2008 House Bill 5972 (Authorize tax break for electronic silicon company )

Public Act 263 of 2008

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Introduced by Rep. Andy Coulouris (D) on April 10, 2008, to grant a business tax break based on the price it pays for electricity to the Hemlock Semiconductor company and perhaps other producers of polycrystalline silicon used in solar cells and semiconductor chips. The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 5524, which would end electric power provider competition in Michigan.
- Referred to the House Energy and Technology Committee on April 10, 2008.
  - Reported in the House on April 17, 2008, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the House on April 17, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on April 17, 2008.
Passed in the House (107 to 0) on April 17, 2008. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the Senate on April 22, 2008.
- Referred to the Senate Commerce & Tourism Committee on April 22, 2008.
  - Reported in the Senate on June 26, 2008, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on June 26, 2008.
  - Amendment offered in the Senate on June 26, 2008.
- The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on June 26, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described, and which also removes the tie-bar to House Bill 5524, which would end electric power provider competition in Michigan.
Passed in the Senate (35 to 2) on June 26, 2008, to grant a business tax break based on the price it pays for electricity to the Hemlock Semiconductor company and perhaps other producers of polycrystalline silicon used in solar cells and semiconductor chips. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the House on June 26, 2008.
Passed in the House (105 to 0) on June 28, 2008, to concur with the Senate-passed version of the bill. [Vote Details and Comments]
Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on August 6, 2008.

Most Recent Comments

1) "no vote explanation" [by Admin003 on June 27, 2008]

Senator Cassis, under her constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the passage of House Bill Nos. 5972, 5973, and 5976.

Senator Cassis’ statement is as follows:

House Bill No. 5972, House Bill No. 5973, and House Bill No. 5976 represent the largest legislative give-away to one global, extremely prosperous manufacturer of polycrystalline silicon, used in the making of solar cells and semiconductor microchips. The name of the company is Hemlock Semiconductor. At a minimum of $311 million to approximately $357 million, these refundable Michigan business tax credits will be subsidized by Michigan taxpayers, leaving a significant deficit in the General Fund in the years 2012 through 2023.

Considering the state of all our businesses in Michigan that could certainly be helped with broad-based tax relief, giving so much to one company is unprecedented. For these reasons, I oppose these bills.

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