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Repeal of item pricing law introduced in the legislature

Legislation to repeal the Michigan law that requires every item on store shelves to carry a price tag has been introduced in the state House.

Governor Rick Snyder called for an end to the 35-year-old item-pricing law last week in his State of the State address.

He says the law is outdated, and repealing it would send a message that Michigan is a business-friendly state.

Retailers say the law is an unnecessary expense that drives up prices and keeps them from adopting new technologies that would make it easier for customers to check prices and track their checkout costs.

The last effort to repeal the law was five years ago, but it failed under the threat of a veto by Governor Jennifer Granholm. She said individual item pricing still protects consumers from being overcharged. The union that represents retail employees say a repeal will lead to layoffs.

The first hearing on the legislation is expected next week in the state House Commerce Committee.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987.
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