Displaying items tagged: Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Senate votes to repeal ‘right-to-work,’ restore prevailing wage
LANSING — Democrats on Tuesday approved bills to rescind Michigan’s 2012 “right-to-work” law, voting to again allow labor contracts that require workers to pay union fees as a condition of employment.
Democrats pass ‘right-to-work’ repeal and prevailing-wage mandate
LANSING — Michigan’s decade-old “right-to-work” laws are in peril now that Democratic legislators are acting to rescind them — as promised — two months after taking power in Lansing.
Michigan poised to exempt sales tax on delivery, installation services
LANSING — Michigan is poised to stop taxing delivery and installation services if they are separately stated on the invoice following a legislative deal to authorize $1.3 billion in new spending.
The SOAR Fund takes flight to secure large competitive projects
Creating the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund gave Michigan a new tool to lure major economic development projects that business advocates say has quickly altered the national perception about the state.
Biz groups ‘stunned’ by adopt-and-amend ruling; warn of restaurant and lodging closures
Statewide business advocacy groups are raising alarms over a Tuesday court ruling that determined state lawmakers in 2018 illegally watered down ballot initiatives that would have strengthened the state’s minimum wage and paid sick leave requirements.
Statewide tax cuts still on the table as Whitmer, lawmakers negotiate
Statewide tax cuts remain on the table for later this year despite a recent budget deal between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and lawmakers for the state’s coming fiscal year that keeps present tax rates.
Tax cut negotiations on deck between Whitmer, Republicans
Competing proposals from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republicans who control the Legislature put tax cuts on the election-year agenda in Lansing.
Biz groups quiet on economic implications of abortion restrictions
The longstanding U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, which has protected abortion access before fetal viability for 49 years, is set to be directly challenged this year.
Biz groups welcome halt to ‘sweeping and disruptive’ federal vaccine mandate for large employers
Business advocates hailed Thursday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that halted President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate for larger employers.
Legislature moves quickly to advance economic development incentive programs
LANSING — The Michigan Senate today passed a trio of bills that would create new state funds to support major corporate economic development projects in the state.
Bill would allow tax credit on investments in Michigan-based businesses
Individuals investing in Michigan-based businesses could seek a credit on the state’s income tax under legislation proposed in Lansing.
Biz groups call on Congress to pass $1.2T infrastructure bill, stop ‘playing politics’
Representatives from local, statewide and national chambers of commerce are calling on congressional lawmakers to pass a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill they say is critical to support local growth and talent attraction.
GOP lawmakers push corporate income tax cut, tax credits for businesses
Republican lawmakers are advancing bills that would reduce Michigan’s corporate income tax rate by 20 percent and create tax credits for businesses that lost at least a quarter of their revenue during COVID-19 restrictions.
Biz, labor groups spar over state’s ‘permanent’ COVID-19 workplace rules
While Michigan is making progress to vaccinate the vast majority of residents against COVID-19, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration wants to put in place long-term workplace safeguards in case the virus still maintains a presence here.
Major utilities seek negotiations on rooftop solar bill
Michigan’s two major investor-owned utilities want to negotiate with state legislators and advocates on a proposed bill that would expand access to the companies’ rooftop solar programs.
Business coalition says health care legislation will drive up costs for employers, do ‘more harm than good’
A coalition of Michigan business groups is urging state senators to reject legislation that they claim will drive up the cost of health coverage for small employers.
Whitmer signs $106M COVID-19 relief bill, including grants to small businesses, venues
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer today signed legislation that provides $106 million in COVID-19 relief that includes grants for small businesses and entertainment venues that have been closed or had operations limited by state orders.
Clean energy, Line 5, electric choice on Michigan’s energy docket in 2021
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order in late September creating a long-term climate change plan calling for the state to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Business groups urge Whitmer to sign property tax forgiveness bill
Business groups are urging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to sign legislation that would forgive fines, late fees and interest on unpaid summer 2020 property tax bills.
Whitmer signs surprise medical billing, employer liability bills into law
LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a series of bipartisan bills that include providing pandemic liability protections to employers and curtailing surprise medical billing in Michigan.
State lawmakers pass COVID-19 liability protections for employers
LANSING — State lawmakers passed legislation early Wednesday morning that would grant liability protections to employers during the COVD-19 pandemic.
Bills would exempt PPE purchases from sales, use tax for employers
Employers could buy pandemic-related personal protection equipment without having to pay state sales or use taxes under proposed statewide legislation.
Business groups urge Whitmer to allow more reopenings
Four business groups are urging Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to consider allowing more facilities including gyms, fitness centers, movie theaters and bowling alleys to reopen.
‘Reeling’ from COVID, Great Lakes biz group joins call for immediate Line 5 shut down
A coalition of businesses supporting the Line 5 pipeline’s closure in the Straits of Mackinac is backing Attorney General Dana Nessel’s effort to do just that after “significant damage” to the line was disclosed late last week.
Graduated income tax campaign asks GOP leaders for online signature-gathering
Organizers behind the campaign for a statewide graduated income tax have called on top GOP lawmakers to consider allowing online signature gathering because of restrictions imposed by the coronavirus to protect public health.
Links for guidance and advice for employers coping with the coronavirus pandemic
Business organizations are offering plenty of advice and information to employers about the coronavirus pandemic and how to manage through the crisis.
Michigan Chamber prepares for ‘war’ over graduated income tax proposal
As progressive political advocates seek lower state income tax rates for most Michigan residents while higher earners pay more for infrastructure needs, the state’s leading business group is bracing for a highly contentious political campaign.
Legislation to limit non-competes for certain low-wage jobs draws concern from biz groups
Backers of legislation that would bar employers in Michigan from requiring certain employees to sign a non-compete agreement say they simply want the free market to work.
Policy Outlook: Gerrymandering effort gives way to more state government reforms
After securing a victory over partisan gerrymandering in the 2018 election, organizers behind the grassroots group Voters Not Politicians have their sights set on several more state government reforms in 2020.
Toll roads in Michigan? Lawmakers and interest groups want a closer look
Consensus is building in Lansing over studying the potential for toll roads as a future transportation funding source, but whether Michigan will join the nearly three-dozen states in doing so remains unclear.