STATE OF MICHIGAN
Journal of the Senate
102nd Legislature
REGULAR SESSION OF 2023
Senate Chamber, Lansing, Wednesday, January 25, 2023.
10:00 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President, Lieutenant Governor Garlin D. Gilchrist II.
The roll was called by the Secretary of the Senate, who announced that a quorum was present.
Albert—present Hauck—present Moss—present
Anthony—present Hertel—present Nesbitt—present
Bayer—present Hoitenga—present Outman—present
Bellino—present Huizenga—present Polehanki—present
Brinks—present Irwin—present Runestad—present
Bumstead—present Johnson—present Santana—present
Camilleri—present Klinefelt—present Shink—present
Cavanagh—present Lauwers—present Singh—present
Chang—present Lindsey—present Theis—present
Cherry—present McBroom—present Victory—present
Daley—present McCann—present Webber—present
Damoose—present McDonald Rivet—present Wojno—present
Geiss—present McMorrow—present
Senator Stephanie Chang of the 3rd District offered the following invocation:
Out of the flames of fear, we rise with courage of our deepest convictions to stand for justice, inclusion, and peace. Out of the flames of scrutiny, we rise to proclaim our faith with hope to heal a fractured and hurting world. Out of the flames of doubt, we rise to embrace the mystery, wonder, and awe of all there is and all that is yet to be. Out of the flames of hate, we rise with the force of love—love that celebrates our shared humanity. Out of the flames we rise. Amen.
The President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, led the members of the Senate in recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Senator Runestad entered the Senate Chamber.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 10:03 a.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Messages from the House
A bill to make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for various state departments and agencies and the legislative branch for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2023; to provide for certain conditions on appropriations; to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.
The House of Representatives has substituted (H-1) the bill.
The House of Representatives has passed the bill as substituted (H-1) and amended the title to read as follows:
A bill to make, supplement, and adjust appropriations for various state departments and agencies, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2023; to provide for certain conditions on appropriations; and to provide for the expenditure of the appropriations.
Pending the order that, under rule 3.202, the bill be laid over one day,
Senator Singh moved that the rule be suspended.
The motion prevailed, a majority of the members serving voting therefor.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
Senator Albert offered the following substitute to the House substitute:
Substitute (S-3).
The substitute to the substitute was not adopted.
The question being on concurring in the substitute made to the bill by the House,
Roll Call No. 7 Yeas—0
Nays—38
Albert Daley Lauwers Polehanki
Anthony Damoose Lindsey Runestad
Bayer Geiss McBroom Santana
Bellino Hauck McCann Shink
Brinks Hertel McDonald Rivet Singh
Bumstead Hoitenga McMorrow Theis
Camilleri Huizenga Moss Victory
Cavanagh Irwin Nesbitt Webber
Chang Johnson Outman Wojno
Cherry Klinefelt
Excused—0
Not Voting—0
In The Chair: President
The motion prevailed.
Senator Albert’s statement is as follows:
It is unfortunate that I am forced to offer this substitute at this time and in this manner, but the approach by the majority has left me no choice. Their approach is unreasonable, it disrespects the taxpayers and the people of Michigan who pay the state’s bills, and they are making it very difficult for the public to understand what is really going on. There have been no public hearings on this Senate bill. We started with an apparent book-closing supplemental appropriations bill that has become a shell bill devoid of any meaningful content. And now comes an attempt to send this bill to a conference committee where decisions will be made by very few and in a format that cannot be amended in any way. It is being done secretly and in a big hurry.
Since we have received no information about anything of the true intent of this bill, my concern is that the Democrats are attempting to circumvent the normal legislative process to dictate an economic development spending plan that cannot be altered in any way. That leaves me no recourse but to propose my alternative plan right now. I would have greatly preferred being able to discuss this measure in committee, but here we are. My substitute for Senate Bill No. 7 is a robust plan that will offer tax relief, pay down debt, and save for a rainy day. It will offer at least $1.8 billion of ongoing, much-needed, and fairly-applied tax relief for all Michigan taxpayers. This plan would offer seniors a lower retirement age of 65 and double the amount of income that can be exempted to $40,000 for a single filer and $80,000 for a joint filer, increase the personal exemption for single filers to $10,000 and $20,000 for joint filers, leaving more income up front that’s tax-free for all Michigan taxpayers. It lowers the tax bill for lower wage earners proportionally more than higher wage earners, and it does so without the flaws of the earned income tax credit.
Additionally, this plan
would lower the income tax rate to 4.1 percent, or the rate that’s
automatically triggered, whichever is lower. This will help all Michigan
families and promote economic growth statewide. This plan adds $500 million to
the rainy day fund to offset the risks that are pending from a very likely
economic downturn. On top of that, to further improve our fiscal health this
plan offers $2.75 billion for debt reduction. There is $1 billion for the debt
maturity payoff fund used to pay off our state obligations early, an additional
$750 million for the local unit municipal pension principal payment grant which
helps strengthen our local governments’ fiscal health and better protect our
pensioners’ retirement incomes, and it adds $1 billion for a newly-created
transportation bond repayment sinking fund. This would help pay down debt to
get more ongoing funding for road maintenance and also create a financial
disincentive for taking out more reckless debt.
We do not know what this year is going to bring on the economic front. We might get a mild recession; we might get something worse than we suffered in the 2009 Great Recession. There is a lot of uncertainty and we should be using our resources to put the state in a better financial position. This will ensure we can continue to offer essential public services without having to make cuts, even in an economic downturn. We should be planning for a worst-case scenario rather than using taxpayer dollars to act as hedge fund managers.
Thank you, and I urge your support for this substitute.
By unanimous consent the Senate returned to the order of
Motions and Communications
The following communication was received:
Office of Senator Kevin Hertel
January 24, 2023
I am writing to respectfully request that I be added as a co-sponsor to Senate Bill 12, sponsored by Senator Dayna Polehanki. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov or by phone at 517-373-7315.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
District 12
The communication was referred to the Secretary for record.
The following communication was received and read:
Office of the Senate Majority Leader
January 25, 2023
Pursuant to Joint Rule 3, the Senate having non-concurred in the House Substitute (H-1) to Senate Bill 7, I appoint as conferees:
Senator Sarah Anthony, Chair
Senator Sean McCann
Senator Jon Bumstead
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Winnie Brinks
Senate Majority Leader
The communication was referred to the Secretary for record.
By unanimous consent the Senate proceeded to the order of
Introduction and Referral of Bills
Senators Hoitenga, Victory, Runestad, Theis, Outman, Hauck and Lauwers introduced
A bill to amend 1972 PA 230, entitled “Stille-DeRossett-Hale single state construction code act,” by amending section 13a (MCL 125.1513a), as added by 1980 PA 233.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Local Government.
Senators Hoitenga, Bumstead, Outman, Hauck, Lauwers and Damoose introduced
A bill to amend 1979 PA 94, entitled “The state school aid act of 1979,” (MCL 388.1601 to 388.1896) by adding section 22e.
The bill was read a first and second time by title and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess until 6:00 p.m.
The
motion prevailed, the time being 10:29 a.m.
The Senate reconvened at the expiration of the recess and was called to order by the President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist.
Recess
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.
The motion prevailed, the time being 6:01 p.m.
The Senate was called to order by the President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist.
Joint Convention
The Sergeant at Arms announced a committee from the House of Representatives, Representatives Brixie, Tyrone Carter, Wendzel, and Cavitt, who reported that the House was ready to meet with the Senate in Joint Convention.
The President, Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, announced that the hour had arrived for the meeting of the two houses in Joint Convention.
Senator Singh moved that the Senate recess for the purpose of proceeding to the Hall of the House of Representatives for Joint Convention.
The motion prevailed, the time being 6:17 p.m.
(For proceedings in Joint Convention, see House Journal No. 7, p. 74.)
The Senate reconvened at the expiration of the recess at 7:58 p.m. and pursuant to rule 1.101, in the absence of the Presiding Officers, was called to order by the Secretary of the Senate.
The Secretary of the Senate announced that the Senate had attended the Joint Convention in the Hall of the House of Representatives and had received the State of the State message by Governor Whitmer.
Announcements of Printing and Enrollment
House Bill Nos. 4039 4040 4041 4042 4043
The Secretary announced that the following bills were printed and filed on Wednesday, January 25, and are available on the Michigan Legislature website:
The Committee on Housing and Human Services reported
Senate Bill No. 3, entitled
With the recommendation that the substitute (S-5) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Jeff Irwin
Chairperson
To Report Out:
Yeas: Senators Irwin, Santana, Cavanagh, Bayer, Shink, Chang, Cherry, Geiss and Damoose
Nays: Senators Lindsey and Hoitenga
The bill and the substitute recommended by the committee were referred
to the Committee of the Whole.
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Housing and Human Services submitted the following:
Meeting held on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 12:00 noon, Senate Hearing Room, Ground Floor, Boji Tower
Present: Senators Irwin (C), Santana, Cavanagh, Bayer, Shink, Chang, Cherry, Geiss, Lindsey, Hoitenga and Damoose
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Education submitted the following:
Meeting held on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 1:30 p.m., Room 1100, Binsfeld Office Building
Present: Senators Polehanki (C), Geiss, Chang, Camilleri, McDonald Rivet, Damoose and Johnson
COMMITTEE ATTENDANCE REPORT
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure submitted the following:
Meeting held on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 3:30 p.m., Senate Hearing Room, Ground Floor, Boji Tower
Present: Senators Geiss (C), Klinefelt, Wojno, Hertel, Camilleri, Chang, McCann, Bellino, Victory, Bumstead and McBroom
Conference Committee –
Senate Bill No. 7 – Thursday, January 26, 9:30 a.m., Harry T. Gast Appropriations Room, 3rd Floor, Capitol Building (517) 373-2768
Senator Singh moved that the Senate adjourn.
The motion prevailed, the time being 7:59 p.m.
The Secretary of the Senate declared the Senate adjourned until Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
DANIEL OBERLIN
Secretary of the Senate