News Room
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 9, 2009
CONTACT: Jim Holcomb or Rich Studley
517-371-2100
MICHIGAN CHAMBER APPLAUDS BREAKTHROUGH IN STATE SENATE ON SCHOOL FUNDING AND
BUSINESS TAXES
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today expressed
appreciation for action yesterday in the Michigan Senate on funding for K-12
education and revisions to Michigan’s Business Tax that would result in
elimination of the job-killing 22% MBT surcharge.
“Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and his caucus developed a
plan and took action to break the impasse over the School Aid budget,” said
Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. “We applaud the Senate GOP for
again providing leadership to balance the state budget without a general tax
increase and to improve Michigan’s tax climate for job providers.”
“The action taken last night should not be underestimated,” noted Jim
Holcomb, Vice President of Business Advocacy & Associate General Counsel for the
Michigan Chamber. “With state revenues down dramatically, the ability to hold
school funding to a 2.3% decrease, coupled with relief for job providers, is a
great accomplishment.”
“The Senate stepped up to the plate and delivered for educators and
employers. Now we urge the House to take prompt action next week to enact this
important reform,” added Holcomb. “Michigan’s employers and employees simply
cannot wait any longer.
“Removing the job-killing 22% MBT surcharge is something that both Gov.
Granholm and Speaker Dillon have said they would support if there was a plan to
pay for it. Yesterday the Senate approved that plan and now the ball is in the
House’s court,” Holcomb concluded.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its
50th year as a statewide business organization, now representing more than 7,000
employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan
Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan’s job providers
in the legislative, political and legal process. It is one of only four state
chambers of commerce in the nation accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 6, 2009
CONTACT: Jim Holcomb or Rich Studley
517-371-2100
MICHIGAN CHAMBER OPPOSES HOUSE DEMOCRATS' PLAN TO ENACT
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TAX INCREASES ON INDIVIDUALS AND JOB
PROVIDERS
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today
expressed great disappointment that House Democrats are increasing taxes on
individuals and job providers instead of living up to their legislative deal to
balance the budget based upon existing revenues.
“Michigan families and job providers simply cannot endure more
tax increases,” said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Rich Studley. “Every day,
families and businesses across Michigan make tough decisions on how best to use
their financial resources; it’s time for Governor Granholm and Democratic
legislators to do the same.”
“Enough is enough, we simply cannot afford to send more money
to Lansing to pay for an oversized and ineffective government bureaucracy,”
Studley added.
“Michigan’s business community has offered the Governor and
legislators a road map to fix Michigan’s deteriorating budget situation,” noted
Jim Holcomb, Vice President of Business Advocacy & Associate General Counsel for
the Michigan Chamber. “We once again urge them to seriously consider the reform
ideas offered as a means to restore some sanity to our budget process and
stabilize the state’s fiscal condition well into the future.”
“Time has long since passed for politicians to right-size
state government; unfortunately, today, House Democrats once again embraced the
status quo and shied away from embracing positive change,” Holcomb remarked.
“Tough budget votes were taken just last week and now is not
the time to retreat to the failed spending policies that got us to this crisis,”
Holcomb added. “The ability to revitalize Michigan is possible if our elected
leaders will hold the line on spending and make the reforms needed to put our
state on a fiscally responsible track.”
“We applaud Senate and House Republicans for already stepping
up to the plate and showing the type of leadership needed to move Michigan
forward,” Holcomb concluded.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its
50th year as a statewide business organization, now representing more than 7,000
employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan
Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan’s job providers
in the legislative, political and legal process. It is one of only four state
chambers of commerce in the nation accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
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