Do You Support a Sales Tax for Online Purchases?

Leave a comment to join the conversation about the Marketplace Fairness Act.

Do You Support a Sales Tax for Online Purchases?

The Marketplace Fairness Act was approved this week in the U.S. Senate, and is headed to the Republican-controlled U.S. House for consideration. Both Michigan's senators voted for the bill, which would require merchants to collect state taxes on internet

Michigan's U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both Democrats, voted in support of a bill that requires merchants to collect state sales taxes for online purchases. The Marketplace Fairness Act passed the U.S. Senate 69-27 on Monday. Next up, the legislation goes to the GOP-led House. President Barack Obama has previously said he supports the bill. Supporters say the bill would level the paying field for traditional local retailers and collect much needed tax revenue for state. Opponents, including anti-tax activists and retailers, say it will be overly burdensome on small businesses and would effectively result in a tax increase. Neither Levin nor Stabenow issued public statements after Monday's vote explaining their support of the…

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Suzanne

11:31 am on Monday, May 20, 2013

I agree absolutely! They are greedy; all for themselves none for us. People are looking for a way out, by buying things online. Much easier than standing in long lines at big box store.   more ›

Bill Clinton Comes to Royal Oak Friday

Michael “Chet” Chetcuti and Kyle Evans will entertain the 42nd President of the United States in their Royal Oak home at a fundraiser for U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow.

You might have seen him star in the “Companies Like Mine” political ad with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow or as the front man for the garage/punk rock band the Chet Offensive, but for Royal Oak’s Michael “Chet” Chetcuti, his biggest role yet may happen this Friday. That’s when he’ll play the part of host to the 42nd President of the United States. Bill Clinton is set to visit Chetcuti’s Royal Oak home, which was featured in the 2012 Royal Oak Woman’s Club Home and Garden Tour, for a fundraiser for Stabenow. “Having Bill Clinton at our house should be an honor for Detroit’s entire LGBT community,” Chetcuti said. Along with partner Kyle Evans, the couple couldn’t be more excited to open their home to such a special guest, Chetcuti said. …

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Royal Oak Businessman Stars in Stabenow Ad

A political ad launched Monday for U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow has a familiar face.

If you think that handsome guy you just saw in a political ad looks like your neighbor - it just might be. The familiar face of Royal Oak businessman Michael “Chet” Chetcuti, president and CEO of Livonia-based American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), is featured prominently in U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow’s first commercial of the general election season. The "Companies Like Mine" ad, which began airing on Monday, highlights the Democratic senator’s work in writing a bill to crack down on illegal China trade. “China was a really large market for us,” said Chetcuti. “We watched it go down to zero, as they stole our intellectual property." AEV manufactures high quality Jeep Wrangler accessories for adventure vehicle enthusiasts. "They even copied…

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Levin Rallies Democrats in Berkley (With Photos)

Approximately 70 people turned out Tuesday evening to hear the U.S. representative and a handful of Democratic candidates for Oakland County offices during the invitation-only event at Jaycee Park.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Sander Levin and members of the Oakland County Democratic ticket rallied supporters Tuesday evening during a picnic in Berkley. Approximately 70 people turned out to hear Levin and a handful of Democratic candidates – including incumbent Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner, Oakland County executive hopeful Kevin Howley and Oakland County sheriff contender Jane Felice Boudreau – during the invitation-only event at Jaycee Park. "We have a very strong ticket. There isn't a weak link, so let's work like the dickens," Levin told the crowd as he stood with the candidates, each of whom spoke briefly. Levin also acknowledged Oakland County Clerk candidate Lisa Brown of West Bloomfield and incumbent Oakland County Prosecutor …

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Stabenow in Royal Oak for Dream Cruise

The U.S. Senator relaxes with friends in Royal Oak on the eve of the Dream Cruise.

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow was at the Royal Oak home of Michael Chetcuti and Kyle Evans Friday afternoon. Stabenow, who is in town for the Woodward Dream Cruise, is working with Chetcuti on the issue of counterfeit aftermarket auto parts being produced in China. "I'm here just touching base with Michael," Stabenow said Friday. "We have been working together. He contacted our office when he found China has been counterfeiting his parts." Chetcuti, a principal at American Expedition Vehicles (AVE), manufactures rugged and stylish aftermarket parts for Jeeps. Two years ago China was AEV's largest export market. "China was 8 percent of our market," said Dave Harriton, the founder of AEV. "Today we have zero market in China." Harriton, who …

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U.S. Senate: Durant Concedes to Hoekstra

Current U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow will face Pete Hoekstra in the November election after voters narrowed the field Tuesday during the August primary.

Former U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra has won the Republican nomination in the U.S. Senate primary race after his main rival, Clark Durant of Grosse Pointe, conceded Tuesday shortly before 11 p.m. Shortly after midnight, the Secretary of State's office showed Hoekstra leading the way with more than 97,000 votes while Durant was trailing with almost 59,000. There are about 30 more counties whose results are not yet included in those figures as they have not reported final results to the Secretary of State's office. The race began with four men seeking the Republican nomination: Current U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, of Lansing, was the sole candidate seeking the Democratic nomination.  Durant's concession Tuesday means Hoekstra and …

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Dems Open Coordinated Campaign Office on Main Street

Royal Oak office will serve as hub of Democratic federal, state and local campaigns.

Oakland County Democrats held an open house at their new coordinated campaign office in Royal Oak on Monday. Among the campaigns that will utilize the office at 811 N. Main are Debbie Stabenow for U.S. Senate, and Sandy Levin for Congress, and Barack Obama for President. Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper, Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner, Oakland County Executive candidate Kevin Howley and others will also use the space that was the home of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio for 25 years. Howley, a Huntington Woods resident and business executive, said the office will serve as a common campaign space for local grassroots activities, including voter registration, phone banking, and canvassing.

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POLL: Is U.S. Senate Candidate Hoekstra in Bounds or Over the Line?

Republican from Holland defends his Asian-theme ad shown during the Super Bowl that is provoking outcry.

A Michigan campaign ad first shown during the Super Bowl has people buzzing about Pete Hoekstra, a Republican former congressman from Holland who wants to unseat second-term U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. He mocks her as "Debbie SpendItNow" in the half-minute spot, but that's not what provokes talk locally and nationally. His half-minute ad, which opens with the sound of a gong and other traditionally Asian tones, features an Asian-American actress speaking broken English as she claims "Debbie spends so much American money ... we take your jobs." Several Detroit pastors issued a statement urging Hoekstra to drop the ad, which is scheduled to run statewide for two weeks on cable TV. The Michigan chapter of a group called Asian & Pacific …

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Nancy Hanus

10:37 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012

We really do encourage debate, but when a comment string gets so mean-spirited and off topic, we have no choice but to close it down. We really expect respectful discussion, and this discussion has disintegrated. Thanks to those of you who have tried to get things back on topic.   more ›

Royal Oak's John McCulloch Drops Out of U.S. Senate Race

After announcing his candidacy earlier this month, McCulloch now endorses former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra to challenge U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner — and Royal Oak resident — John McCulloch, who announced he would challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow just 11 days earlier, has dropped out of the race in favor of endorsing fellow Republican Pete Hoekstra. Hoekstra, a former U.S. representative from Holland, MI, initially said he wouldn't run, but jumped in five days after McCulloch announced he was entering the race to unseat the Democratic incumbent. Hoekstra accepted McCulloch's endorsement Tuesday at Oakland County GOP headquarters in Bloomfield Township.  "Pete Hoekstra's decision to run means we Republicans have a candidate who has run statewide and has name recognition," McCulloch told the Detroit Free Press. Prior to his elected…

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