Senate MIRS Scorecard 2010

Marks:  ✔ Correct,  × Incorrect,  F Chamber failed to hold vote,  E Excused,  X Not Voting,  - No vote in this chamber

Column Descriptions

Billboards  Approve an "interim" billboard permit in Saginaw County under specific conditions. Conservative vote is yes.  (Senate Roll Call 648)

DRIC  Discharge from committee legislation creating a public-private partnership framework by which the Department of Transportation could move forward on the proposed Detroit River International Crossing project.  (Senate Roll Call 600)

Energy Loan  Would all local governments to create a clean energy efficiency improvement program where homeowners could pay for the cost of energy efficiency projects through higher property taxes.  (Senate Roll Call 457)

Toxic Cleanup  Part of a multi-bill package the business community pushed to allow them to better work with state regulators on toxic cleanup. Included a provision that state rules could not be more stringent than federal standards.  (Senate Roll Call 576)

Multiple Passengers  Bans first-year drivers under 18 from having more than one passenger in the car who is a minor unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, except for driving to school. It also bans young drivers from driving between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless they are going to or from work.  (Senate Roll Call 619)

Capital Outlay  Allows the state to use $383 million in space under the bond cap to authorize the spending of $968 million on new state, university and college buildings and upgrades. It includes $15 million for a Detroit crime lab.   (Senate Roll Call 643)

Fetus Disposal  Created a three-year, $5,000 felony for anyone who doesn't properly dispose of an aborted fetus.   (Senate Roll Call 535)

Property Lien  Allows commercial real estate brokers to put a lien on any property from which they are owed money for a sale or lease without having to go to court.  (Senate Roll Call 490)

JET Program  Add $6.5 million to the state budget for the welfare-to-work program called "JET Plus."  (Senate Roll Call 494)

Hydraulic Fracturing  Creates a rebuttable presumption that if any of the chemicals used to extract natural gas using "hydraulic fracturing" are found in nearby groundwater, the gas driller is liable.  (Senate Roll Call 481)

Hotel Tax  Increase from 2 to 5 percent the amount of room tax hotels and motels can impose for its local convention and tourism marketing bureau.  (Senate Roll Call 524)

Employee Contribution  Makes state employees contribute 3 percent of their salary into their pension fund as a part of budget-cutting passage.  (Senate Roll Call 180)

Liquor Reforms  Allow liquor companies to attach instant rebate coupons, mixers or soda products to bottles for marketing purposes; authorize $50,000 wine auction licenses; and increase bootlegging penalties and enforcement measures as a way to raise money for the budget.  (Senate Roll Call 448)

Sunday Sales  Allows alcohol to be sold on Sunday morning, among other reforms favorable to those in the industry of selling beer, wine and liquor.  (Senate Roll Call 528)

Sidewalk Crack  Extend to cities the rule that a pedestrian can not sue a county for injury costs related to tripping over a sidewalk crack less than two inches in depth.  (Senate Roll Call 519)

Bullying  Legislatively link an education reform to one requiring all public school districts to develop anti-bullying policies.  (Senate Roll Call 360)

Gun Safety  Encourages elementary schools to adopt an "Eddie Eagle" gun safety program at the suggestion of the NRA.  (Senate Roll Call 351)

Fatherhood Initiative  Strip out of the budget $3.8 million for a "marriage and fatherhood initiative" program in the Department of Human Services budget.   (Senate Roll Call 263)

Ergonomics  Strip out a provision from the state budget prohibiting the administration from using money in this budget to create "ergonomics" regulations on businesses.  (Senate Roll Call 243)

Milk Spill  Urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rescind rules that would require dairy farms to have oil spill prevention plans for milk storage tanks.   (Senate Roll Call 303)

Ultrasound  Requires that facilities that perform abortions use the most technically advanced equipment possible when conducting an ultrasound.  (Senate Roll Call 489)

Stem Cell Regs  Creates new regulations dealing with embryo stem cell research.  (Senate Roll Call 195)

Rental Car Tax  Discharge from committee a bill raising rental car fees as a way to raise money for the Pure Michigan campaign.  (Senate Roll Call 160)

Parks Passport  Creates a new $10 annual parks "passport" drivers can purchase when renewing their tabs as opposed to regular state parks fees.  (Senate Roll Call 163)

Minority Health Grants  Adds funding for certain immunization grants and programs, "minority health grants," chronic disease prevention programs, and other public health projects.  (Senate Roll Call 146)

Texting & Driving  Banning drivers from sending text messages while driving.  (Senate Roll Call 170)

Tenure Reform  Allows school administrators to remove tenure from teachers if the teacher is rated "ineffective."  (Senate Roll Call 581)

Snowplow  Mandates that snowplows operate with a flashing light.  (Senate Roll Call 34)

School Election Dates  Restricts when school districts can hold elections to even-year August or November dates.  (Senate Roll Call 186)

Indigent Defense  Changes a House bill to create an "Indigent Defense Council" to study and make recommendations for overhauling the state's system for courts appointing a lawyer for criminal defendant's who can't afford to hire one.  (Senate Roll Call 642)

Medical Examiner  Provides immunity from civil liability for a person performing medical examiner duties in good faith.  (Senate Roll Call 94)

Zoo Taxes  Allows county zoo to double from .1 mil to .2 mils the maximum property tax that a county zoo authority is empowered to impose.  (Senate Roll Call 564)

This user scorecard is available at http://www.michiganvotes.org/VotingIndex.aspx?ID=632.

DISCLAIMER: This report was prepared by a user of the www.michiganvotes.org site. The www.michiganvotes.org site is not responsible for the scores, nor the preferred vote.