Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop

Senate Republican Priorities
and Achievements

Budget: Right-sizing government and Growing Michigan's Economy

The first step to government's economic recovery is an honest acknowledgement of the crisis. Denial is no longer an option, and reliance on tired old solutions and political rhetoric will not change our fortunes. Staying the course is only going to make matters worse and prolong our journey to the road to recovery. (more)

Elimination of MBT Surcharge

Senate Republicans sent a message this year to Michigan job providers to let them know how important they are to re-energizing our state's economy. We encouraged them to keep their businesses here with our recent passage of a bill to eliminate the onerous Michigan Business Tax surcharge. Senate Bill 1 phases out the 21.99 percent MBT surcharge over a two-year period - cutting the surcharge by half to 11 percent in 2009 and eliminating it by 2010. (more)

Workforce Training and Jobs

With our state's unemployment rate nearly 50 percent higher than the rest of the country, we must do everything we can to help put people back to work and facilitate job creation. Michigan has been in a one-state recession for the past six years and our state's economy is undergoing a change that is fundamental and long lasting. As this process plays out, the need to have a trained and capable workforce will grow and remain a top consideration for employers and entrepreneurs deciding where they want to locate. (more)

Health Care Reforms

Currently, Michigan is home to an estimated 1.1 million residents who do not have health insurance, which is equal to 11.5 percent of the state's population. This number is likely to increase unless the economy improves.

Michigan Senate Republicans understand many residents are afraid that they may not be able to afford health insurance. In the last legislative session we tried to address these concerns before they became an issue for the people of Michigan, but unfortunately, the House did not agree. (more)

Eliminate Bureaucracy

Senate Republicans will continue to do everything to make our state a leader in the nation for job growth. One of the most important factors a business considers when deciding where to locate or expand its operations is the time, cost, and ease of compliance associated with a state's regulatory climate.

Senate Republicans will continue our fight to eliminate bureaucracy and make Michigan an inviting place to do business. We will work with job providers to reform the regulatory structure in Michigan and to put pressure on the administration when the actions of a department are costing us precious jobs. (more)

An Agenda for Strong Schools

Senate Republicans firmly believe that the success of our great state will depend almost entirely on whether Michigan has the kind of education system that provides our children and future generations with the skills to succeed in the fiercely competitive and ever-evolving global economy. Literally and figuratively, we simply cannot afford an education model that has grown out of a 20th century industrial and agrarian society. Just as we must diversify our economy, we must challenge ourselves to innovate and to create a diverse and comprehensive approach to educating our children. We are focused and committed to a long-range plan to build strong schools that reflect a dynamic, efficient and high-performance 21st century learning environment. (more)

Protecting Water and Natural Resources

Michigan's natural resources are one of the state's most valuable assets. It is imperative that they be preserved and protected. Senate Republicans will continue our strong leadership role in protecting our water and our environment.

Efforts to conserve Michigan's natural resources are not new for Senate Republicans. For more than five years, we have been leading the way to develop proactive legislation to protect the Great Lakes, promote alternative energy, and expand recycling in Michigan. (more)

Keeping People in Their Homes

Senate Republicans will take action to ensure families are not taxed out of their homes in these tough economic times.

Property values in Michigan have declined steadily over the past two years. Most homeowners have seen the values of their homes drop 15 percent to 25 percent. Property taxes, however, have actually increased over the same period.

We will lead the charge to fix the constitutional provision that allows property taxes to increase while the value of your home decreases. (more)

Making Neighborhoods Safe

Senate Republicans served on a bipartisan workgroup comprised of members of the governor's administration, the House, and the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center to determine how the state might reduce corrections spending while reinvesting in measures that will make communities safer and stronger. The workgroup produced a bipartisan package of policy options that gives Michigan a real chance to achieve needed cost savings and prevents crime at the same time. (more)

From the Senate Floor

Michigan Senate Republicans Floor Statements

The Senate Republican response to the Governor's State of the State Address given by Senate Majority Leader Michael Bishop.

Recent Blogs from Senate Republicans

The Michigan Senate recently honored the life and memory of Richard Kryza, a Chesaning resident and state veterans coordinator for the Michigan Department of Labor, Energy and Economic Growth. (read)

Bishop said he's frustrated with House Dems' unwillingness to negotiate on SBT

Thursday, May 31, 2007

MACKINAC ISLAND-Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop today said the Senate Republicans' latest proposal to replace the state's Single Business Tax is an extremely fair and reasonable compromise that benefits a majority of Michigan businesses and that he's frustrated with the House Democrats' refusal to put forth an alternative if they refuse to accept the Senate's offer.

"Since we first put forth our plan last January, Senate Republicans have been looking for the best option to replace the Single Business Tax that will keep Michigan competitive in the 21st century," said Bishop, R-Rochester. "For the past several weeks we've continued to offer up plans and proposals, hoping we can convince House Democrats to negotiate and find a reasonable compromise to help give some certainty to Michigan business owners and job providers.

"Once again last night, we put forth an offer that provides generous personal property tax relief for manufacturers and created numerous incentives for small businesses to expand their operations in Michigan, and House Democrats continue to turn us down without offering a better solution."

The Senate Republican's latest SBT replacement included the following:

Stimulus for Economic Growth
The SENATE REPUBLICAN proposal would have created a fair, equitable tax structure, allowed companies to expand, encouraged new economic development and provided a strong incentive for businesses to come back home to Michigan. The plan would have given a much-needed boost to Michigan's lagging economy.

Broad-Based/Low Rate
The SENATE REPUBLICAN proposal involved a reasonable business income tax and a mix of modified gross receipts tax, and firms with gross receipts under $350,000 would have paid nothing.

Tax Relief for Job Providers
The SENATE REPUBLICAN proposal would have cut the taxes of job providers beginning in 2009. In 2008 the proposal would have replaced all of the projected SBT revenue. (The proposal was revenue neutral in 2008.)

Generous Personal Property Tax Relief
SENATE REPUBLICANS would have provided a 24 mill exemption for industrial personal property and 18 mills for commercial. The SENATE REPUBLICAN proposal would have allowed for a 30 percent credit on remaining PPT liability for industrial personal property, phased in over a three year period beginning in 2008. (Note: This represents a 55 percent reduction in PPT relief! In 2005, the governor's plan only called for a 35 percent reduction, and the Big Three were supportive of that).

Significant Exemption for Small Businesses
The SENATE REPUBLICAN OFFER included a "Michigan Entrepreneurial Exemption," or M-E 2, that would have helped small businesses. Firms under $25 million in gross receipts would have paid no taxes for up to five years if the firm or business met certain job growth and investment criteria. This exemption would encourage small-business growth and entrepreneurship.

Many business representatives in the Senate Finance hearing today stressed the importance of the Legislature not rushing the process, but instead adopting a new business tax that takes a long-term approach to Michigan's economy.

"This opportunity comes along once every 30 years, and I don't want to hear my constituents complaining about this tax for the next 30 years," said Charlie Owens, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business. "It is very important to get this right, and I am concerned the House plan is slanted toward a few large companies at the expense of small businesses."

Scott Hummel, representing the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents, agreed with Owens on the effect of the House plan on small businesses.

"Small and medium-sized businesses may be hurt under the House plan due to the high rate, and I see you have addressed that in your offer," said Hummel. "You have maintained the diversification for all sectors, and I don't know why the House rejected the plan."

Kurt Berryman, from the Auto Dealers of Michigan, added, "It's a natural compromise. I believe it's a more stable tax plan. It is good for Michigan. I think everyone can be a winner under this plan."