Advocacy News – January 28, 2021
While the Governor released her COVID Recovery Plan last week, House Republicans announced and introduced supplemental budget bills that included their Help and Hope for Struggling Michiganders plan. HB 4047 includes several provisions aimed at providing direct relief to Michigan businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Key programs include:
- $150 million to the 100 percent employer funded Unemployment Trust Fund to cover fraudulently claimed benefits and making sure Michigan businesses are not on the hook for the $1.5 billion paid in fraudulent benefits since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- $55 million in an unemployment tax holiday for companies unable to pay their unemployment tax bills.
- $300 million to provide direct relief to businesses in the form of a check from the Department of Treasury based on a business’s property tax or rent liability.
- $16.5 million to cover liquor license fees.
- $22 million to help with local health department fees.
- $22 million to cover penalty and interest for businesses unable to pay their summer 2020 property taxes.
Wendy Block, the Michigan Chamber’s Vice President of Advocacy and Member Engagement, testified in support of the proposal at the House Appropriations Committee and encouraged the Legislature to take quick action to pass this relief measure and ensure Michigan’s economy can recover as quickly as possible.
For more information on this proposal, please contact Dan Papineau at dpapineau@michamber.com