August article written by in 1990, Gov. Jennifer Granholm is proposing to other James Hohman, Mackinac Center fiscal policy analyst, taxes by $1.4 billion was rumored to be imminent as states that they hire the MDOC to take care of their Drolet projects that enactment of his proposal could early as the third week of May that same year. But surplus convict populations. save Michigan taxpayers as much as $5.7 billion per throughout the period, Drolet was loudly proclaiming While less expensive than California, Michigan’s year. Drolet notes that this savings would be enough to that his membership would consider recalling from annual operating cost per inmate is $4,867 above eliminate the Michigan Business Tax and cut the state office any politician who supported a tax increase. Both the national average and $5,447 above the average of income tax in half. his detractors and supporters credit the MTA with Midwest states, according to 2005 data provided in Getting such a proposal on the ballot for the delaying the vote. (See related stories in previous issues “Public Safety, Public Spending,” a 2008 report from Nov. 2, 2010, general election will require collecting of Michigan Capitol Confidential: www.mackinac the Pew Charitable Trust project on Public Safety 380,126 valid signatures from Michigan voters and .org/9334 and www.mackinac.org/9932.) Performance (www.pewcenteronthestates.org). Only a submitting them to the state Bureau of Elections by Bloggers at MichiganLiberal.com were then agitating dozen states spend more per prisoner than Michigan, July 5, 2010. Drolet estimates a $1 million cost for this in favor of the tax hike and dubbed Drolet “Pig Man,” in according to Pew, so it would appear that California may phase of the project and is searching for funding. A reference to the MTA’s mascot, “Mr. Perks,” an eight- indeed have many options that are more economical. former state representative from Macomb County, he foot-tall foam pig mounted on a truck trailer. Drolet With approximately 50,000 inmates, if Michigan’s cost has experience with ballot drives to amend the State and MTA activists towed Perks through the districts per prisoner were merely reduced to what Pew states is Constitution, having been the chair of the successful of lawmakers from both parties suspected of favoring the national average, this could translate into an annual Michigan Civil Rights Initiative that banned the use of a tax hike. Perks was also camped outside the Capitol savings to Michigan taxpayers of more than $243 million. race preferences in government hiring and university building during several session days when tax hikes The state corrections budget for 2008 was $2.1 billion. admissions. were rumored to be imminent — while Drolet blogged Perhaps one factor leading to Michigan’s additional “Rescue Michigan” will be one of the subjects updates to supporters and the media. per-prisoner cost is the compensation paid to its discussed at a “Taxpayer Summit” that the MTA is After the tax hikes passed, Drolet spent much of corrections employees. According to a 2008 report from hosting on Jan. 30, 2010. Also on the agenda will 2008 attempting to recall House Speaker Andy Dillon, the Citizen’s Research Council of Michigan, using 2005 be sessions teaching attendees how to appeal their D-Redford, for the politician’s leading role in pushing data, the “Average Corrections Salary” in Michigan is property taxes and exploring state and local government through the tax increases. Drolet’s initial plan to put $53,268, compared to a national average of $44,487 spending reform. Drolet will also provide a seminar on the question on the August election ballot was thwarted (www.crcmich.org). “Effective Activism,” wherein he will teach attendees by a lawsuit and other evasive tactics deployed by the “We have great facilities and great employees and how to “understand the mind of a politician” so that opposition, forcing the Dillon recall onto the November we can provide a better business case for most states,” they can more effectively communicate with elected election ballot, where it failed. (Drolet’s team produced the governor told the MIRS Capitol Capsule newslet- officials. a humorous video describing some of the challenges ter following the rejection from California. “I believe The event is scheduled to take place at 1:30 p.m. thrown at them: http://dillonsthugs.com/?p=5.) we will find another use for that facility and keep those on Jan. 30, in the auditorium of Macomb Community Undaunted, Drolet redirected the MTA toward a very jobs” (www.mirsnews.com – subscription required). The College’s Center Campus at 4475 Garfield Road in successful series of seminars around the state advising MIRS reporter characterized the governor’s remarks Clinton Township. The event is free to the first 200 taxpayers how to appeal their property taxes. Hundreds as an attempt to downplay “any insinuation Michigan’s + attendees who contact MTA at www.mitaxpayers.org. showed up at several events, in one case forcing a prisons weren’t good enough for California.” Communicating with politicians — or at least getting second session at the same location later in the day. This under the skin of those who raise taxes — has been a fall, the MTA teamed up with WJR-760 AM to host a The Lowdown is written by Kenneth M. Braun, senior managing editor of Michigan Capitol Confidential. He staple of the MTA’s mission since its founding in 2007. debate between the Republican candidates for governor may be reached at [email protected]. The infamous vote on Oct. 1, 2007, that hiked state regarding how to fix the Michigan economy. Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 8

trust but verify to elevate the issue. It is usually from Page 5 An Interview with Sanford Ikeda easier to get a meeting with a The Unintended Consequences of “Smart Growth” from government officials top-level local government official are worthless when a dispute than it is with a high-level official Property Rights emerges. If the issue cannot be at a state or federal agency. If Network Video mutually resolved and litigation your issue requires resolution at becomes necessary, it becomes the state or federal level, you may ABOUT SANFORD IKEDA your word against a government have to enlist the support of your Positions: official’s word. Detailed legislator or congressman to get documentation with timelines the attention of the bureaucracy. 1990-present, is very important. Frequently, Often, aggrieved landowners Associate Professor of Economics, government officials demand are hesitant to elevate issues for SUNY-Purchase College quick action on the part of the fear of reprisal. Although there is 1987-90, Assistant Professor, landowner, but fail to act in a always a risk of retaliation from California State University-Hayward timely manner when fulfilling a government official who does 1986-87 Visiting Lecturer, University their own side of the deal. not like someone going over their of North Carolina I’m often asked when to head, it may be the only option Education: emerged in the history of the deliberate policy to get people elevate an issue or make a available in order to get your B.A., Grove City College, 1980 United States. There was a time out of the cities. After World legislator aware of the problem. concerns heard. Ph.D., New York University, 1988 when population was pretty dense War II, this sort of accelerated There is no simple answer. It is Although dealing with the in cities. Then people started to because of the investment of the largely a judgment call. Generally, bureaucracy is seldom easy, your Areas of Interest: move away. Now there seems to be federal government in interstate I recommend that you give chances for a successful outcome Dynamics of interventionism; public a desire for dense cities again. Can highways, and federal investment government officials a reasonable are greatly increased if you are policy; economy of cities; antitrust; you explain this cycle? through the states and localities of opportunity to work with you diligent in documenting all your Japanese drumming Ikeda: The cycle is caused by infrastructure. to find a mutually agreeable dealings with government officials. Honors: what I often call the dynamics Fast forward a few decades in solution. However, it is not in a What may seem like a lot of work + Vice President, Society for the of interventionism. It is a the 60s and 70s. Groups of social landowner’s best interest to let at the time can pay off later. Development of Austrian Economics characteristic of most public critics began to be concerned a private property rights issue policies. One intervention, to with the populating of suburbs drag on indefinitely. If a follow Russ Harding is director of the Mackinac Center’s Property Rights Network. He may Property Rights Network: We fix one problem, often generates and the low density that resulted. up letter to the agency does not be reached at [email protected]. call it smart growth, other folks call unintended consequences — Cities began to lose culture and result in action on the part of the it urban planning, but as a concept, negative unintended consequences critics began to worry about the bureaucracy, it is probably time can you describe what it is? — that often frustrate the plans and pollution being created by the Ikeda: Urban planning is intentions of the original planners commute from the suburbs to the idea that you need some or the original interveners. the cities. motown lessons sort of central authority to In the earlier portion of the PRN: How do you feel about guide the development of cities, 20th century, social critics looked advocates of smart growth and from Page 5 economic investment and private at cities as crime-ridden, dirty, urban planning? and taxes, it would be next to This just goes to prove F.A. development. disease-filled places, emphasizing Ikeda: I like to attribute good impossible to start a record label Hayek’s point that: “It is always Smart growth is an approach to the negative aspects. They decided intentions to the people who are with the same business model as from a minority acting in ways urban planning. It is a loosely based to try and figure out a way to make promoting these various policies. Motown Records. different from what the majority school of thought or planning lives better for individuals. Many I actually agree with many of their Gordy’s eventual success could would prescribe that the majority philosophy that values high density, of them took the radical view that principles. I do think that in fact, have only emerged out of a system in the end learns to do better.” pedestrian walkability, de-emphasis you had to completely redesign density is important. I think that in which he was allowed to put In short, when the minority is of the automobile, close knit cities in order to get rid of all the walkability is important. I think his own property at risk in order restricted from acting differently communities and extensive green clutter, and get people to enjoy the mixed uses are important. Rather to achieve a goal. If the decision from the majority, the minority belts that are placed around urban countryside — have fresh air and than imposing it by force, however, were left up to a central authority is restricted on their respective areas in order to discourage urban sunshine. there is historical evidence of or licensing agencies, Gordy would ability to innovate. A system of sprawl and to encourage increased By the 1950s and 1960s, these desired attributes emerging have never even been granted the private property rights is the population density. people began to move from the naturally within cities. opportunity to try. Although it only system that grants each PRN: There has been an central city to the suburbs. This See more of this interview at is true that many individuals fail individual the ability to act freely + interesting pattern that has movement was the result of a www.mackinac.org/11364. in their entrepreneurial ventures and unrestrained by the views of + (Gordy’s initial record store the majority. business is a perfect example), it is also true that these failures Kurt Bouwhuis is the Property Rights Do you like what you’re reading? Network intern. He may be reached breed innovation by enabling at [email protected]. Then tell us to keep it coming! any individual to risk their own If you haven’t already contacted us and would like to keep receiving Michigan Capitol Confidential, we need you to property to serve their fellow man. e-mail us at [email protected] or call 989-631-0900 to let us know that we should keep sending it. That’s it! Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 9

“Michigan’s job loss is clearly The Michigan Chamber of The MBT was created with our most pressing crisis, and Commerce, representing 7,000 the schizophrenic assumption A Good Tax this agreement certainly moves businesses across the state, was that lower taxes were justified us in the direction of solving one of them. The Chamber’s tax and beneficial to economic that crisis for our manufacturers experts discovered dozens of growth only if a business and other sectors,” opined state problems in the MBT, including sector had garnered the favor Gone Bad? Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw, in hidden tax hikes, language that of politicians. According to a statement released a couple of would cause needless lawsuits, the Michigan Department of By Kenneth M. Braun country,” and that “It should days later. and more. The Chamber issued Treasury, it was designed to never have passed the Michigan And on June 29, 2007, a day a statement of opposition to reduce the 2008 tax burden On June 28, 2007, the Legislature.” after voting for the proposal, passage of the MBT prior to on the manufacturing sector Michigan Legislature voted to The two politicians then-state Rep. Mike Nofs, the vote in June 2007, and as a whole by 21.3 percent, as create the Michigan Business referenced were former state R-Battle Creek, told the Battle then one year later published a compared to the old SBT, and Tax, a replacement for the Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, Creek Enquirer: “In any business “2007-2008 Legislative Voting to reduce automotive sector Single Business Tax that had and current state Sen. Wayne tax there will be some winners Record” designed to “provide business taxes by 97.5 percent. been dreaded for decades by Kuipers, R-Holland — both of and some losers, but with this the business community and But because the original MBT businesses across the state. whom voted to create the MBT plan, there are more winners.” other interested parties with a was “revenue-neutral,” meaning That day, Michigan’s business in June of 2007. Each is now an (Nofs is now a member of the measure of how each member just as costly as the SBT, the big community expressed significant announced candidate to replace Michigan Senate.) of the Michigan Legislature tax breaks for car companies opposition to creating the MBT, Hoekstra. The much-hated SBT voted on a wide range of issues that would soon be begging for and compelling evidence that its Huizenga shot back, was repealed by a voter- impacting on Michigan’s federal bailout money had to creation was openly defying a saying that the accusation initiated ballot drive in 2006. economic competitiveness.” mean tax increases for others mandate for tax reform laid out had “incorrectly stated that I Spearheaded by Oakland County One of the 21 votes used to hold — in particular, the merchants in a citizen-initiated law that voted in favor of the MBT as it Executive L. Brooks Patterson lawmakers accountable for their and other small businesses had ordered repeal of the SBT currently exists when I was a — who directed the collection of conduct toward business over represented by the NFIB. one year earlier. These concerns member of the Michigan House voter signatures — and ratified the two-year period was the vote Likewise, the Michigan were sufficient to persuade a of Representatives.” Though by both chambers of the state to create the MBT. Business and Professional majority of the Republicans in Huizenga admits to voting “yes” Legislature, the preamble to the Association and the Michigan the state Legislature to vote on the first vote, saying that the law encourages legislators to But the MBT as created Food and Beverage Association against ever creating the MBT. original MBT “was designed to create a new business tax that is in June 2007 clearly came out against the MBT just But on Dec. 1, 2007, just ease the burden for Michigan “less burdensome and less costly failed to adhere to the prior to the first vote to create before the MBT took effect, the companies in several ways,” he to employers, more equitable, “less costly” mandate of it. Ed Deeb, president of both Legislature added a 22 percent further claims that his critic and more conducive to job organizations, told the MIRS surcharge to it, increasing the naïvely does not understand creation and investment” than the citizen initiative, in Capitol Capsule newsletter on new tax’s annual bite against the nature of the two votes and the SBT. that it was deliberately June 22, 2007, that the MBT businesses by $614 million. The that it is the second one — the But the MBT as created designed to be “revenue “clearly isn’t for our more than outrage regarding this second one creating the 22 percent in June 2007 clearly failed neutral” — i.e., just as 20,000 small business members.” vote has been so substantial surcharge — that turned a good to adhere to the “less costly” costly to businesses as Deeb also noted that the that it has obscured the very MBT bad. mandate of the citizen initiative, outcome of the MBT process real animosity directed toward Gov. Jennifer Granholm in that it was deliberately the SBT that it replaced. had left his membership with the creation of the MBT in the shared Huizenga’s optimism designed to be “revenue The governor and many “the feeling that they are under first place. Confusion regarding over the original prospects for neutral” — i.e., just as costly lawmakers, reluctant attack by government” which these two votes bubbled up this the MBT. In a June 13, 2007, to businesses as the SBT that to make the budget is doing “what is in the best fall when a pair of congressional news release from her office it replaced. The governor and cuts necessary to interest of big business.” candidates planning to run in announcing the agreement to many lawmakers, reluctant Though the MBT was 2010 to replace outgoing U.S. create the MBT, the governor to make the budget cuts reduce business taxes, passed by the Legislature Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, said the tax “makes Michigan necessary to reduce business demanded nothing less. and signed by the governor tussled over what it means to more competitive, helping taxes, demanded nothing less. despite this opposition, 34 be responsible for creating the to attract and keep new job (And they would subsequently Likewise, on its Web site, members of the House of Michigan Business Tax. providers … .” The same release demand much more when they the Michigan chapter of Representatives did vote against There are four Republican featured Senate Majority Leader imposed the 22 percent MBT the National Federation of it — all Republicans. Just 17 candidates seeking that party’s Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, who surcharge along with a $765 Independent Businesses calls the House Republicans, including nomination, and one of them noted that the MBT “creates million personal income tax hike MBT a “bad tax” and references Huizenga, voted for it. issued a statement on Oct. 7, a more manageable structure later in the year.) the original vote to create the Those voting “no” may 2009, chiding two of the others than its predecessor and will The MBT as originally MBT as follows: “Written by have preferred the alternative: because they had “voted for the help set Michigan on the path to conceived also failed the test of BIG business for BIG business, following the original law job-killing Michigan Business economic recovery … .” House being “less burdensome” and the Michigan Business Tax was and creating a business tax Tax.” A businessman quoted in Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford “more equitable.” It was these passed on June 28, 2007, … .” that really was less expensive, the release also says the “MBT Twp., also chimed in that it deficiencies that drove many This is an allusion to the less complicated and less is unfair to small business and was the “right plan to move representatives of Michigan’s job new tax law’s bias toward big burdensome than the old SBT. could be the worst tax in the Michigan forward.” providers to oppose its birth. manufacturing companies. See “Good Tax?,” Page 11 Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 10

in some cases — from the docks The mississippi example they built for mooring watercraft and viewing nature. Where By james m. Hohman but tells the tale nevertheless. 17th place, thanks largely to • While Michigan’s poverty rate wildlife and verdant scenery once Whether its relative tax burden its flat income tax and lack of increased by 9 percent since abounded, homeowners now cope n an October press conference, can be considered low depends on local government sales taxes). 2005, Mississippi’s has stayed with mosquito infestations and a Gov. Jennifer Granholm what exactly is compared. In general, Mississippi has a about the same. Mississippi still view of mudflats. arguedI that tax hikes are For example, because moderate tax environment, and has the highest poverty rate, The drawdown also presents necessary. “What we’re fighting Mississippi has been relatively a is hardly the epitome of small- but unlike Michigan, it’s not several safety issues. The lowered for is Michigan not becoming poor state going all the way back government. getting worse. water exposed several pieces of Mississippi,” she said. (See related to colonial times, its per capita That said, unlike Michigan, If Michigan’s political class land that have been hollowed story, Page One.) tax burden remains relatively low Mississippi has experienced some is worried that failing to impose from underneath by years of The rhetorical flourish is today. growth in this decade: higher tax burdens on residents erosion. Anyone stepping on undermined by the reality that However, its tax burden • Over the last five years, will make us “like Mississippi,” the land, unaware that it is Mississippi is no longer the “small per unit of economic output Mississippi ranked 18th in per they can relax. On the other unsupported below, could be government = high poverty” foil (as measured by state Gross capita personal income growth. hand, if finding new ways to subjected to a 15-foot fall onto that Michigan’s political class Domestic Product) is the 13th Michigan was dead last. deliver more for less tax dollars hundreds of unsubmerged rocks. has often used to justify keeping highest (Michigan is 18th). • Mississippi’s real (inflation helps Michigan rediscover Additionally, the river’s banks their government employee Also, it’s the 12th highest adjusted) Gross Domestic something Mississippi has been have been home for many types of constituencies well-fed with more in terms of total state and local Product rose by 5 percent over enjoying — economic growth — industry over the past 150 years. tax dollars. government revenue as a percent of the last five years. Michigan’s they’ll actually have something to Exposing the riverbed disrupts the + Plus, Mississippi has a growing personal income (Michigan is 15th). lost 4 percent. boast about. contaminants — many of them economy — a concept that has Overall, a ranking of the • Mississippi payrolls grew by toxic — that have settled there, begun to seem exotic in this state. structure of state taxes by the Tax 2.9 percent between 2003 and James M. Hohman is the fiscal policy potentially endangering hikers and analyst at the Mackinac Center for The evidence on Mississippi’s Foundation places Mississippi 2008. Michigan’s declined by public policy. He may be reached explorers who could be infected by changing fortunes is complicated, in 21st place (Michigan is in 5.8 percent. at [email protected]. contact with the toxins. What’s more, ownership of the exposed bottomland Wild River entity, dams would redirect the particular, and quotes Kazan’s Boardman dam beneath the impoundment is river and submerge the island. production notes: “Mighty from Page 5 being challenged by the city and from Page 5 What Glover discovers, dynamic you were … intense … county officials, who say that this and Lee Remick isn’t more read- however, is that the good full of a little knowledge (which picnics, hiking, bicycling and land now belongs to the public ily recognized by movie buffs, intentions of the TVA conflict is a dangerous thing), 100 times other activities. These officials despite plat maps and deeds of but this critic would argue that with the best interests of the Garth surer of everything than you are also intend to plant hundreds of the homeowners that specifically the film’s property rights theme family. As Schickel explains in today” as well as life being “a trees along the banks to enhance state that their property extends alone should render it not only a Kazan’s biography: series of limited engagements” in the area’s natural beauty. to the waterline — wherever that cinematic but a civics class classic “It could be argued that on which Kazan/Glover act as “the But, for the individuals who waterline may be. as well. balance TVA would eventually instrument of history,” which own property on the current The Property Rights Film critic and Kazan change their lives for the better. entails “confidently breaking eggs dam impoundments, the plans Network’s 10-minute video biographer Richard Schickel Except for one factor: Many of because he feels ‘it is good for have created a nightmare. In (viewable at www.mackinac. declared that the movie “comes the dispossessed were members them to be part of the omelet.’” preparation for removal of the org/11140 and www.youtube. close to being a great film in its of families that had lived and Glover’s passionate government dams, up to 15 feet of water has com/watch?v=TYzzqaKKXi4) — yes, laconic — humanization farmed this acreage for more agent shares many of the been drawn down — with plans addresses the plight of the of a large conflict, in its evocation than a century. They had a qualities exhibited by Michigan to drawdown even further. As homeowners on the Boardman of a lost American landscape and tradition — a culture — that Department of Environmental a result, homeowners on the Dam impoundments. It includes spirit, in the simple beauty of was valuable, damageable and Quality operatives and Smart impoundment lost more than 100 interviews with several of the its imagery…, in the force of its not easily transportable. The Growth proponents. Otherwise feet of shoreline — up to 350 feet homeowners, attorney Robert acting, in its almost Chekhovian social engineering that would good people in pursuit of idealistic Kaufman and Traverse City realization of little lives under undoubtedly bring the greatest ends refuse to see the negative Mayor Mike Estes. Another video pressure they do not entirely good to the greatest number would impacts their goals might have is in the works that discusses the comprehend.” not necessarily include them.” on the people who live and do impact the water drawdown has Briefly, the film concerns itself The road to hell is paved with business there. Viewing “Wild had on the area’s wetlands, as well with idealistic Tennessee Valley good intentions, goes the old saying. River” might help them temper as the viability of returning the Authority functionary Chuck Glover’s idealism conflicts with the their unfettered enthusiasm to run dams to their original purpose — + Glover (Clift), who attempts to buy hard reality of the Garths, who have roughshod over property rights in creating hydroelectric power. + the island property of the Garth farmed the island for generations. pursuit of utopian goals. family, led by matriarch Ella (Van Schickel astutely recognizes Bruce Edward Walker is manager of communications for the Mackinac Fleet) and including widowed that Glover is a stand-in Bruce Edward Walker is manager of communications for the Mackinac Center’s Property Rights Network daughter-in-law, Carol (Remick). for Kazan’s own youthful Center’s Property Rights Network The Property Rights Network’s 10-minute and editor of The Refuge. He may be Once the Garth property is embracement of central planning and editor of The Refuge. He may be video about the Boardman Dam can be found reached at [email protected]. purchased by the government in general and communism in reached at [email protected]. at http://www.mackinac.org/11140. Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 11

Good Tax? (or even worse). Today, the Check from Page 9 Michigan business groups that warned against hatching “A Good Tax Gone Bad?”: Lawmakers who voted IN FAVOR of creating the Michigan Business Tax: Cutting taxes for manufacturers the MBT in the first place are senate Republicans (16) while holding other businesses quietly resolved to just reducing Allen (R) Brown (R) George (R) Jansen (R) Kuipers (R) Van Woerkom (R) harmless was a viable option. that 22 percent surcharge, to say Birkholz (R) Cassis (R) Gilbert (R) Jelinek (R) Richardville (R) Also possible, and preferable, nothing of getting it removed. Bishop (R) Garcia (R) Hardiman (R) Kahn (R) Stamas (R) was the option of cutting taxes Because Michigan’s business tax senate Democrats (16) for every Michigan business. system has gone from bad (SBT) Anderson (D) Cherry (D) Gleason (D) Olshove (D) Scott (D) Whitmer (D) At the time, the Mackinac to worse (MBT) to much worse Basham (D) Clark-Coleman (D) Hunter (D) Prusi (D) Switalski (D) Center for Public Policy was (surcharge) in such a short Brater (D) Clarke (D) Jacobs (D) Schauer (D) Thomas (D) circulating a list of nearly $1.9 period of time, it is perhaps House Republicans (17) billion in budget cutting and understandable that Michigan Ball (R) Caul (R) Hansen (R) Moore (R) Palsrok (R) Shaffer (R) economic-growth-generating politicians may sometimes Calley (R) Gaffney (R) Huizenga (R) Nofs (R) Proos (R) Wenke (R) ideas that could have eliminated forget what role they played in Caswell (R) Green (R) Moolenaar (R) Opsommer (R) Rocca (R) House Democrats (58) the state’s hunger for some or the drama. all of the tax dollars being taken Unfortunately for Michigan’s Accavitti (D) Constan (D) Griffin (D) Lemmons (D) Simpson (D) Angerer (D) Corriveau (D) Hammel (D) Lindberg (D) Smith, Alma (D) from job providers by the SBT job providers, a majority of Bauer (D) Coulouris (D) Hammon (D) Mayes (D) Smith, Virgil (D) (see: www.mackinac.org/7602). Michigan’s lawmakers also Bennett (D) Cushingberry (D) Hood (D) McDowell (D) Spade (D) These ideas included saving $75 quickly forgot why the SBT was Bieda (D) Dean (D) Hopgood (D) Meadows (D) Tobocman (D) million per year by eliminating being replaced in the first place: Brown (D) Dillon (D) Jackson (D) Meisner (D) Vagnozzi (D) the 21st Century Jobs Fund, Public Act 325 of 2006. Byrnes (D) Donigan (D) Johnson (D) Melton (D) Valentine (D) Byrum (D) Ebli (D) Jones, Robert (D) Miller (D) Warren (D) a subsidy being given by The purpose of this initiated Cheeks (D) Espinoza (D) Lahti (D) Polidori (D) Wojno (D) politicians to favored businesses law is to: Clack (D) Farrah (D) Law, Kathleen (D) Sak (D) Young (D) and industries; saving $65 (a) Repeal the single business Clemente (D) Gillard (D) LeBlanc (D) Scott (D) million by shifting state police tax on business activity in this Condino (D) Gonzales (D) Leland (D) Sheltrown (D) road patrols to less expensive state after December 31, 2007; county sheriff deputies; saving and Lawmakers who voted AGAINST creating the Michigan Business Tax: $50-$300 million by requiring (b) Encourage the legislature senate Republicans (3) schools to contract out for to adopt a tax that is less McManus (R) Patterson (R) Sanborn (R) noninstructional services; saving burdensome and less costly to senate Democrats (none) $26 million by cutting special employers, more equitable, and House Republicans (34) state payments to wealthy school more conducive to job creation Acciavatti (R) Emmons (R) Knollenberg (R) Nitz (R) Sheen (R) districts; and much more. and investment. Agema (R) Garfield (R) LaJoy (R) Palmer (R) Stahl (R) Because the later addition The Michiganvotes.org Booher (R) Hildenbrand (R) Law, David (R) Pastor (R) Stakoe (R) of the 22 percent surcharge vote tally for creation of the Brandenburg (R) Hoogendyk (R) Marleau (R) Pavlov (R) Steil (R) Casperson (R) Horn (R) Meekhof (R) Pearce (R) Walker (R) made the MBT far worse than Michigan Business Tax is to the + DeRoche (R) Hune (R) Meltzer (R) Robertson (R) Ward (R) its severest critics could have right. Elsenheimer (R) Jones, Rick (R) Moss (R) Schuitmaker (R) imagined, we will never know if House Democrats (none) the original MBT contrivance Kenneth M. Braun is the senior managing editor of Michigan Capi- would have panned out as tol Confidential. He may be reached Legislators who did not vote: poorly as those warnings at [email protected]. State Rep. Amos (R) State Sen. Barcia (D) State Sen. Cropsey (R) State Sen. Pappageorge (R)

This is a vote from the 2007-2008 session of the Michigan Legislature. 2007 Senate Roll Call 218 on SB 94 Some lawmakers are no longer members in the current session. Michigan Capitol Confidential 2007 House Roll Call 249 on SB 94 Editor: Michael D. Jahr Senior Managing Editor: Kenneth M. Braun Graphic Designer: Daniel E. Montgomery Michigan Capitol Confidential is published bimonthly by the Mackinac Center for Available Web sites for politicians who cast a vote regarding Public Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt research and educational institute this issue but are no longer serving in the Legislature: devoted to analyzing Michigan public policy issues. Michigan Capitol Confidential is Former state Rep. Judy Emmons, R-Sheridan, is running for Secretary of State: www.judyemmons.com. distributed to Michigan residents who have expressed an interest in public policy Former state Rep. Joe Hune, R-Fowlerville, is running for state Senate: www.joehune.com. matters, as well as members of the media and lawmakers and policy staff in the Former state Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, is running for Congress: www.huizengaforcongress.com. Michigan House, Michigan Senate and Office of the Governor. All rights reserved. Former state Rep. Andy Meisner, D-Ferndale, is the Oakland County Treasurer: www.oakgov.com/treasurer/. Permission to excerpt or reprint is hereby granted provided that Michigan Capitol Former state Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, is running for state Senate: www.moolenaarforsenate.com. Confidential, the author and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy are properly cited. Former state Rep. Mike Nofs, R-Battle Creek, is running for state Senate: www.mikenofs.com. Former state Sen. Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, is now a member of Congress: www.schauer.house.gov. 140 West Main Street, Midland, Michigan 48640 Former state Rep. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City, is running for state Senate: www.howardwalker37.com. 989-631-0900 • www.mackinac.org • MichiganVotes.org • [email protected] Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 12 balancing act leaders of the minority party votes (also with just a couple $13 billion, the School Aid the Republicans showing an early in each chamber were split: exceptions). Dillon faced a greater Fund is the largest single annual and definitive “no” vote while the from Page One House Minority Leader Kevin challenge in his 67-member expenditure of state government. voting board was open: Elsenheimer, R-Bellaire, swiftly House Democrat caucus, the vast Opposition to the 2.9 percent Dick Ball, R-Laingsburg, revised revenue estimates made endorsed the proposal, while majority of which did not support reduction was spearheaded by the Tim Moore, R-Farwell, clear that a deteriorating state Senate Minority Leader Mike lower spending amounts. Needing Michigan Education Association, Tom Pearce, R-Rockford, economy would provide less tax Prusi, D-Ishpeming, echoed the 56 votes to pass each budget, the the state’s largest school employee Tory Rocca, R-Sterling Heights, revenue than had been projected governor’s denunciation. Democrat Speaker was relying union. Describing a “full court Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton, in February. By early summer, The Dillon/Bishop agreement on getting most or all of the 43 press” by the MEA on Sept. 29, a Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, the gap between the amount the called for spending less than what Republican votes. MIRS source identified a dozen Sharon Tyler, R-Niles, and governor would like to spend the governor wanted on a variety On Sept. 29, MIRS published House Republicans whom the John Walsh, R-Livonia. and how much the state treasury of programs: welfare, community a roundtable discussion on how union was allegedly targeting in No complete and official list of expected to collect had grown to health, local government revenue this would work out, featuring an effort to persuade and pressure the Republicans most eager to vote an estimated $2.8 billion. More sharing, college scholarships and the views of several political them to vote against the cut. “no” is available for two reasons: than half of this could be covered more. Special interests started commentators. When asked if A “Republican” source On the first vote, when it was by federal “stimulus” dollars, but to push back before the ink was House Republicans could be told MIRS the vote would be clear that there was not sufficient that still left an overspending crisis dry. The MIRS Capitol Capsule counted on to provide “yes” problematic because nine House support for the measure, the of $1.2 billion. newsletter (www.mirsnews.com votes, one Democrat campaign Republicans planned to run for House leadership moved to “clear The governor’s response to – subscription required) reported consultant offered the following: the state Senate in 2010 and “are the board,” wiping out the record. these new numbers was to tweak that groups “supporting virtually “If House Republicans can’t be nervous about not receiving the This device is often used as a kind upward her recommendation every service funded by state counted on to support an all-cut union’s endorsement.” While the of “do-over,” allowing more time for more program cuts, and government began mobilizing,” budget, what is the reason for the union’s support and influence is for arm-twisting, logrolling or also to demand more tax hikes. lobbying lawmakers to reject the existence of House Republicans? generally and traditionally greater other vote-garnering tactics. Meanwhile, staring at the reality deal or the governor to veto it. That caucus is filled with hard- with Democrat lawmakers, 11 On the second and final vote, of a fiscal cliff, legislative leaders line conservatives who talk tough of 43 House Republicans were when it was again clear that the in both parties began to consider A “Republican” source in GOP primaries. Now is their MEA “recommended” candidates measure was well short of passage, alternatives. Specifically, Rep. told MIRS the vote would chance to shine and cut, cut and during the 2008 November general Speaker Dillon elected to throw in Andy Dillon, the Democrat cut some more.” election (see: www.mackinac the towel and record the vote as a Speaker of the House, and Sen. be problematic because Two budgets proved especially .org/10317.) defeat. Just prior to the vote being Mike Bishop, the Republican nine House Republicans troublesome. The first was the one Given the party caucus counted, with just two exceptions, containing $163 million less for dynamic described above, an the entire Republican caucus Senate Majority Leader, agreed in planned to run for the principle to a budget that would revenue-sharing payments to local MEA effort to pick off Republican switched sides and voted “no,” an include no tax hikes (at least state Senate in 2010 and governments than the governor votes on the K-12 budget would apparent attempt to avoid being at first), and would leave some “are nervous about not wanted. It passed the Senate on disproportionately damage the on the official record with a vote to federal “stimulus” money in the a strictly party-line vote, with all prospects for its passage. reduce their local school funding. receiving the union’s kitty for next year’s budget. GOP members supporting it, but On Sept. 30, the last day before MIRS characterized this decision The details still needed to [MEA’s] endorsement.” two tries were needed to muster the new fiscal year, the K-12 as “apparently designed to allow be worked out, and the the 56 votes required in the House. school budget was finally brought every House member to have a breakthrough on this was In the other corner was Dillon and Cushingberry up for a vote in the House. Two chance to say they voted against it.” announced on Sept. 16, just 15 Michigan’s business community. were among the 15 Democrats attempts were made to pass it, The official vote was a days before the start of the new Charlie Owens, director of who voted “yes.” Fifty Democrats one during the day and another in lopsided 106-2. Voting with the fiscal year. Specific department Michigan’s National Federation of voted “no,” along with two the early morning hours of Oct. 1. majority was one of the authors “budget targets” were endorsed Independent Businesses affiliate, Republicans: Kevin Green, Both failed. of the “all cuts” budget, House by Dillon, Bishop and the told MIRS that the bipartisan R-Wyoming, and Tory Rocca, Both times, about a dozen Speaker Andy Dillon. The two chairs of the House and Senate Dillon/Bishop agreement was R-Sterling Heights. Republicans were either not voting lone House members willing to appropriations committees, Rep. “the kind of leadership that small Unfortunately, that was or were pressing their red “no” publicly and officially vote in George Cushingberry, D-Detroit, business has been looking for the high water mark for the buttons. Roughly 30 Republicans favor of a 2.9 percent reduction and Sen. Ron Jelinek, R-Three from our lawmakers,” and that “as Dillon/Bishop “all cuts” budget, promptly pressed the green “yes” in K-12 spending were Rep. Tom Oaks, respectively. small business owners struggle because lawmakers in the House button. McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, and Notably, the governor had to balance their own books while were unwilling to support the Both times, the voting board Rep. Justin Amash, R-Kentwood. played no discernable role in facing falling sales and revenues, School Aid budget, the main was held open for extended The failed school aid funding crafting the agreement. She they have consistently asked the funding vehicle for public K-12 periods to allow attempts to round vote was the death-knell for the released a statement denouncing state to do the same.” education. This would have up a majority. On the Democratic bipartisan leadership “all cuts” its details and demanding a budget Despite many objections and reduced funding by 2.9 percent side, legislators were either sitting budget. As a temporary fall-back, that did not make “harmful cuts.” much hand-wringing, most of compared to the 2008-2009 on their hands, or had pressed the a one-month “continuation Furthermore, even though the Dillon/Bishop budgets were school year, mostly by reducing red “no” button. budget” was enacted, with a new legislative leaders from both eventually passed in both the the per-pupil foundation Three different reliable “deadline” of Oct. 31. Though parties were on board, they still House and Senate. Bishop’s Senate allowance by $218 per student observers for Michigan Capitol Bishop maintains an official had to persuade their back- GOP caucus held firm (with just (compared to the $59 per-pupil Confidential witnessed one reluctance to increase spending or bench colleagues to join them. a couple exceptions), passing reduction proposed by the or both of these attempts and raise taxes to balance any budgets, Complicating matters, the the leaner budgets on party-line governor in February.) At around recorded the following as some of it is widely understood that this Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 13

delay will work to the advantage of only a $165 per-pupil reduction, revenue sharing cut, and the the governor’s spending priorities. rather than the previous budget’s School Aid Fund budget with the Check Back in the real world (kind of) $218 cut. This higher spending 2.9 percent reduction, are below + “Balancing Act”: Lawmakers who voted IN FAVOR of a the clock was ticking toward meant that either “stimulus” and to the right. cut of less than 3 percent to K-12 school aid payments so Oct. 20, the day when the first money would have to be borrowed as to balance the state budget without tax increases: state school aid payments were from next year’s budget, taxes Kenneth M. Braun is the senior managing editor of Michigan Capitol Confidential. He payable to local school districts. would have to be raised, or both. may be reached at [email protected]. senate Republicans (21) Facing this deadline, a second The decision on which was put off Allen (R) Garcia (R) Kahn (R) Sanborn (R) version of the K-12 budget was to a later date. Birkholz (R) George (R) Kuipers (R) Stamas (R) ratified by both the House and The Michiganvotes.org Bishop (R) Gilbert (R) McManus (R) Van Woerkom (R) Senate on Oct. 8 and then sent vote tallies for the General Brown (R) Hardiman (R) Pappageorge (R) Cassis (R) Jansen (R) Patterson (R) to the governor. This one called for Government budget with the Cropsey (R) Jelinek (R) Richardville (R)

senate Democrats (none) Check House Republicans (2) “Balancing Act”: Lawmakers who voted IN FAVOR of the budget that cut revenue sharing Amash (R) McMillin (R) payments to local governments as a way to balance the state budget without raising taxes: House Democrats (none) senate Republicans (21) Allen (R) Cassis (R) Gilbert (R) Kahn (R) Patterson (R) Van Woerkom (R) Birkholz (R) Cropsey (R) Hardiman (R) Kuipers (R) Richardville (R) Lawmakers who voted AGAINST a cut of less than Bishop (R) Garcia (R) Jansen (R) McManus (R) Sanborn (R) 3 percent to K-12 school aid payments so as to Brown (R) George (R) Jelinek (R) Pappageorge (R) Stamas (R) balance the state budget without tax increases: senate Democrats (none) senate republicans (none) House Republicans (41) Senate Democrats (15) Agema (R) Denby (R) Jones, Rick (R) Meltzer (R) Schuitmaker (R) Anderson (D) Cherry (D) Jacobs (D) Switalski (D) Amash (R) DeShazor (R) Knollenberg (R) Moore (R) Scott, P. (R) Barcia (D) Clark-Coleman (D) Olshove (D) Thomas (D) Ball (R) Elsenheimer (R) Kowall (R) Moss (R) Stamas (R) Basham (D) Clarke (D) Prusi (D) Whitmer (D) Bolger (R) Genetski (R) Kurtz (R) Opsommer (R) Tyler (R) Brater (D) Gleason (D) Scott (D) Booher (R) Haines (R) Lori (R) Pavlov (R) Walsh (R) Calley (R) Hansen (R) Lund (R) Pearce (R) House Republicans (41) Caul (R) Haveman (R) Marleau (R) Proos (R) Agema (R) Genetski (R) Lori (R) Rocca (R) Crawford (R) Hildenbrand (R) McMillin (R) Rogers (R) Ball (R) Green (R) Lund (R) Rogers (R) Daley (R) Horn (R) Meekhof (R) Schmidt, W. (R) Bolger (R) Haines (R) Marleau (R) Schmidt, W. (R) Booher (R) Hansen (R) Meekhof (R) Schuitmaker (R) House Democrats (15) Calley (R) Haveman (R) Meltzer (R) Scott, P. (R) Angerer (D) Cushingberry (D) Espinoza (D) LeBlanc (D) Simpson (D) Caul (R) Hildenbrand (R) Moore (R) Stamas (R) Byrnes (D) Dillon (D) Hammel (D) McDowell (D) Slezak (D) Crawford (R) Horn (R) Moss (R) Tyler (R) Constan (D) Ebli (D) Lahti (D) Melton (D) Spade (D) Daley (R) Jones, Rick (R) Opsommer (R) Walsh (R) Denby (R) Knollenberg (R) Pavlov (R) DeShazor (R) Kowall (R) Pearce (R) Lawmakers who voted AGAINST the budget that cut revenue Elsenheimer (R) Kurtz (R) Proos (R) sharing payments to local governments: senate Republicans (none) House Democrats (65) senate Democrats (16) Angerer (D) Ebli (D) Leland (D) Segal (D) Anderson (D) Brater (D) Clarke (D) Jacobs (D) Scott (D) Whitmer (D) Barnett (D) Espinoza (D) Lemmons (D) Sheltrown (D) Barcia (D) Cherry (D) Gleason (D) Olshove (D) Switalski (D) Bauer (D) Geiss (D) Lindberg (D) Simpson (D) Basham (D) Clark-Coleman (D) Hunter (D) Prusi (D) Thomas (D) Bledsoe (D) Gonzales (D) Lipton (D) Slavens (D) Brown, L. (D) Gregory (D) Liss (D) Slezak (D) House Republicans (2) Brown, T. (D) Griffin (D) Mayes (D) Smith (D) Green (R) Rocca (R) Byrnes (D) Haase (D) McDowell (D) Spade (D) House Democrats (50) Byrum (D) Hammel (D) Meadows (D) Stanley (D) Barnett (D) Durhal (D) Kandrevas (D) Neumann (D) Switalski (D) Clemente (D) Haugh (D) Melton (D) Switalski (D) Bauer (D) Geiss (D) Kennedy (D) Polidori (D) Tlaib (D) Constan (D) Huckleberry (D) Miller (D) Tlaib (D) Bledsoe (D) Gonzales (D) Leland (D) Roberts (D) Valentine (D) Corriveau (D) Jackson (D) Nathan (D) Valentine (D) Brown, L. (D) Gregory (D) Lemmons (D) Schmidt, R. (D) Warren (D) Coulouris (D) Johnson (D) Neumann (D) Warren (D) Brown, T. (D) Griffin (D) Lindberg (D) Scott, B. (D) Womack (D) Cushingberry (D) Jones, Robert (D) Polidori (D) Womack (D) Byrum (D) Haase (D) Lipton (D) Scripps (D) Young (D) Dean (D) Kandrevas (D) Roberts (D) Young (D) Clemente (D) Haugh (D) Liss (D) Segal (D) Dillon (D) Kennedy (D) Schmidt, R. (D) Corriveau (D) Huckleberry (D) Mayes (D) Sheltrown (D) Donigan (D) Lahti (D) Scott, B. (D) Coulouris (D) Jackson (D) Meadows (D) Slavens (D) Durhal (D) LeBlanc (D) Scripps (D) Dean (D) Johnson (D) Miller (D) Smith (D) Donigan (D) Jones, Robert (D) Nathan (D) Stanley (D) Legislators who did not vote: Rep. Doug Bennett (D) Sen. Tupac Hunter (D) Legislators who did not vote: Rep. Judy Nerat (D) Rep. Doug Bennett (D) Rep. Judy Nerat (D) 2009 Senate Roll Call 480 on SB 245 2009 Senate Roll Call 506 on SB 252 2009 House Roll Call 481 on SB 245 2009 House Roll Call 479 on HB 4447 Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 14

10 20 30 35 Information appears as follows: Switalski, Michael: D George, Thomas M.: R Kuipers, Wayne: R McManus, Michelle: R 410 Farnum Building 320 Farnum Building 1005 Farnum Building S-2 Capitol Building Why we give Party State Senate District 517-373-7315 517-373-0793 517-373-6920 517-373-1725 Last Name, First Name: Party [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Affiliations: Location The Legislature is managed Phone 11 21 31 36 Sanborn, Alan: R Jelinek, Ron: R Barcia, Jim: D Stamas, Tony: R E-mail S-310 Capitol Building S-324 Capitol Building 1010 Farnum Building 720 Farnum Building as a partisan institution. 517-373-7670 517-373-6960 517-373-1777 517-373-7946 Lawmakers segregate [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 01 themselves by party in matters Clarke, Hansen: D 12 22 32 37 710 Farnum Building Bishop, Michael: R Garcia, Valde: R Kahn, Roger MD: R Allen, Jason: R from daily meetings to seating. 517-373-7346 S-106 Capitol Building S-132 Capitol Building 420 Farnum Building 820 Farnum Building [email protected] 517-373-2417 517-373-2420 517-373-1760 517-373-2413 They have separate and [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 02 taxpayer-financed policy staffs Scott, Martha G.: D 13 23 33 38 220 Farnum Building Pappageorge, John: R Whitmer, Gretchen: D Cropsey, Alan L.: R Prusi, Michael: D to provide them with research 517-373-7748 1020 Farnum Building 415 Farnum Building S-8 Capitol Building 515 Farnum Building [email protected] 517-373-2523 517-373-1734 517-373-3760 517-373-7840 and advice from differing [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] perspectives. As such, gaining 03 Clark-Coleman, Irma: D 14 24 34 a full understanding of the vote 310 Farnum Building Jacobs, Gilda Z.: D Birkholz, Patricia L.: R VanWoerkom, Gerald: R 517-373-0990 1015 Farnum Building 805 Farnum Building 605 Farnum Building of an individual lawmaker [email protected] 517-373-7888 517-373-3447 517-373-1635 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] requires knowing his or her 04 Thomas III, Samuel Buzz: D 15 25 partisan affiliation. S-9 Capitol Building Cassis, Nancy: R Gilbert II, Judson: R 517-373-7918 905 Farnum Building 705 Farnum Building [email protected] 517-373-1758 517-373-7708 [email protected] [email protected] 05 Hunter, Tupac A.: D 16 26 915 Farnum Building Brown, Cameron: R Cherry, Deborah: D 517-373-0994 405 Farnum Building 910 Farnum Building [email protected] 517-373-5932 517-373-1636 [email protected] [email protected] 06 Anderson, Glenn S.: D 17 27 610 Farnum Building Richardville, Randy: R Gleason, John: D 517-373-1707 205 Farnum Building 315 Farnum Building [email protected] 517-373-3543 517-373-0142 [email protected] [email protected] 07 Patterson, Bruce: R 18 28 Who are 505 Farnum Building Brater, Liz: D Jansen, Mark C.: R 517-373-7350 510 Farnum Building 520 Farnum Building [email protected] 517-373-2406 517-373-0797 [email protected] [email protected] 08 your Basham, Raymond E.: D 19 29 715 Farnum Building Vacancy Hardiman, Bill: R 517-373-7800 305 Farnum Building [email protected] 517-373-1801 [email protected] 09 lawmakers? Olshove, Dennis: D 920 Farnum Building 517-373-8360 [email protected]

Members of the Michigan House and Senate are the second highest- paid state legislators in the United States, behind California. Base member annual pay: $79,650 Additional annual expense allowance: $12,000 Supplements are paid to the following 12 legislative officers: Speaker of the House: $27,000 Majority leader in the Senate: $26,000 Minority leaders in both House and Senate: $22,000 To find out which lawmakers represent you and to Majority floor leaders in both House and Senate: $12,000 Minority floor leaders in both House and Senate: $10,000 view interactive legislative district maps, please point Chair of Appropriations Committee in both House and Senate: $7,000 House speaker pro tempore and Senate president pro tempore: $5,513 your web browser to www.mackinac.org/9313. In more than 30 states, the position of state legislator is a part-time job with a salary of $30,000 or less. Texas — the second most populous state and second largest geographically — pays lawmakers $7,200 per year. If you do not have Internet access, then you may obtain copies of legislative Some pay much less: New Hampshire legislators are paid a salary of $200 for a two-year term of office; district maps by calling 989-631-0900 or by sending a written request to us at: Alabama pays $10 per day; and New Mexico offers no salary at all — just expenses. + Mackinac Center for Public Policy, c/o MiCapCon District Maps 140 West Main Street, Midland, MI 48640 Did you know? Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 15

018 038 058 078 095 Information appears as follows: LeBlanc, Richard: D Crawford, Hugh: R Kurtz, Kenneth: R Tyler, Sharon: R Coulouris, Andy: D N 0697 HOB / 517-373-2576 S 0887 HOB / 517-373-0827 N 0992 HOB / 517-373-1794 N 1097 HOB / 517-373-1796 N 1199 HOB / 517-373-0152 State House District [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Last Name, First Name: Party Location / Phone 019 039 059 079 096 E-mail Walsh, John: R Brown, Lisa: D Lori, Matt: R Proos, John: R Mayes, Jeff: D N 0698 HOB / 517-373-3920 S 0888 HOB / 517-373-1799 N 0993 HOB / 517-373-0832 N 1098 HOB / 517-373-1403 S 1285 HOB / 517-373-0158 — [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] HOB = House Office Building CB = Capitol Building 020 040 060 080 097 Corriveau, Marc: D Moss, Chuck: R Jones, Robert: D Schuitmaker, Tonya: R Moore, Tim: R N 0699 HOB / 517-373-3816 S 0889 HOB / 517-373-8670 N 0994 HOB / 517-373-1785 N 1099 HOB / 517-373-0839 S 1286 HOB / 517-373-8962 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

001 021 041 061 081 098 Bledsoe, Timothy: D Slavens, Dian: D Knollenberg, Marty: R DeShazor, Larry: R Pavlov, Phil: R Stamas, Jim: R S 0585 HOB / 517-373-0154 S 0785 HOB / 517-373-2575 N 0890 HOB / 517-373-1783 N 0995 HOB / 517-373-1774 S 1185 HOB / 517-373-1790 S 1287 HOB / 517-373-1791 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 002 022 042 062 082 099 Lemmons Jr., LaMar: D Geiss, Douglas: D Haugh, Harold: D Segal, Kate: D Daley, Kevin: R Caul, Bill: R S 0586 HOB / 517-373-0106 S 0786 HOB / 517-373-0852 N 0891 HOB / 517-373-0854 N 0996 HOB / 517-373-0555 S 1186 HOB / 517-373-1800 S 1288 HOB / 517-373-1789 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 003 023 043 063 083 100 Scott, Bettie Cook: D Kennedy, Deb: D Haines, Gail: R Bolger, James: R Espinoza, John: D Hansen, Goeff: R S 0587 HOB / 517-373-1776 S 0787 HOB / 517-373-0855 N 0892 HOB / 517-373-0615 N 0997 HOB / 517-373-1787 S 1187 HOB / 517-373-0835 S 1289 HOB / 517-373-7317 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 004 024 044 064 084 101 Young II, Coleman: D Roberts, Sarah: D Kowall, Eileen: R Griffin, Martin: D Brown, Terry: D Scripps, Dan: D S 0588 HOB / 517-373-1008 S 0788 HOB / 517-373-0113 N 0893 HOB / 517-373-2616 N 0998 HOB / 517-373-1795 S 1188 HOB / 517-373-0476 S 1385 HOB / 517-373-0825 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 005 025 045 065 085 102 Johnson, Bert: D Switalski, Jon: D McMillin, Tom: R Simpson, Mike: D Ball, Richard: R Booher, Darwin: R S 0589 HOB / 517-373-0144 S 0789 HOB / 517-373-1772 N 0894 HOB / 517-373-1773 N 0999 HOB / 517-373-1775 S 1189 HOB / 517-373-0841 S 1386 HOB / 517-373-1747 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 006 026 046 066 086 103 Durhal Jr., Fred: D Donigan, Marie: D Marleau, Jim: R Rogers, Bill: R Hildenbrand, Dave: R Sheltrown, Joel: D S 0685 HOB / 517-373-0844 N 0790 HOB / 517-373-3818 N 0895 HOB / 517-373-1798 S 1085 HOB / 517-373-1784 N 1190 HOB / 517-373-0846 S 1387 HOB / 517-373-3817 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 007 027 047 067 087 104 Womack, Jimmy: D Lipton, Ellen: D Denby, Cindy: R Byrum, Barb: D Calley, Brian: R Schmidt, Wayne: R S 0686 HOB / 517-373-0589 N 0791 HOB / 517-373-0478 N 0896 HOB / 517-373-8835 S 1086 HOB / 517-373-0587 N 1191 HOB / 517-373-0842 S 1388 HOB / 517-373-1766 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 008 028 048 068 088 105 Cushingberry Jr., George: D Liss, Lesia: D Hammel, Richard: D Bauer, Joan: D Genetski, Bob: R Elsenheimer, Kevin: R S 0687 HOB / 517-373-2276 N 0792 HOB / 517-373-2275 N 0897 HOB / 517-373-7557 S 1087 HOB / 517-373-0826 N 1192, HOB / 517-373-0836 S 1389 HOB / 517-373-0829 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 009 029 049 069 089 106 Jackson, Shanelle: D Melton, Tim: D Gonzales, Lee: D Meadows, Mark: D Meekhof, Arlan: R Neumann, Andy: D S 0688 HOB / 517-373-1705 N 0793 HOB / 517-373-0475 N 0898 HOB / 517-373-7515 S 1088 HOB / 517-373-1786 N 1193 HOB / 517-373-0838 S 1485 HOB / 517-373-0833 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 010 030 050 070 090 107 Leland, Gabe: D Rocca, Tory: R Slezak, Jim: D Huckleberry, Mike: D Haveman, Joseph: R McDowell, Gary: D S 0689 HOB / 517-373-6990 N 0794 HOB / 517-373-7768 N 0899 HOB / 517-373-3906 S 1089 HOB / 517-373-0834 N 1194 HOB / 517-373-0830 S 1486 HOB / 517-373-2629 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 011 031 051 071 091 108 Nathan, David: D Miller, Fred: D Scott, Paul: R Jones, Rick: R Valentine, Mary: D Nerat, Judy: R N 0690 HOB / 517-373-3815 N 0795 HOB / 517-373-0159 S 0985 HOB / 517-373-1780 N 1090 HOB / 517-373-0853 N 1195 HOB / 517-373-3436 S 1487 HOB / 517-373-0156 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 012 032 052 072 092 109 Tlaib, Rashida: D Haase, Jennifer: D Byrnes, Pam: D Amash, Justin: R Bennett, Doug: D Lindberg, Steven: D N 0691 HOB / 517-373-0823 N 0796 HOB / 517-373-8931 S 0986 HOB / 517-373-0828 N 1091 HOB / 517-373-0840 N 1196 HOB / 517-373-2646 S 1488 HOB / 517-373-0498 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 013 033 053 073 093 110 Kandrevas, Andrew: D Meltzer, Kim: R Warren, Rebekah: D Pearce, Tom: R Opsommer, Paul: R Lahti, Michael: D N 0692 HOB / 517-373-0845 N 0797 HOB / 517-373-0820 S 0987 HOB / 517-373-2577 N 1092 HOB / 517-373-0218 N 1197 HOB / 517-373-1778 S 1489 HOB / 517-373-0850 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 014 034 054 074 094 Clemente, Ed: D Stanley, Woodrow: D Smith, Alma: D Agema, David: R Horn, Kenneth: R N 0693 HOB / 517-373-0140 N 0798 HOB / 517-373-8808 S 0988 HOB / 517-373-1771 N 1093 HOB / 517-373-8900 N 1198 HOB / 517-373-0837 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 015 035 055 075 Polidori, Gino: D Gregory, Vincent: D Angerer, Kathy: D Dean, Robert: D N 0694 HOB / 517-373-0847 N 0799 HOB / 517-373-1788 S 0989 HOB / 517-373-1792 N 1094 HOB / 517-373-2668 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Who Is Your Lawmaker? 016 036 056 076 Constan, Bob: D Lund, Pete: R Ebli, Kate: D Schmidt, Roy: D www.mackinac.org/9313 N 0695 HOB / 517-373-0849 S 0885 HOB / 517-373-0843 N 0990 HOB / 517-373-2617 N 1095 HOB / 517-373-0822 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 017 037 057 077 Dillon, Andy: D Barnett, Vicki: D Spade, Dudley: D Green: Kevin: R 166 CB / 517-373-0857 S 0886 HOB / 517-373-1793 N 0991 HOB / 517-373-1706 N 1096 HOB / 517-373-2277 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Michigan Capitol Confidential november / december 2009 | 16

A sampling of proposed state laws, as described on MichiganVotes.org

Senate Bill 904 senate Bill 777 House Bill 4515 Revise “green schools” criteria Authorize $100 million renewable power Increase electric car subsidies Introduced by state Sen. Valde Garcia, conversion manufacturer subsidy Introduced by state Rep. Dian Slavens, R-Howell Introduced by state Sen. Tony Stamas, D-Canton Twp. R-Midland The bill would revise the criteria by which a (Note: This bill has become law - Public school may be designated as a “green school” (Note: This bill has become law Act 5 of 2009. See also: “Politically Correct and establish new levels of “greenness” for a – Public Act 110 of 2009) Capitalism,” in the May/June 2009 edition school, including “emerald” and “evergreen.” The law gives a four-year, $100 million of Michigan Capitol Confidential.) The new criteria specify in more detail various subsidy to a joint venture of the “Xtreme The law expands from one to three the types of recycling and add doing energy Power” and “Clairvoyant Energy” number of refundable, $100 million, capital audits of the homes of students, engaging corporations, which would make “large scale investment Michigan Business Tax credit in letter-writing or lobbying campaigns on power systems designed to convert variable agreements that could be entered into with environmental issues, offering classes in renewable power into firm dispatchable makers of plug-in traction battery packs used energy or environmental issues, creating a power” at the former Ford Wixom assembly in electric cars, which were authorized by student environmental organization and “eco plant. The subsidy is structured as a a 2008 law, and increase from $70 million reading” program, and much more. Some “refundable” tax credit, meaning the state will to $90 million total credits for “battery criteria of the current “green school” statute send the company a check for the amount integration, prototyping, and launch” are not included, such as hosting a Sierra that the credit exceeds its tax liability. expenses. The 2008 law authorized various Club spokesperson, students dusting coils on subsidies estimated at $335 million over cafeteria refrigerators and checking bus tire houSe Bill 4126 seven years. This bill would add an additional pressure, etc. Authorize subsidies for selected $220 million to that. “Refundable” means that auto industry suppliers the state will send a manufacturer a check for senate Bill 552 Introduced by state Rep. Richard LeBlanc, the amount that the credit exceeds the firm’s Give “rewards” to gas stations D-Westland tax liability. that increase ethanol sales Introduced by state Sen. Cameron Brown, The bill proposes to authorize up to $250 senate Bill 418 R-Fawn River Twp. million in Michigan Business Tax credits Increase energy business subsidies for auto manufacturing suppliers that enter Introduced by state Sen. Jason Allen, The bill proposes to give a subsidy to job retention agreements with the state. R-Traverse City gas stations that increase ethanol sales Several future years’ worth of credits could The bill proposes to increase from above certain thresholds specified in be claimed all at once by a company, meaning $45 million to up to $60 million the amount the bill. The subsidy would be a “carry- that the state would be writing checks to of “21st Century Jobs Fund” money that can forwardable” income tax credit (can be them. The bill authorizes “clawbacks” if the be spent on grants and subsidies to energy used to offset the owner’s tax liability firms don’t meet the job retention goals, but technology projects undertaken by for- over several years), and the value would if a firm went bankrupt then presumably the profit companies. These “centers of energy be between 2 cents and 6 cents per gallon state would be in line with other creditors excellence” grants would have to be used for of ethanol sold above the threshold. for a piece of whatever assets remain. + matching federal or international grants.