Capitol Connection Newsletter: Aug. 9, 2022
In This Issue:
- Inflation Reduction Act
- Rebuilding Michigan Infrastructure Projects
- MRA Buy Nearby Economic Analysis
- Downtown Lansing Two-Way Street Conversions
Inflation Reduction Act
The U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which is meant to provide funding for clean energy investments, address healthcare costs and raises taxes. The bill heads to the U.S. House of Representatives this week for consideration.
The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) joined 253 state and local chambers of commerce and national trade associations opposing the Inflation Reduction Act due to the legislation including taxes that would discourage investment and undermine economic growth and price controls that would limit American innovation. Additionally, despite the name of the bill, independent analysis confirms that it would have little to no impact on inflation and may in fact increase inflationary pressure in the near term.
- Click here for a copy of the final letter that was sent on Friday, August 5.
- Click here for the posting on the U.S. Chamber website.
- Click here for our Key Vote Alert letter that was also sent on Friday.
- Click here for a copy of the National Association of Manufacturers letter.
If you have any questions, please contact Steve Japinga, senior vice president of public affairs, LRCC, at sjapinga@lansingchamber.org.
Rebuilding Michigan Infrastructure Projects
The LRCC continues to advocate at the local, state, and federal levels of government to prioritize investment in our regional infrastructure. The LRCC was pleased to see several major infrastructure projects announced as part of Gov. Whitmer’s Rebuilding Michigan, including several in the Greater Lansing region.
Below are a few projects the Michigan Department of Transportation is working on in our region.
- M-43 Meridian Township
- I-496 Ingham County
- US-127 Ingham County
- I-69 Calhoun and Eaton Counties
- I-69 Clinton and Eaton Counties
Read more about the infrastructure projects taking place in the Greater Lansing region on page 18 of FOCUS Magazine available below.
MRA Buy Nearby Economic Analysis
Our partners at the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) released their annual Buy Nearby economic analysis on the impact of consumers switching 10 percent of their spending from out-of-state retailers to Michigan-based retailers.
Our partners at the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) released their annual Buy Nearby economic analysis on the impact of consumers switching 10 percent of their spending from out-of-state retailers to Michigan-based retailers.
This analysis, based on year-to-date spending in 2022 and completed by Public Sector Consulting, found that if Michigan consumers redirected 10 percent of their estimated $30.3 billion in out-of-state e-commerce and remote sales, equivalent to about $3 billion, it would have the following impact:
- Increase Michigan employment by more than 16,000 (compared to over 14,000 in 2021)
- Boost labor income (salary and benefits) by about $660 million ($533 million in 2021)
- Contribute $1.2 billion in value-added to the state’s economy ($968 million in 2021)
- Contribute $2.2 billion in gross economic output ($1.9 billion in 2021)
Learn more about the MRA Study below.
Downtown Lansing Two-Way Street Conversions
After several years of waiting, the city of Lansing has begun converting several of downtown Lansing’s one-way streets to two-way. The conversion started with Capitol and Grand Avenues between Oakland and Washtenaw. The conversion includes pavement marking, signs, and signal changes. The LRCC, along with our partners at the city of Lansing and Capital Council of Governments, advocated for additional state funding in 2020 for these conversions. The switch to two-way streets aligns with Lansing Mayor Schor’s Lansing Forward initiative focusing on key areas of livability, neighborhoods, and safety.