The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today issued the following statements in response to a press conference held by Governor Jennifer Granholm announcing that legislation reflecting her proposed rewrite of Michigan's Single Business Tax (SBT) will soon be introduced in the State House and the Michigan Senate.

"The Michigan Chamber agrees with Governor Granholm that Michigan's manufacturers need tax relief," said Michigan Chamber President & CEO Jim Barrett. "That is why the Chamber supports lowering the SBT rate, changing the apportionment formula, and establishing a personal property tax credit. The Chamber also supports a bill approved by the State House last week to remove the remaining 50 percent of employer-provided health care from the SBT base."

"The Michigan Chamber disagrees with the Governor that the only way to provide manufacturers with tax relief is to impose job-killing tax increases on other employers," said Rich Studley, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the Michigan Chamber.

"With Michigan's unemployment rate among the highest in the country, we need every employer and every job we can get," said Tricia Kinley, Michigan Chamber Director of Tax Policy & Economic Development.

"The Governor's plan to raise taxes on 22,000 businesses sends a clear message to those job providers. Unfortunately, that message is: 'You're not welcome here.' We strongly urge the legislature to reject the Governor's $1 billion tax shift," concluded Kinley.

The Michigan Chamber is a statewide business organization which represents more than 6,500 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce. The Michigan Chamber was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process.

SOURCE: Michigan Chamber of Commerce

CONTACT: Tricia Kinley or Rich Studley of Michigan Chamber of Commerce,
+1-517-371-2100

Web site: http://www.michamber.com/