LANSING – A House committee could bring up the ‘Hire Michigan First package this week, although a compromise on the legislation is still being sought.
The legislation, which passed the Senate a month ago, would create preferences for state contracts and economic development incentives for companies that hire Michigan workers.
Rep. Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo), chair of the Commerce Committee, said Monday his panel will begin reviewing the “significant differences” between the House and Senate versions of the package.
The House bills in the package remain on the floor (HB 4083 , HB 4089 , HB 4092 , HB 4093 , HB 4094 ). The committee will address the Senate components: SB 290 , SB 293 , SB 295 and SB 539
.One of the main differences is the Senate’s deletion of House provisions regarding prevailing wage and exempting unions from the hiring thresholds under state contracts. The Senate also added provisions requiring that 10 percent of the goods and services purchased by the state be from Michigan-based companies.
He said the committee will take testimony and review the new components of the package, along with comparing it to what already passed the House.
While the package is a priority of the caucus’, Jones said he did not know whether an agreement on the bills would be forged by the time the Legislature breaks for the summer.
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