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
LANSING - A proposed list of more than 16,000 requested projects that would total in excess of $59 billion in federal stimulus monies was opened to the public Wednesday when the administration of Gov. Jennifer Granholm put the list up on a new website. There is no possible way the state will get all the
LANSING - House Democrats announced Tuesday they will push legislation creating a 90-day moratorium on home foreclosures. In order to participate in the moratorium, a homeowner would have to work with his or her mortgage lender and a housing counselor. The moratorium would start when the homeowner receives a notice the lender is beginning the
LANSING - A day after Gov. Jennifer Granholm outlined her proposed 2009-10 budget two contrasting events demonstrated the odd duality of the document: on the one hand Congress began action on the final version of the stimulus plan which could flood the state with money and a top university warned of significant negative effects if
LANSING - Economic development efforts for many years focused on bringing in new business: providing the tax incentives or the site, or both, for the new plant. But two separate presentations Wednesday said that focus on jobs could be misplaced in the new economy. "Is it jobs first or quality of life first?" said Rep.
LANSING - A package of bills that would require state contracts and economic development efforts to focus hiring on Michigan residents went to the full House after being reported on a largely bi-partisan basis from the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday. The panel's six Republicans voted against reporting the main bills in the 12-bill package,