WASHINGTON DC - After months of secrecy that has rankled public interest groups, the Obama administration is revealing limited information regarding a multilateral anti-counterfeiting treaty currently under negotiation. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Monday released a summary of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, a treaty for which negotiations began in 2006 with the
LANSING - An effort by Senate Democrats to discharge the "Hire Michigan First" package for fast action fell short on Wednesday as majority Republicans rebuffed the attempt on a 16-21 vote. The bid to put HB 4083, HB 4084, HB 4085, HB 4086, HB 4087, HB 4088, HB 4089, HB 4090, HB 4091, HB 4092,
LANSING - In unanimously approving an income tax credit for persons buying a house in the state, the Senate last week apparently unwittingly approved a total tax cut of better than $2.6 billion for the current and next two fiscal years. An analysis of the passed version of SB 346 , now in the House,
LANSING - School districts across the state could expand the use of sinking funds to cover their bus and technology purchases under legislation that cleared the House Tuesday. HB 4313 passed the chamber on a 74-35 vote after House Republicans challenged that the bill increases the statutory limits on ad valorem property taxes levied for
LANSING - Who Michigan voters want to pick for governor in 19 months appears to be pretty open, but a new poll out Friday shows Republican primary voters favor Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, while Democratic primary voters like Lt. Governor John Cherry. The poll, conducted by Marketing Research Group for Inside Michigan Politics,
LANSING �?? Gov, Jennifer Granholm may want to double the tax rate on non-cigarette tobacco products in an effort to plug part of next year's budget hole with $45 million in expected revenue, but she is not alone. Several states have already introduced bills to increase the tax on other tobacco products and two Southern
LANSING - As millions of Americans face home foreclosure and the number is likely to skyrocket over the next several years, the National Consumer Law Center has released a report urging states to strengthen their foreclosure laws in order to keep more people in their homes. The report Foreclosing a Dream: State Laws Deprive Homeowners
LANSING - Whether it is through new legislation or amending the old deal, the Detroit Caucus intends to reengage discussions with the governor, lawmakers and county and city officials on how to implement a new plan for Cobo Center, members of the caucus contend. Meanwhile, Detroit Mayor Kenneth Cockrel Jr. said he would not use
LANSING - Officials in the state's tourism industry are asking that $90 million of Michigan's federal stimulus money be dedicated to a three-year plan to boost travel. In recent years, lawmakers have boosted tourism promotional funding and the officials want that effort maintained, arguing the investment will mean $253 million in new sales tax revenue.
LANSING - As it ground its way through a marathon session to close a titanic budget deficit, California's Legislature passed that state's first film production credit in an effort to lure production back to the state known for movies. But an official with Michigan's Film Office said the tax break as well as other production