Hearings on Proposal to Repeal Personal Property Tax Today in Lansing
 The House will hold hearings on the proposal to repeal personal property taxes on Tuesday, December 4 and Wednesday, December 5 at 10:30 am in Room 521 of the House Office Building, 124 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing.
This proposal is very complicated, with a number of issues in need of resolution and understanding. Our hope is to have the debate continue beyond the lame duck session so that we can be certain to address all points of concern as opposed to rushing the proposal through in just a few days. If possible, please attend and share your concerns with the committee. More>
State
Affairs Update
 Senate Passes MISS Dig Law Rewrite - UPDATE: The Senate has passed these bills. SB 1083 (S-4) and HB 1084 (S-1) each passed on a 26-12 vote.
The Senate will be taking up SB 1083 and SB 1084 today. The bills as passed by the Senate Energy and Technology Committee rewrite the MISS-DIG Act to create a structure to incent municipalities to comply with the Act. In those versions, if a local unit of government fails to comply with the Act it is subject to a fine of up to $5,000 from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). A second violation results in a fine of up to $10,000. A third violation carries a fine of up to $15,000 and actual property damages. All of these fines are preventable by calling MISS-DIG. If facilities are mis-marked, that is not the fault of the local unit of government. The League opposed these in the Senate. MORE>
House Committee Passes Police & Fire Exemption from Law Prohibiting Retroactive Wage Increases
Village Election Changes Pass Senate
Federal Update
 Effort Underway to Pass Marketplace Fairness in US Senate: Contact Levin and Stabenow Today! -
It has been reported that Senators Richard Durbin (IL), Michael Enzi (WY) and Lamar Alexander (TN) are planning to file a motion to add Marketplace Fairness Act (S. 1832) to the Defense Authorization Bill (S. 3254). This action could happen as early as today. Marketplace Fairness would enable state and local governments nationwide to collect $23 billion in sales tax currently due on Internet and mail order sales. These are state and local taxes and therefore will not cost the federal government any additional revenue. Please contact Senators Stabenow and Levin and urge them to support the efforts of Senators Durbin, Enzi and Alexander to add Marketplace Fairness to the Defense Authorization Bill.
Senator Levin: (202) 224-6221
Senator Stabenow: (202) 224-4822
Michigan Has Three Chairmen of 19 House Committee Posts
US Department of Transportation Seeking Local Feedback on National Environmental Policy Act
Tell Your Story: The FCC Wants to Hear About PEG in Your Community
MAP-21 Resources Available
21st Century Communities
Art's Contribution to the Gross Domestic Product Will Be Calculated - Many policymakers and arts advocacy groups have argued that the  creative sector impacts the economy. One of the Center for 21st Century Communities "8 Assets" that make communities better places to live is Cultural Economic Development, which hinges on the argument that artists, creative industries and professionals, museums, festivals, and other facets of the creative sector make communities attractive and generate a positive impact on the economy. However, in my time interviewing artists and arts organizations as a journalist, one of the biggest needs they frequently identify is the need for more hard data and better sources of proof. MORE>
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Benefits of City & University Partnerships
Big Data for Small Communities
The Fund Book - Free Federal Funding Resource |
