As revealed in Michigan Capitol Confidential last week, a state beer and wine distribution monopoly that successive Legislatures have protected for decades enriches a handful of families (the so-called “Millionaires Club”) at the expense of consumers, taxpayers and small business microbrewers, whose ability to create jobs is also hurt. Over the years legislators have played partner to the distributors, collecting a share of their monopoly profits through steady streams of campaign cash and other benefits.

So perhaps members of the state House shouldn’t be surprised if microbrewers don’t feel overly grateful for a meaningless piece of puff they passed this week on a voice vote, a resolution declaring July 2011 as “Craft Beer Month” in Michigan. Ironically, while failing to revoke a distribution monopoly that restricts the brewers' growth prospects, the resolution commends them for "providing jobs, improving the balance of trade, supporting Michigan agriculture, and educating residents about the history and culture of beer while promoting the responsible consumption."

This flat brew was sponsored by Rep. Peter MacGregor, and cosponsored by Reps. Vicki Barnett, Hugh Crawford, Brandon Dillon, Ray Franz, Kurt Heise, Kenneth Horn, Jeff Irwin, Marty Knollenberg, Richard LeBlanc, Lisa Lyons, Greg MacMaster, Aric Nesbitt,  Al Pscholka, Roy Schmidt, Wayne Schmidt, Dian Slavens, Maureen Stapleton and Ken Yonker.

Every week, MichiganVotes.org sends a report on interesting votes and bills in the Michigan Legislature, and includes how each legislator voted. To find out who your state senator is and how to contact him or her go here; for state representatives go here.

Senate Bill 165, Ban project labor agreements, passed 26 to 12 in the Senate
To prohibit "project labor agreements" in state, school and local public construction, road projects, etc., or as a condition of selective tax breaks granted for private projects. Project labor agreements require a contractor to mandate that each employee must join or pay fees to a union as a condition of working on a project.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 409, Amendment rolling back partial repeal of pension tax exemption, failed 18 to 20 in the Senate
To repeal the provision of Gov. Rick Snyder's business tax cut and personal income tax revision package that partially eliminated some of the state's income tax exemptions for pension income.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 409, Amendment linking pension tax to federal "Ryan Budget," failed 16 to 22 in the Senate
To automatically repeal the provision of Gov. Rick Snyder's state tax changes that partially eliminated the exemption for pension income, if the U.S. Congress adopts the Republican "Ryan budget" and associated Medicare changes affecting those age 55 and under.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 138, Authorize $339.9 million in extra spending, passed 36 to 2 in the Senate
To authorize $339.9 million in supplemental appropriations, of which $246.6 million is federal money. $30.9 million and $98.7 million would be for extra Welfare and Medicaid spending, respectively; $137.0 million is for a Medicaid electronic health record incentive, program; and smaller amounts go to an airport project, State Police disaster responses, and revenue sharing adjustments.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

Senate Bill 383, Revise film and other corporate subsidy programs, passed 104 to 4 in the House
To empower the state government film office to grant smaller tax break/subsidies less than the 42 percent of a producer’s Michigan expenses currently authorized by the state's unlimited film subsidy program. The program will be replaced next year by $25 million appropriated by the Legislature to hand out to film producers. The House added unrelated provisions extending certain "brownfield" and related corporate and developer tax breaks and subsidies that are scheduled to end with the repeal of the Michigan Business Tax.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

House Bill 4326, Ban state regulations more stringent than federal, passed 60 to 48 in the House
To prohibit a state department or agency from promulgating rules more stringent than required by applicable federal standards. The bill also requires systematic review of existing rules, establishes that agency bulletins, interpretative statements, etc. do not have the force of law, and more.

Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Please visit MichiganVotes.org.