Bulletins

MITA informed contractors in a bulletin last week about the possibility of a state government shutdown. MITA continues to hear rumors that legislators will avoid the situation by passing a temporary continuation budget. Nonetheless, MITA believes it is important that contractors begin preparing for the possibility of a shutdown. Earlier

Senate Finance Committee Approves Highway Trust Fund Fix The Senate Finance committee on September 21 unanimously approved “The American Infrastructure Investment and Improvement Act,” legislation that will generate new revenues for the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) Highway Account to meet SAFETEA-LU investment commitments. The measure would also raise revenues for

As a possible state government shutdown looms, MITA lobbyists have been busy working the corridors of the state capitol. From raids on road dollars, to gas tax tweaks, new taxes on services, ground water discharge fees or possible government shutdown, the mutations are endless as the budget crisis negotiations reach

After several months of negotiations MITA has been successful in gaining the approvals of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Department of Management and Budget, and Attorney General on a proposal that will allow prime contractors an alternative to the Owners and Contractors Protective (OCP) liability policy MDOT currently requires.

You will recall back in June 2004, at the recommendation of the Subcontracting Team (MITA, MDOT, FHWA), MDOT implemented a “pilot” subcontracting process that would streamline subcontract approvals while maintaining accountability for documentation and compliance. Key elements of the then new subcontracting process were, subcontracts would not be approved by

This week MITA began ratcheting up public pressure on legislators to deal with the problems of transportation funding in light of the Minnesota bridge collapse. There were also a number of legislative developments at both the state and local levels that are of interest to MITA members. MITA Creates Urgent

Recently, at the MITA summer conference, MDOT leadership reported that they are projecting the State construction program for 2008 will be approximately $700 million, down roughly $300 million from the 2007 program, which was $1 billion. In reporting those projections, the MDOT leadership further commented that that program reduction would

If you think high gas prices have meant the end to MITA’s transportation funding initiative, think again. For the last four days articles and editorials supporting the need for more transportation funding have appeared in newspapers and television stations across the state. The renewed support was kicked off with a

Amidst the flurry of activity around the passage of the new Michigan Business Tax, legislation was quietly signed into law on June 28, 2007 that would amend the state’s construction lien law. (An analysis to Senate Bill 487 can be downloaded by clicking here.) New notification requirements passed in 2006 were

After weeks of intense wrangling with state policymakers on a proposed Michigan Business Tax (MBT), the Legislature adopted a new plan last night that included critical contractor deductions fought for by MITA. Two weeks ago, the House, Senate and Governor announced the framework for a business tax agreement that would