Legislative Roundup: News Around the District

Walberg supports bipartisan estate tax repeal bill

Editor's note: This press release was submitted by the American Family Business Institute, a trade association that represents family business owners and farmers.

This week, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-7th District) signed House Resolution 1259, the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act, originally sponsored by Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas and Rep. Mike Ross of Arizona. Walberg joined 90 legislators who have signed the resolution.

“Representative Walberg is a champion for death tax repeal,” said Dick Patten, president of the American Family Business Institute, in a press release. “By supporting legislation that repeals the federal estate tax, he is standing up for family business owners, farmers and entrepreneurs across Michigan and America.”

The estate tax is a tax on the net value of a decedent's estate, including all personal and business assets, before distribution to any heirs. 

"Walberg has been a strong advocate for permanently repealing this unfair double tax," Patten said in the release. "He understands that the death tax penalizes family farmers and business owners when they die. I’m encouraged that he has committed to taking a more active role in the repeal fight."

Ouimet votes to protect 'effective teachers'

Editor's note: This press release was submitted by Rep. Mark Ouimet.

State Rep. Mark Ouimet (R-Scio Township) voted Thursday in favor of legislation to protect "effective public school teachers" and encourage greater accountability in school districts across the state.

The legislation, called the Teacher Quality Package, comes after a series of committee hearings on reforming Michigan's public education system and the state's outdated tenure laws.

"We need to make sure our most effective teachers remain in our classrooms so they can provide the best possible education for students," Ouimet said. "Successful teachers help shape and create successful students. This reform effort helps Michigan public schools become more student-centered."

The legislation reforms and modernizes Michigan's teacher tenure law by requiring teachers to receive three consecutive years of "highly effective" evaluations before tenure is granted. It also bans the practice of using seniority as the sole grounds for teacher layoffs. 

The bills will restore fairness by eliminating arbitrary and political termination practices while providing the administrative tools necessary to ensure the highest quality education, Ouimet said.

"Teachers still can't be fired for arbitrary or political reasons under the legislation, but school officials and taxpayers will no longer have to deal with a costly tenure process to make needed changes," Ouimet said. "These reforms will not apply until the current collective bargaining agreement expires, so existing labor agreements will not be broken."

The Teacher Quality Package, House Bills 4625-28, now goes to the Senate for consideration.