New legislation will be unveiled today to hike the tax on beer.
It isn't just this, lawmakers are pretty busy at the State Capitol these days, working on everything from a five cent tax on beer, to lowering the penalty for a minor in possession of alcohol.
The State Representative who will announce the beer tax plan today is Republican Thomas Hooker, who says the legislation will save lives. Supporters say the tax will help by raising money for law enforcement and recovery services.
Supporters say Michigan's beer tax hasn't been raised in 50 years and a tax hike on it is long overdue.
Hooker is proposing raising the tax by five cents.
This isn't the only legislation in the works involving alcohol.
I spoke to Republican Senator Rick Jones about his plan to decriminalize the MIP in Michigan, or minor in possession charge.
If a minor is caught with alcohol or intoxicated that is a misdemeanor.
Senator Jones says that is too harsh and wants to change that first charge instead to a civil infraction.
The Senator tells me he has talked to parents who say their children's chances of getting into college or finding a job have been ruined, because getting an MIP means they have a criminal record.
However, the penalty for minors driving while intoxicated would not change.
Already passed in the Senate and waiting on a House vote, Senator Jones hopes it will be law by the end of the year.
But, opponents told us in the past that a $100 fine for a first offense and $200 dollars for a second offense isn't enough. They think it sends the wrong message to kids.
Back to State Representative Thomas Hooker, he is also working to get legislation passed in the State House that would require all Michigan public school students to learn CPR before graduation.
It has already passed in the Senate.
His office hopes it will make it on the House agenda this month, or at least by the end of the year.
We'll be following the story.
