Honigman Capitol Report
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Revenue Estimating Conference Official Revenue Forecasts Announced Today |
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The January Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference was held virtually this morning and included presentations focusing on state and federal economies and state government revenues. Official revenue forecasts were established for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025 by a consensus of the conference principals including the State Treasurer, the Director of the Senate Fiscal Agency, and the Director of the House Fiscal Agency. Overall Revenue Forecasts (in millions) are listed below: Year Overall Revenue Forecast Increase from May 2022 Estimates 2023 $32,413.0 $1,244.2 2024 $32,938.2 $1,264.4 2025 $33,803.1 N/A Revenue estimates are based on the most recent economic projections and forecasting models. |
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Stabenow Exiting Senate |
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| Last week, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (Democrat) announced that she will not seek re-election and will exit the U.S. Senate at the end of her term on January 3, 2025 after serving since 2001. Stabenow began her political career in 1974 when she was elected to the Ingham County Commission. She then served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1979 until her election to the State Senate in 1990 where she served until 1994 and later was elected to the U.S. House in 1996. Both the Democrats and Republicans have strong potential candidates that could run for the open seat. U.S. Reps. Elissa Slotkin and Haley Stevens, and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II have been floated on the Democrat side while former Reps. Fred Upton and Peter Meijer, former AGs Bill Schuette and Mike Cox and current Rep. John James have been mentioned on the Republican side. | |
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2023 Michigan Legislature Priorities |
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| The 102nd Legislature opened on Wednesday and the new Democratic majority made their 2023 priorities clear right away. Legislation to repeal the 2011 tax changes that applied income tax to public sector pensions and reduced the exemption on retirement income from private sector jobs were the first bills introduced in both the House and Senate. Although both Democrats and Republicans agree that repealing taxes on seniors is the right move, they disagree on how to get there. Several other pieces of legislation were introduced by Democrats on Wednesday, including repealing the 1931 abortion ban, repealing the right to work law, restoration of prevailing wage, expansion of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act and expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit. | |
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Legislative Committees Named |
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| In addition to introducing the first legislation of the session, legislative committees, committee chairs and membership were announced this week. The minority party typically gives recommendations to the majority on committees, but it is up to the speaker what the committees will look like. There will be 21 standing committees in the House this term and 18 in the Senate. Key changes include the Judiciary being broken up into two committees and the creation of a new housing committee. | |
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Secure MI Vote & Let MI Kids Learn Withdraw Petitions |
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| Three Republican-backed petitions turned in last year, Secure MI Vote and two from Let MI Kids Learn, were withdrawn two weeks before being canvassed for the 2024 election. The petitions were waiting on the Michigan Board of State Canvassers when the request to withdraw was filed on December 28th. A representative from Secure MI Vote credited the passing of Prop 2 as rendering the petition moot. The Let MI Kids Learn ballot initiatives had little chance of being voted into law since the Democrats are in charge of both chambers and the initiatives faced an uphill battle on the ballot. | |
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Michigan Republican Party Chair |
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| Current Michigan Republican Party Chair Ron Weiser and co-chair Mashawn Maddock are stepping down and the GOP has announced 11 candidates that have successfully completed the requirements to be eligible to run for the position. Former Attorney General candidate Matt DePerno is campaigning for the position and has selected Garrett Soldano as his running mate for co-chair. Also in the running are former University of Michigan Board of Regents candidate Lena Epstein and former Secretary of State candidate Kristina Karamo. Voting for the new Michigan Republican Party Chair will take place during the Republican state convention February 17-18 in Lansing. | |
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