NEWS The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 29, 2005 - 3 ON CAMPUS Former University provost to speak on tuition increases Paul Courant, a former University provost, and economics prof. will speak on rising college tuition costs. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the U Club in the Michigan Union. Documentary examines HIV treatment options There will be a screening of a documentary on the challenges faced by people with HIV when seeking treatment. The film pays particular attention to poor individuals with HIV who often have trouble gaining access to treatment. The showing will take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in Audi- torium 3 of the Modern Language Building. Yale prof talks about global health concerns Yale prof. and head of the school's Division of Global Health, Derek Yach, will be speaking today on his work at the World Health Organiza- tion. Yach developed the global health policy titled "Health for All" that was adopted in 1998 by all govern- ments. He will be speaking today from 4 to 6 p.m. in room 1636 of the School of Social Work. Mockumentary explores issues of native Australians There will be a film screening of the mockumentary titled "Babkiue- ria" today in the William Monroe Trotter Multicultural Center from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The film takes a look at the country of Australia and the way in which life would have been different for the Aborigines if they switched places with their colonizers. CRIME NOTES Subject taken to hospital after seizure A subject was transported via ambulance to the University Hos- pital emergency room after having a seizure Sunday at the Michigan Union, the Department of Public Safety reported. Purse stolen from parked vehicle A vehicle was broken into Sunday at the Varsity Tennis parking lot, DPS reported. A purse was taken from the car and credit cards found in the purse have been used. Papers stolen; no suspects Paperwork was stolen from the University Hospital Sunday, accord- ing to DPS. There are currently no suspects. Officials find loopholesin PAC restrictions DETROIT (AP) - Michigan's top elected officials, like some oth- ers across the nation, are legally getting around restrictions on political action committees by using organizations that came to prominence during the 2004 presi- dential election. The so-called 527 funds - named after a provision of the federal tax code - support travel, entertaining and other perks of public office for members of both political parties, according to a report yesterday in the Detroit Free Press. Donations from corporations and law firms help Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, reimburse the costs of using a state-owned Land's fund was started by a friend of hers, Rusty Richter. But campaign watchdog groups are concerned about the trend of top- level state officials using the 527s, which came to prominence during the race between President Bush and challenger John Kerry last year. "This is certainly an avenue that is now being exploited even more than in the past for politicians to raise large amounts of money from spe- cial interests and to support all kinds of activities," said Edwin Bender, executive director of the Institute on Money in State Politics, based in Helena, Mont. Bender said lack of accountabil- ity is an issue with the 527s. Other concerns are the large or does amounts of money :axpayers din the accounts a~yayers and the percep- avel tion that financial supporters have lon- undue influence ,, on the politicians al nature." to whom they give twin-engine airplane for personal or political busi- ness. Republican Attorney Gener- al Mike Cox has entertained in Washington and New York and bought Univer- sity of Michigan football tickets with contribu- "The govern not expect t to pay for tr that is of a n government Republican legislators push for lower taxes for businesses - Liz Boyd spokeswoman money. Political action committees, which are typi- Granholm's tions from attorneys and developers. Corporations helped pay for a party thrown by Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land at last year's Repub- lican National Convention. Cox and a spokeswoman for Gra- nholm both defended use of their 527 funds to pay for office-related expenses without using state money. "The governor does not expect taxpayers to pay for travel that is of a non-governmental nature," Liz Boyd, Granholm's spokeswoman, told the Free Press. Cox spokesman Stu Sandler said the attorney general prefers to have contributors, rather than taxpayers, cover some expenses during tough economic times. Cox said that, unlike in private law firms, he can't reward his law- yers with "outlandish bonuses and big salary increases." So he uses the fund to pay for an occasional dinner or for foot- ball tickets. Land's spokeswoman said her boss doesn't control the 527 fund that she raised money for last year. cally used by pol- iticians to handle donations, come with restrictions on how much money can be given by individuals and groups. But 527s can raise unlim- ited amounts from corporations, unions, law firms, individuals and others. The 527s must disclose donors and expenses to the Internal Rev- enue Service. Few other Michigan politicians have 527 accounts similar to those of Granholm, Cox and Land. But several lawmakers raise money through IRS-recognized charities or social welfare organi- zations. Granholm's 527 account has raised $188,300 and spent $139,043 since she entered office in 2003, according to the Free Press. Cox's 527 fund has raised $164,088 and spent $129,289. Land's 527 has raised $144,002 and spent $119,545. All three politicians have signifi- cantly more money in their tradition- al campaign committee accounts. LANSING (AP) - The Republican- controlled Legislature will push forward today with a revised plan to lower busi- ness taxes by $500 million over four years, with cuts targeted to help the state's struggling manufacturing sector. Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikke- ma and House Speaker Craig DeRoche will announce the scaled-back legisla- tion a little more than a week after Gov. Jennifer Granholm approved similar provisions in a larger business tax-cut package but vetoed others, killing the whole plan. Manufacturers would receive a 15 percent credit for taxes they pay on equipment and computers starting Jan. 1, as well as a 100 percent investment credit in 2007 and 2008 if they bring jobs into Michigan. A special tax break for Delphi Corp. and Visteon Corp. that is scheduled to end next month would be extended, according to details of the legislation obtained by The Associated Press late yesterday. Republicans said the legislation is more straightforward and simpler than bills they approved earlier this month. "This isn't a complex deal or a com- plicated tangle of tie bars," Sikkema (R-Wyoming) said in a statement. "It's a simple plan with a single purpose: to get Michigan working again." Granholm last week signed bills that included the same personal property tax credits, but they died because all the bills were tied together so that vetoing one killed the whole nine-bill package. The Democratic governor vetoed two bills, which she said contained huge tax loopholes, and said lawmakers should continue the state's main business tax beyond the end of 2009 so other taxpay- ers will not have to pick up the tab. Granholm has previously pressed for the tax provision that helps Delphi and Visteon. Spokeswoman Liz Boyd said yester- day that the governor is willing to work with Republican leaders on a solution that helps manufacturers, but she declined to comment further. "It's difficult to comment on their proposal until we've had ample time to review it," she said. The GOP legislation would not eliminate the sunset on the single business tax. "That's not on our to-do list right now," Sikkema spokesman Ari Adler said. Sikkema and DeRoche (R-Novi) said the legislation is the first of many bills the Legislature is planning to reduce the tax burden on businesses. "This tax relief plan will take effect Jan. 1, providing an immediate boost to our economy and sending a signal to manufacturers and workers that Michi- gan is serious about keeping the thou- sands of jobs they provide in Michigan," DeRoche said in a statement. The revised GOP plan would reduce state revenues by $90 million in the budget year that began Oct. 1. Sikkema spokesman Ari Adler said lawmakers do not anticipate making budget cuts because about $170 million in extra rev- enue is expected to come in. Earlier Monday, Granholm said any tax-cut legislation sent to her desk must be bipartisan. "If they insist on jamming some- thing through the Legislature, it indicates they really don't want a compromise, they don't really want an agreement," Granholm said dur- ing a news conference. "That would be the greatest travesty of all for the state of Michigan. We are here and ready to talk." $1.00 BEFORE 6:00PM - $1.50 AFTER 6:00PM TUESDAY50C ALL SHOWS ALL DAY FLIGHTPLAN 12:453:00 5:157:30 9:45 PG13 CORPSE BRIDE 12:00 2:00 3:50 5:401:30 9:30 PG THE FOG 5:15 9:30 PG 13 MARCH OF THE PENGUINS 12:15 2:15 G THE 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN 4:151:00 9:30 R JUST LIKE HEAVEN 1:00 3:101:30 PG13 REC SPORTS IN TRAMURALS The University of Michigan Department of Recreational Sports Intramural Sports Program www.recsports.umich.edu. 734-763-3562 REC SPORTS INTRAMLRALS Entries due: Wed, 11/30 4:30 PM IM Building Entry Fee: $35 per team Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Thurs, 12/01 7:15 PM IM Building Tournament Dates: Entries also 12/02 & 12/04 taken online IMSB Dodgeball Entries due: Thurs, 12/01 4:30 PM IM Building Entry Fee: $35 per team $5 per individual Manager's Meeting: MANDATORY Thurs, 12/01 6:00 PM IM Building Meet Dates: Entries also 12/06 - 12/08 taken online Sports Coliseum Wrestling THIS DAY In Daily History Murder of columnist's wife still puzzles AAPD Nov. 29, 1983 - The Ann Arbor Police Department still has no suspects a in the shooting of 39-year-old Nancy Faber, a city resident and wife of a col- umnist for The Ann Arbor News. 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