Lt. Gov. Calley signs latest Michigan business tax bills

LANSING (AP) -- Lt. Gov. Brian Calley has signed the final package of new Michigan laws for 2011. The Republican signed 20 bills Tuesday, many of them making minor "cleanup" or technical changes to implement a new business tax system that begins Jan. 1. Calley also signed bills to protect tax credits for residents living in what the state calls "renaissance zones." The lieutenant governor signed the bills because Gov. Rick Snyder was out of state on a family trip. There were 323 new laws from legislation approved this year by state lawmakers. That's the most in the first year of a two-year legislative session since 2005. Published: Thu, Dec 29, 2011