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Patricia Birkholz (R)
State Senator, District 24
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Missed Votes
- Did not vote on 2009 Senate Bill 777 (Authorize $100 million renewable power conversion manufacturer subsidy ). Passed in the Senate (33 to 2) on September 10, 2009, to give a four-year, $100 million subsidy to a joint venture of rhe the "Xtreme Power" and "Clairvoyant Energy" corporations, which would make “large scale power systems designed to convert variable renewable power into firm dispatchable power” at the fomer Ford Wixom assembly plant. The subsidy is structured as a "refundable" tax credit, meaning the state will send the company a check for the amount that the credit exceeds its tax liability. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on 2009 House Bill 4922 (Lower eligibility for certain MEGA tax breaks ). Passed in the Senate (32 to 3) on October 15, 2009, to increase the number of selective tax breaks that can be granted by the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) in 2009, cap the number in future years, and reduce the eligibility standards for certain tax breaks. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on 2009 House Bill 4523 (Grant more photovoltaic maker subsidies ). Passed in the Senate (33 to 2) on September 10, 2009, to expand the number of tax break/subsidy deals that could be offered to photovoltaic cell makers under Public Act 270 of 2008, originally written to give the Hemlock Semiconductor company a $25 million subsidy. The bill would authorize up to $75 million in such subsidies, each of which could be up to $15 million (with one that could be up to $25 million). The bill also extends until the end of 2011 the deadline on the state finalizing such deals, and . [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on 2009 House Bill 4629 (Authorize tax deduction for charitable advance tuition giving ). Passed in the Senate (35 to 0) on October 15, 2009, to authorize a Michigan Business Tax deduction for charitable contributions by a small business owner to the state advance tuition payment fund, which is a program that provides for pre-payment of a particular child’s future tuition at state universities. The tax deductions the bill would authorize are not for contributions a particular student, but into a general tuition subsidy pool. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on 2009 House Bill 4191 (Authorize tax deduction for charitable advance tuition giving ). Passed in the Senate (35 to 0) on October 15, 2009, to authorize an income tax deduction for charitable contributions by an individual to the state advance tuition payment fund, which is a program that provides for pre-payment of a particular child’s future tuition at state universities. The tax deductions the bill would authorize are not for contributions a particular student, but into a general tuition subsidy pool. [Vote Details and Comments]
- Did not vote on 2009 Senate Bill 190 (Revise new cable and phone line video franchise law ). Passed in the Senate (26 to 9) on March 12, 2009, to revise consumer complaint provisions in the new state video service franchise system law that substantially replaced the discretion of local governments in franchising video service providers, including through cable or phone lines. The bill would require a customer to first seek redress through a provider’s own dispute resolution process, and if this does not work out, specifies procedures for complaints filed with the state Public Service Commission, including a mediation process. The bill also specifies PSC procedures for disputes between providers and local governments, and disputes between providers. [Vote Details and Comments]
