Reps. Horn, Stahl, Agema, Hoogendyk, Robertson, Meekhof, Nitz, Moolenaar, LaJoy, Knollenberg, David Law, Brandenburg, Pastor, Rick Jones, Hune, Huizenga, Sheen, Meltzer, Opsommer, Pavlov and Marleau offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 150.

            A resolution to urge the Appropriations Committees of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate to oppose the adoption of an "anti-tourism" tax on specific tourism sectors in the state.

            Whereas, Michigan is a state blessed with a host of natural and cultural resources. Tourism is understandably one of the pillars of the Great Lake State's economy. Indeed, as manufacturing and other traditional industrial areas of our economy face increasing challenges, tourism's relative importance in the economy becomes even more critical; and

            Whereas, Nonetheless, proposals have surfaced that call for the expansion of the state's six percent sales tax to certain services deemed to be luxuries. Many of these services, however, are in fact critical components of our state's important tourism sector. These include, among others, concert and performing arts tickets, admission to professional sporting events, and golf and other recreational activities such as marinas and ski resorts. This anti-tourism tax is ill-conceived and counter-productive. This is particularly true at a time, for example, when our professional sports teams have been seeing tremendous success, Michigan has earned a reputation as the nation's premier golf destination, and increasing gas prices could make Michigan an outdoor recreation haven for neighboring Midwesterners. Taxing these jewels of the new economy is, at best, poor public policy, and as a more practical matter, inconceivably short-sighted given the negative dynamic impacts of the proposed tax; and

            Whereas, Clearly, our state needs appropriate tax revenues to support essential services. The solution to the revenue problem lies in the creation of a robust economy, not in the targeting of one of its key components. As one of the first lines of defense against the anti-tourism tax, it is incumbent on the Appropriations Committees of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate to oppose the implementation of this onerous tax scheme; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we hereby urge the Appropriations Committees of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate to oppose the adoption of an "anti-tourism" tax on specific tourism sectors in the state; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the chair of the House Appropriations Committee and the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.