MDVA fulfills its mission with full-time experienced legislative representation in Lansing.  MDVA delivers effective and successful government affairs representation to its members year after year.  MDVA has a bipartisan approach to lobbying which is especially relevant in these politically volatile times.   As Michigan is unique with a full-time yet term-limited Legislature, MDVA is committed to a non-stop nurturing of relationships with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.  The ongoing turnover that our legislative term limits causes requires a commitment to building meaningful rapport with decision makers and cultivating relationships with key leaders that will yield results in the ever changing environment.  MDVA members receive frequent updates on legislative activity relevant to our issues and our progress on them.

MDVA’s aggressive advocacy effort has paid off with many wins on behalf of our members over the years.  Highlights include:

Sales tax exemption for all vended snack foods and beverages in sealed containers.

Cigarette stamping legislation allowing for tax payment terms for wholesalers and collection allowance increase.

Tobacco tax bad debt deduction for wholesalers.

Enforcement efforts on gray market cigarettes, illegal internet cigarettes, and untaxed tobacco products

Product sell-through provision in fire safety compliant cigarette standard

Phase out of tobacco taxes in MBT gross receipts component for wholesalers

Defeat efforts to characterize sales tax exemption for vended products, tobacco tax collection allowance, and tobacco tax bad debt deduction as “loopholes” slated for elimination, year after year!

Defeat efforts to increase taxes on cigarettes, OTP, moist snuff tobacco, little cigars.

The legislative successes we have experienced could not have been accomplished without a strong PAC.  Our members recognize the significance of a strong PAC to a successful advocacy effort.  We want to thank all those individuals who have contributed to the MDVA-PAC.