1. Up to 80 hours (pro-rated for part-time employees) of paid sick leave, available for immediate use regardless of length of employment, if the employee cannot work (or telework) because he/she: 
   • Is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis, which is paid at 100% and capped at $511 per day and $5,110 in the aggregate. 
   • Is subject to a government quarantine or has been told by a health care provider that he or she should self-quarantine due to COVID-19, which is paid at 100% and capped at $511 per day and $5,110 in the aggregate (or assisting an individual who must quarantine/self-quarantine for those reasons, which is paid at 2/3 the employee’s rate and capped at $200 per day and $2,000 in the aggregate).

    

   • Is caring for a son or daughter if his/her school/child care provider is unavailable due to COVID-19, which is paid at 2/3 the employee’s rate and capped at $200 per day and $2,000 in the aggregate.

    

   • Is experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which is paid at 2/3 the employee’s rate and capped at $200 per day and $2,000 in the aggregate.

    

2. Up to 12 weeks of expanded FMLA leave, unpaid during the first 10 days (which are practically covered by 1. above), and then paid at 2/3 the employee’s rate (but capped at $200 per day and $10,000 in the aggregate) and available to anyone after 30 days of employment for time to care for the employee’s son or daughter if the child’s school/child care provider is unavailable due to COVID-19 and the employee is unable to work (or telework).

Other key points from the act are as follows:

• An employer cannot force employees to use other forms of leave concurrently with the new and additional leave provided by the act.

• Covered employers must post a notice to employees about their rights under this act (at least as to 1.) once the Department of Labor prepares it.

• The legislation would expire on December 31, 2020, and unused time would not carry over from one year to the next.

• The act would become effective within 15 days of enactment, and the Secretary of Labor is charged with issuing implementation guidelines within that period of time.

• Employers may not change paid leave policies once the legislation is enacted to avoid being subject to the act's paid sick time provisions.

• An employer may elect to exclude health care providers and emergency responders from the leave benefits.

• The Secretary of Labor is empowered to exempt small businesses (fewer than 50 employees) from the leave benefits if the requirements would jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern.

• Funding of Paid Sick Leave - Each quarter, private sector employers subject to the requirement are entitled to a fully refundable tax credit equal to 100% of the qualified sick leave wages paid by the employer. Qualified sick leave wages are capped at $511 per day ($200 per day if the leave is for caring for a family member) and 10 days. The tax credit is applied against employer Social Security taxes, but employers are reimbursed if their costs for qualified sick leave exceed the taxes they would owe. The Treasury Secretary is provided with regulatory authority intended to help with cash flow issues, for example by waiving penalties on failing to deposit payroll taxes in anticipation of the credit.

• Additional Credit for Health Plan Expenses: The amount of the tax credit is further increased by the amount of the expenses of the employer’s health care plan allocable to the qualified sick leave. This allows the employer to seek reimbursement for the cost of continuing to provide health insurance while the employee is on sick leave.

• Tax on Employers: Paid sick leave is not considered wages for Social Security tax purposes and for half of the Hospital Insurance Tax. For the other half of the Hospital Insurance Tax, the applicable tax credit is increased to cover the cost of the payroll tax. Self-Employed: There is a similar tax credit against self-employment taxes for individuals who are self employed but would otherwise qualify for paid sick leave if they were an employee of an employer.

It is important to know that the situation is extremely fluid and things are changing on a daily basis. Congress is anticipated to pass a Phase 3 of a coronavirus relief package in the coming days, which will be aimed at helping out businesses and individuals who are affected during this time. We will continue to give members updates that pertain to the industry and their business as they become available.

For those employees working under a collective bargaining agreement, the Act does NOT include fringe benefit contributions and only requires payment of wages. In addition, if there is a government shut down on construction projects, these benefits do not apply, and the employee would be expected to take advantage of the unemployment system for relief.

MIC was created through legislation heavily supported by MITA in 2018 after recommendations from the 21^st Century Infrastructure Commission were released and found that little to no coordination was occurring between various infrastructure assets across the state. 

The new Asset Management Readiness Assessment Scale measures progress across five asset management competencies – People and Leadership; Data and Information; Planning and Prioritization; Policy and Governance; and External Communication and Knowledge Sharing.  The eventual goal is sustainable service delivery of our infrastructure. 

MIC will be promoting the new scale to local communities and community organizations. It is intended to be used by those local communities, as well as water authorities, road commissions, utilities, communication companies and parks.

This is the first step toward an overall goal of having all of our infrastructure rated and mapped out across the state. It is difficult to convince policy-makers to approve investments into our infrastructure when we may not know the total scale of the problem. Eventually, MIC would like to have infrastructure assets mapped out for the public to see in plain sight what their communities have and what plans are in place to maintain and improve upon those assets. We believe that this will drive more calls to action from the public and ultimately lead to more projects.

To learn more about the Asset Management Readiness Assessment Scale, please visit www.michigan.gov/mic, and click on the AM Readiness Scale tab. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mike Nystrom, Executive Vice President, at mikenystrom@thinkmita.org or Lance Binoniemi, Vice President of Government Affairs, at lancebinoniemi@thinkmita.org. They both can be reached at 517-347-8336.

The state budget had been contentious from the day the Governor presented her budget recommendations to the Legislature in March.  Amongst those recommendations was a proposal to increase the gas tax by 45 cents to raise over $2.4 billion annually for roads and bridges.  That proposal did not receive positive reactions from the Republican controlled House and Senate.  As negotiations over the state budget went on throughout the spring and summer, a potential link to the budget and a long term road funding deal was severed in early fall. 

A stalemate began on a supplemental budget to restore some of the cuts that the Governor had vetoed in the final budget.  Finally, cooler heads prevailed this week and an agreement was made to restore some of the essential services funding previously cut out of the budget.  MITA staff believes this to be a positive step towards continuing the discussion on road funding.  As all of the Legislative leaders and the Governor have made this a top priority, we expect that as the new year begins, that discussion will move forward.

Next year is an election year, which will make things more political when talking about roads and how to properly fund them.  For our part, MITA will have a strong public relations campaign throughout pothole season to remind the public that the poor state of our roads is thanks to decades of underinvestment.  The public has made this issue its number one priority for state government to tackle.  As we move into an election year, we need to pay attention to those who are serious about fixing our infrastructure as compared to those who are just giving lip service.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mike Nystrom, Executive Vice President, at mikenystrom@thinkmita.org, or Lance Binoniemi, Vice President of Government Affairs, at lancebinoniemi@thinkmita.org.  They both can be reached at 517-347-8336.

The following details are from Gongwer News Service:

The 171 percent increase in the now 26.3 cents per gallon gasoline tax outranks the tax shift toward individuals signed by Governor Rick Snyder, the 50 percent increase in the sales tax under Proposal A of 1994 and the 38 percent income tax increase of 1983 in terms of the scope of the change. The plan also increases the 26.3 cents per gallon tax on diesel and the alternative fuels tax for electric vehicles.

Ms. Whitmer said Tuesday she understands the magnitude of the proposal, but it is one that matches the scope of Michigan's underinvestment in its roads and their rapidly deteriorating condition, generally ranked the worst in the nation.

"I'm not asking something that is easy," Ms. Whitmer told a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. "I get that. But I also know this: The worst vote a legislator can take is a vote that proposes to solve a problem but doesn't actually fix it."

The governor made "fix the damn roads" her campaign mantra and she made it clear Tuesday that she is uninterested in half-measures. Only a plan that raises $2.5 billion more per year will arrest the decline in the percentage of the state's roads rated good or fair and then eventually begin increasing that percentage to the goal of 90 percent. Under Ms. Whitmer's plan, that goal would be hit by 2030.

Mike Nystrom, MITA Executive Vice President, issued the following statement regarding the Governor’s budget proposal:

"Gov. Gretchen Whitmer campaigned on the pledge to fix Michigan’s aging and crumbling infrastructure, and her proposed 2020 state budget appears to signal that she intends to offer the bold leadership needed to solve a problem that governors and the Legislature have largely failed to resolve for two decades. Multiple studies have estimated that Michigan needs to be investing $2.6 billion more every year for the next two decades to fix our roads and bridges. Michigan voters are watching Lansing and waiting to see if the Legislature and Governor will join together to exercise the leadership necessary to produce a solution that will finally fix our roads and other infrastructure."

The overall impact of the legislation is huge, and it includes an authorization of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) at $1.174B for FY19, $1.3B for FY20 and $1.95B for FY21, effectively doubling the funding available to State Revolving Fund programs, which many communities utilize to update their drinking water infrastructure.  With Michigan having an $800 million annual gap in water and sewer infrastructure needs compiled from decades of deferred maintenance and a lack of knowledge on the conditions of water related assets, this increase in investment from the feds is much needed.

Specifically, the new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) will also expand water storage capabilities, assist local communities in complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act by upgrading aging drinking water, wastewater and irrigation systems, ensure that the country maintains the competitiveness of our coastal and inland ports, and maintain the navigability of our inland waterways, amongst other infrastructure priorities.  One major project announced that impacts Michigan is the authorization of $922 million for Soo Locks modernization.

As the 21^st Century Infrastructure Commission report suggests, Michigan needs an additional $4 billion in annual investments across all infrastructure in the state, $800 million of which is in underground water and sewer needs.  When that report came out, the stakeholders understood that revenue increases of that magnitude were not going to happen overnight and certainly could not come from one single source.  In order for Michigan to solve its infrastructure investment shortfall, revenues will have to come from local, state and federal dollars.  This increase in federal dollars is a good step in the right direction.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lance Binoniemi, Vice President of Legislative Affairs, at lancebinoniemi@mi-ita.com or call him at 517-347-8336.

Everyone agrees that Michigan’s roads and bridges are in very poor shape.

All taxes currently collected at the pump DO NOT go towards improving our transportation system. If they did, we wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Putting all of the taxes collected at the pump where they belong - toward the cost of maintaining our current infrastructure - would not only create a long-term funding solution, but it would also put a great number of people back to work.

Studies have shown that we need at least $1.7 billion more annually just to maintain our current transportation system.

Contacting your legislators is easy. Simply click here to access our CapWiz site, where you can type in your home address to determine who your state legislators are. Follow the instructions provided on the site to personalize and email a letter to both your state representative and your state senator. Use this opportunity to strongly encourage them to fix our roads, bridges and infrastructure now.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, or would like to meet with your legislators face to face in Lansing or in your home district, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mariam Robinson, Outreach Coordinator. Mariam can be reached at 517-853-5866 or at mariamrobinson@mi-ita.com. We need everyone’s help, so we hope you will take a few minutes to do this, and that you will encourage everyone you know to do the same. Thank you!

This is not only an opportunity for MITA members to increase their overall outreach efforts, but to specifically connect with their legislators, to build upon an existing relationship or to start a new one from the ground up. It is absolutely crucial that MITA members have strong relationships established with their legislators, particularly as we move into the second half of the year. We must continue to push our legislators in the direction of passing increased funding legislation for Michigan’s infrastructure. 

The staff at MITA is ready to help you make this happen. If you are willing and available to host your legislators at your facility or at a critical jobsite, please let us know, and we will gladly help you find a date to host your legislators for a visit. This is a great way for the industry to not only showcase ability and talent, but to also demonstrate the serious amount of work that needs to be done.

Please contact Mariam Robinson, Outreach Coordinator, if this is something you would like to take advantage of this summer. She can help you connect with your legislative offices, set up a date, time and location for the visit and confirm all logistical details. Mariam can be reached at 517-853-5866 or at mariamrobinson@mi-ita.com.

As always, the MITA PAC is ready for more member contributions! Please consider donating to the MITA PAC via personal check or personal credit card in an effort to help the industry continue the legacy of a strong presence and influence in Lansing. Everyone must band together to make a difference in the collective effort to reach the goal of achieving proper funding for our entire infrastructure.

Please remember that MITA PAC contributions are NOT tax deductible and that they must be PERSONAL and not corporate. Non-managerial, non-salaried and union employees are prohibited from donating to the MITA PAC by law. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support. Please make checks payable to MITA PAC and send all contributions to MITA PAC, P.O Box 1640, Okemos, Michigan 48805. Additional information, as well as instructions on how to contribute via personal credit card, is available online at www.mi-ita.com.

According to “Bridge Magazine” article, environmental officials cite bills that were passed late last year, which MITA fought aggressively in support of, that are expected to get loan and grant money more quickly to communities that need to upgrade storm and sanitary sewer systems. In addition, Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of MITA, is quoted as saying that last month’s heavy rains and flooding demonstrated the need for more state money to help upgrade sanitary and storm sewers.

As Michigan’s beach season approaches, MITA will continue to promote the need for underground infrastructure funding, by highlighting the number of beach closings caused by contamination from combined sanitary and storm sewers that overflow after heavy rainfalls.

Three town hall meetings are coming up in the near future, and there are more being planned. Stay tuned, and keep your eye on the MITA website, as well as emails from Mariam Robinson, Outreach Coordinator, that will share updated information and details. If you are planning to attend any of the town hall meetings listed below, please email Mariam at mariamrobinson@mi-ita.com to RSVP.

APRIL 29
Hosted by State Representative Gretchen Driskell 
Dexter Library, 3255 Alpine Street, Dexter
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

APRIL 29

Hosted by State Representative John Walsh 
Vista Tech Center @ Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Road, Livonia
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

MAY 8

Hosted by State Senator Mike Nofs 
Burnham Brook Center, 200 West Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek
Begins at 6:30 p.m.

The morning will kick off at 9:00 am at Troppo, a restaurant located at 111 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing. The group will gather on the second floor (in the Governor's Room) for coffee, cookies and an update on the political landscape as it pertains to the issue of transportation infrastructure funding. This portion of the day should conclude by 10:00 am.

After the briefing, members will head to their respective state representative offices to lobby their elected officials on the importance of funding Michigan's transportation infrastructure needs now and not somewhere down the road. Once the Senate is adjourned that day, members are encouraged to head to their state senator offices to lobby them, as well.

This is an important opportunity to raise awareness for the needs of the industry and to prove to legislators that they truly are hearing from the people who put them in office. This is a chance to hold your legislators accountable to the job they were elected to do and to remind them that the Governor made it very clear in his State of the State address that transportation infrastructure funding must be addressed and must get done this year. 

Help us deliver this message in full force on May 14. Please call or email Lance Binoniemi, VP of Government Affairs, with any questions you have regarding transportation infrastructure legislation. Lance can be reached at 517-853-5855 or at lancebinoniemi@mi-ita.com. 

MITA’s goal is to schedule legislative meetings on your behalf prior to the lobby day. The sooner we know you are planning to attend, the better the chance we have of scheduling a meeting for you with your legislators on that day. Please RSVP your attendance (including your home address) to Mariam Robinson, Outreach Coordinator, at 517-853-5866 or at mariamrobinson@mi-ita.com. The deadline to RSVP is Tuesday, April 30, 2013.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Senate Movement:

Over the past couple of weeks, the Senate has introduced its own funding solution that is similar to the Governor’s proposal, but has an added twist.  The Senate proposal, heavily supported by Senator Roger Kahn, is a nine bill package that would raise the additional annual investment to our transportation system by $1.6 billion through a gas tax increase and registration fee increase.  Additionally, however, a joint resolution was introduced that would put on the ballot (for a public vote) a 2% sales tax increase fully dedicated to transportation.  If the voters approved the 2% sales tax increase, the gas tax and registration fee increases would not go into effect, and in fact, that current 19 cent gas tax would be repealed.  PHEW…that was a lot to swallow.  Essentially, voters would have a choice between higher gas taxes and registration fees OR a 2% increase on all of the goods that they purchase that are subject to the sales tax to adequately fund our infrastructure in Michigan.  Both proposals have an annual net increase of $1.6 billion.

Following the introduction of the Senate bill package, the Senate this week announced a new standing committee that would address the funding problem.  The new committee (Infrastructure Modernization) is chaired by Senator Roger Kahn and includes Senators Pappageorge, Booher, Brandenburg, Jansen, Hood and Warren.  Two joint meetings have been scheduled with the House Transportation Committee for next Tuesday and Thursday, where the committees will be discussing how we currently spend money within our system and what the current lack of funding has meant to the condition of our roads and bridges.

House Discussions:

The House Republicans came out with their “Action Plan” for the 2013 – 2014 legislative cycle last week, which included discussions of “investing effectively” in Michigan’s transportation infrastructure.  Comments to the media and conversations with MITA employees and members have indicated that the House is also in agreement that we have to invest more in Michigan’s infrastructure, but the question remains, what is the best way to accomplish that?  The entire legislature continues to look for cost saving measures and other areas where money could potentially be diverted from to help pay for our failing roads and bridges.

Member Outreach:

We have seen a tremendous amount of increased outreach from our members over the past several weeks.  MITA members are writing letters, emails, making phone calls and personally visiting with their senators and representatives from where they reside or where their businesses are located.  And, it is having an impact.  We are hearing from legislators that they are hearing from you, but they need to hear from more of our membership.  Those that oppose increased investments to our transportation system are certainly reaching out to their elected officials to urge them to vote no on any proposals and we need to counter that by educating the legislature on how important increased funding is and sharing what it will mean to you, your family, your employees and their families and to our entire state.

We are here to help. Whether it is help writing a letter to your elected officials, or a letter to the editor of your local paper or most effective, setting up a personal meeting with them, we can assist you.  Please contact our Outreach Coordinator Mariam Robinson at (517) 347-8336 or email at mariamrobinson@mi-ita.com to get started.

The state’s online Michigan Voter Information Center features all upcoming election-related information spanning from voter registration to ballot information.  The website allows you to verify voter registration status, access a list of all candidates running for office, along with their corresponding campaign websites links, and even view a sample of the ballot you will see at the voting booth by inserting some basic information.  We strongly encourage all of those who are registered to take some time out of their day and cast their vote.

As a reminder, two statewide ballot proposals could have significant impacts on the heavy construction industry in Michigan.  Proposal 5 and Proposal 6 could affect the future of our infrastructure in negative ways and lock those policies into our state’s constitution, making it extremely difficult to change.  Descriptions of both proposals are listed below for your review.  If you have any questions about any of the proposals, please do not hesitate to contact Lance Binoniemi at lancebinoniemi@mi-ita.com or (517) 347-8336.

Proposal 5:  A proposal to amend the state constitution to limit the enactment of new taxes by state government – VOTE NO

Proposal 5, if passed, would require a 2/3 majority of the Legislature, or a vote of the people, for any future tax increases.  This would include any changes to our current tax structure.  Our goal of increased funding for infrastructure in Michigan would be near impossible to accomplish if a 2/3 majority of the Legislature would be required to support its passage.

Proposal 6:  A proposal to amend the state constitution regarding construction of international bridges and tunnels – VOTE NO

Proposal 6, if passed, would require a vote of the people before the State of Michigan can construct or finance new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles.  This could halt construction on the New International Trade Crossing that has been approved by Governor Snyder and the Canadian government.

Please be sure to share this information with your family, friends and employees, and encourage them all to vote "No" on Proposals 5 and 6.

Dear Members:

I am pleased to be serving as the new MITA Outreach Coordinator. I join MITA with an extensive background in state and local government experience and outreach success.

I have significant legislative experience in both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives. I also served locally on city council for seven years and as city mayor of Williamston for four years. I partnered with federal, state and county government, including various organizations on infrastructure and economic development projects, creating jobs and receiving recognition regionally and nationally.

It is a privilege and honor to be a member of the MITA team. I look forward to personally meeting you and working together to achieve MITA’s goals. I am pleased to be of assistance anytime, so please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best Regards,

Michelle

Michelle Van Wert

MIRS has learned that the discussion was to take action in lame duck. Richardville earlier this year advocated doing a ballot initiative for transportation funding, but he told MIRS this week, "I don't think we'll go quite that far."

Another obstacle being discussed by Senate leadership is the constitutional amendment that hasn't yet been placed on the ballot that would require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to raise taxes. That could put the kibosh on any plan to fix the state's infrastructure.

Snyder has said the state needs to spend $1.4 billion annually to maintain roads. Kahn pegs that number closer to $2 billion and he notes that's for "acceptable roads, not good roads. He said he's open to the Governor's proposal to move to a wholesale tax on fuel, but he's "open to anything the people would support."

Kahn said he doesn't support the two-thirds amendment, just as he doesn't back term limits.

Federal guidelines define a CMV as any vehicle being used for commercial purposes over 26,000 pounds had to be registered as a CMV but for some reason Michigan’s law defined that as any vehicle over 10,001 pounds.  There are some exemptions to the new weight limits including vehicles transporting hazardous materials and requiring placarding, vehicles trailering equipment with a combination gross weight rating of over 26,000 pounds, and vehicles designed and used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver.  Below is a chart that illustrates the different requirements of vehicles between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds and vehicles over 26,000 pounds.