Michigan American Legion - 2018 Lame Duck Wrap Up

Putting a fork in it.

The 2018 Lame-Duck Hang Over – How did the bills do? By Mark Sutton, Legislative Director, Michigan American Legion It is Friday December 21, 2018 and The American Legion Department of Michigan was keeping an eye on a few bills during this lame-duck session let’s see how things turned out. Note: This is the end of the 2017-2018 legislative session any bill that was introduced and passed by both chambers by the end of last nights session, which ended at 0735 this morning is dead. However, a new legislative session begins January 1, 2019 for two years. Bills could be resurrected by a different legislator in the new session. We are forever mindful. On to the bills: HB 4985 and HB 4986 DEAD – These bills would eliminate the 100% disabled veteran property tax exemption and turn it into a Homestead Tax credit instead. The bills did pass through the House committee but did not receive a vote on the floor of the House. It is high likely that this issue will be resurrected in the next session. HB 5913 –  PASSED A bill to include veterans service organizations that are 501 c 19’s to be exempt from sales tax on items they purchase for running their organizations. SB 35 – PASSED Charitable gaming reform in favor of the non-profit organizations. HB 4474 – PASSED – To allow national guard, active duty military, and reservists who are properly licensed to conceal carry a firearm on to state military bases. They could do this before, but it was at the discretion of the Adjutant General. Now it is law. HB 6024 – Died This bill would have allowed veterans who qualify for the property tax exemption to submit there VA designation letter one time instead of annually. It passed the House and the Senate committee but did not receive a floor vote. HB 4785 and HB 4786 – Died The bills would have offered pet owners to give ten dollars to a fund to support grants to veterans in need of a service dog.  SB 1040 - PASSED expand historical vehicles to include Military vehicles. These bills were on our watch list for lame duck. The following bills PASSED HB 4319, 6063, and 6403 During this legislative session the following bills became law and had the term veteran in the bill, if you would like to look up these bills or any other bills go to legislature.mi.gov HB 4168, 4628, 4701, 4918, 5536, 5995 SB 248, 434, 438 Mark Sutton Public Relations and Legislative Director Michigan American Legion Michiganlegion.org 517-371-4720 ext. 16

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FCC and VA to Combat Illegal Robocalls Targeting Veterans

FCC and the VA are teaming up to combat illegal robocalls targeting Veterans and their families.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Dear Veterans and Stakeholders, The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continue to team up to combat illegal robocalls targeting Americans, including Veterans and their families. Each year, the FCC receives more than 200,000 complaints about unwanted calls. While this may seem like a big number, it pales in comparison to the millions of robocalls being made each day. The calls interrupt dinners and family time; they flood landline and mobile phones. Scam calls frequently solicit money for fake charities, including ones claiming to support America's Veterans - some even claiming to be VA representatives.   We know that scam activity increases during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, so the FCC and VA urge you to be vigilant. We offer the following tips to help you avoid unwanted calls and scams. Don't answer calls from unknown numbers. Scammers may spoof their caller ID to display a fake number that appears to be local.  If you answer such a call, hang up immediately. Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother's maiden names, or passwords in response to unexpected or suspicious calls. Be sure to set a password for all voice mail accounts to avoid being hacked. Register your number on the Do Not Call List to block calls from legitimate telemarketers. Ask your phone company about call-blocking tools and services for your landline phone, and check for helpful apps that you can download to your mobile phone. Please help spread the word about robocall fraud among those who may need assistance particularly those who are frequently targeted by phone scams.   For more information, visit: fcc.gov/robocalls. Sincerely Veterans Benefits Administration

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House Tax Policy

Contact your State Representative and ask the to VOTE NO on HB 4985 and HB 4986!!!!

IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

Wednesday 1100 December 12, 2018, the House convenes at 1200 today. Call or email your representative ASAP TODAY!

I just left the House Tax Policy Committee where the committee voted HB 4985 and HB 4986 out of committee. These bills remove the local property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans and replace it into a Homestead Property Tax credit. However, it requires the veteran to go through more steps in order for this credit to be obtained.

The American Legion can understand the concern of the local taxing units and their loss of revenue from this exemption imposed on them by the state. If the state feels these local units need reimbursement then make an appropriation to send to the local units.

We find it disheartening to watch as these same local units cry foul that 100% disabled veterans are receiving this property tax exemption when those same local units give tax exemptions to their local businesses.

https://www.freep.com/story/money/business/john-gallagher/2018/05/22/dan-gilbert-detroit-projects-tax-breaks/630257002/

https://www.hillsdale.net/news/20180821/city-oks-tax-exemption-for-precision-gage-expansion

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2018/04/12/pfizer-expansion-plan-tax-breaks/33776593/ 

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/chrysler/2016/07/26/fca-chrysler-investment-sterling-heights/87545180/

We find it offensive when they also refer to our veterans as freeloaders since they feel they are not contributing to the local police and fire services. Yet somehow the businesses are not freeloaders when they are given their tax breaks? Some of these veterans took a bullet and suffer debilitating diseases due to their service to your country.

Somewhere in this mess, our values are mixed up.

The Michigan American Legion is asking you to tell your representative to vote NO on HB 4985 and HB 4986

Try to contact YOUR State Representative TODAY and ask them to vote NO on House Bill 4985 and 4986. Find your rep. here http://house.mi.gov

Be polite, let them know you are a veteran and/or their constitute.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Mark Sutton

Legislative Director/Public Relations Director

Michigan American Legion 

517-371-4720 ext 16