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Bruce Patterson (R)
State Senator, District 7
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Missed Votes
- Did not vote on 2009 House Bill 4447 (Appropriations: 2009-2010 School Aid budget ). Passed in the Senate (20 to 13) on October 8, 2009, the FY 2009-2010 School Aid budget. This would appropriate $12.887 billion, compared to $13.378 billion enrolled in 2008 (and $110 million more than the first conference). Following intense lobbying by school employee unions the per pupil school aid cut is reduced from $218 to $165, and the 44 percent cut in Intermediate School District operations funding will be 20 percent instead. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on an amendment for 2009 Senate Bill 838 (Create legislative “vehicle” for business tax hike ). The amendment passed in the Senate (32 to 1) on October 8, 2009, to remove provisions that would have reduced the value of certain research and development tax credits. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on an amendment for 2009 Senate Bill 838 (Create legislative “vehicle” for business tax hike ). The amendment passed in the Senate (25 to 8) on October 8, 2009, to increase the residency standards for film studio employees that make a production eligible for subsidies. Currently they must have lived in the state for at least 60 days, and the bill would increase this to 180 days. Also, in increase the subsidy for film "infrastructure" projects from 25 percent to 32 percent of the expenses incurred by the developer. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on a motion for 2009 House Bill 4514 (Require six months residency for EITC ). The motion passed in the Senate (21 to 12) on October 8, 2009. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on an amendment for 2009 House Bill 4514 (Require six months residency for EITC ). The amendment passed in the Senate (19 to 13) on October 8, 2009, to tie-bar the bill to Senate Bills 838 and 884, meaning this bill cannot become law unless those ones do also. They would reduce the Michigan Business Tax surcharge, slighty reduce the value of film production subsidies, and authorize a "tax amnesty" period. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on 2009 Senate Bill 838 (Create legislative “vehicle” for business tax hike ). Passed in the Senate (19 to 14) on October 8, 2009, to lower the Michigan Business Tax surcharge from 22 percent to 14.66 percent in 2010, 7.33 percent in 2011, and zero after that (unless the legislature later suspends the phase-out); slightly lower the value of film production subsidies and cap at $1 million any one production's subsidy; cap certain targeted tax breaks; raise the caps on the maximum share of a business’s income that the proprietor or shareholder of a small business can receive and still be eligible for a lower small business MBT rate; earmark $100 million in MBT revenue to schools; and make other MBT revisions. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on 2009 House Bill 4514 (Require six months residency for EITC ). Passed in the Senate (20 to 13) on October 8, 2009, to eliminate an increase in the earned income tax credit, which under current statute will go from 10 percent to 20 percent of the federal EITC for the 2009 tax year. The EITC is a refundable credit (or “reverse income tax”) for low income workers. It is estimated that the increase add $160 million to the current budget shortfall. The bill authorizes phasing in an increase over four years. [Vote Details and Comments]
