Michigan business community rails against Democrat lame duck flurry of bills in Lansing

LANSING (FOX 2) – More than 100 lame duck bills have been introduced and await a final vote in the last days of total Democrat control in Lansing.

Tim Skubick: “Is it fair to say this is the worst attack on business that you’ve seen in lame duck ever?”

“That would be a fair statement,” said Wendy Block. “We’re extremely concerned just about the number of anti-jobs, anti-business proposals that are out there.”

Block is a business lobbyist hoping to persuade a handful of Democrats in the state House to oppose some of the so-called anti-business measures among the flurry of bills that have been introduced this week as they move toward adjournment.

The business community is warning consumers that if the Democrats pass some of these bills, businesses will have three options and all three will impact your pocketbook.

Block spoke about what the business sector can do, if they pass the bills.

“Do we also see price increases on the things that we enjoy? Do employees not get wage increases that they were expecting in the coming years? Do they see reductions in their benefits?” she said.

One of the items just adopted was to boost jobless benefits to over $600.

Democratic consultant Adrian Hemond argues that doing this is exactly the kind of legislation Democrats need to do, to win back voters who took House control away from the Democrats in November.

“They need to take a couple of issues that the public actually cares about and get something done,” he said. “And go long on those, not idealogical stuff and not policy service for interest groups – but  policy service for people.”

Democrats adopted 34 bills earlier this week and are working on those 100 to get those done this week.

Meanwhile, the business lobby endorsed some House Democrats last November and they want them to kill the bills that hurt their interests and the state economy..

“And now its they need to put their money where their mouth is and you know with that little button, or by telling their leadership ‘I ain’t doing this,'” she said.

So while the citizens lobby outside the House chambers for what they want – the three Democratic legislative leaders are trying to leave their mark before they lose full legislative control at the end of the year.

It should make for quite a hectic and divisive finish.