The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today expressed its disappointment with Governor Granholm's veto of bills which would have provided over 30,000 small businesses with single business tax relief and prevented the Granholm Administration from imposing costly MIOSHA regulations on employers.

"In addition to killing a bill that would have provided long overdue business tax relief to thousands of small business owners, the governor also vetoed a bill that would have prevented the Treasury Department from double taxing Michigan job providers," said Tricia Kinley, Director of Tax Policy & Economic Development for the Michigan Chamber.

"These actions by Governor Granholm raise serious questions about the Administration's commitment to tax fairness and affordable tax relief for employers," Kinley noted.

The Governor also vetoed important legislation that would have prohibited the Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) from imposing vague and subjective ergonomics regulations.

"The one-size-fits-all approach currently under consideration by the Granholm Administration would subject Michigan's manufacturers and thousands of employers in other industries to unnecessary and burdensome workplace regulations," said Wendy Hofmeyer, Director of Health Policy and Human Resources for the Michigan Chamber, who noted that "many employers voluntarily institute their own ergonomics programs based on the needs of their employees."

"Once again, the Governor is sending a mixed message to Michigan's job providers," added Hofmeyer. "She says she wants to create a positive business climate, yet she supports the ongoing effort to impose onerous and costly workplace regulations on employers."

"The Granholm ergonomics regulation would damage Michigan's business climate by making Michigan only the second state in the country after California to impose this type of regulation on employers at an estimated compliance cost of millions of dollars per year," Hofmeyer concluded.

The Michigan Chamber is a statewide business organization which represents more than 6,800 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 Wendy Hofmeyer of Michigan Chamber of
Commerce, +1-517-371-2100

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