Pursuant to rule 3.506, Senators Geiss, Alexander and Polehanki submitted their reasons, in writing, for voting “no” on the passage of Senate Bill No. 349.
Senator Geiss’ statement, in which Senators Alexander and Polehanki concurred, is as follows:
Today, I voted “no” on Senate Bill No. 349, which would give incentives for distillers utilizing Michigan products in their final product. While I believe in the spirit and intent of the bill, and support our craft distillers (as well as other small business owners in the craft and Michigan-based adult-beverage business), because the bill will negatively impact the School Aid Fund, I felt it necessary to vote “no.” I am hopeful that as this bill works its way through the Legislature, that holding the School Aid Fund harmless will be included in this bill. I would be able to support this bill, were School Aid Fund held harmless and our students’ education not put in further peril through repeated disinvestment in it from a combination of insufficient funding levels and multiple years of tax incentives given in this state that have failed to hold the School Aid Fund harmless.
Senator Polehanki asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statements be printed in the Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Polehanki’s statement is as follows:
Today I rise to offer an amendment that would hold the School Aid Fund harmless from the incentive created in Senate Bill No. 349. I support Michigan’s small businesses and Michigan agriculture but I’d like to do so while keeping the School Aid Fund held harmless. This amendment would annually appropriate funds from the General Fund to the School Aid Fund to compensate for any lost revenue. We cannot continue to chip away at the School Aid Fund in amounts great or small and expect our schools to thrive. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote “yes” to support this amendment.
The following bill was read a third time:
Senate Bill No. 586, entitled
A bill to amend 1998 PA 58, entitled “Michigan liquor control code of 1998,” (MCL 436.1101 to 436.2303) by adding section 1028.
The question being on the passage of the bill,
The bill was passed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor, as follows: