Legislature Passes Item-Pricing Repeal

(Lansing-WWJ) The Michigan Legislature has given final approval to a bill repealing Michigan's unique item-pricing law, sending the measure to Gov. Rick Snyder's desk for his expected signature.

The Senate version was approved by a 25-13 vote. It includes a provision requiring retailers to post an item's price where it can clearly be seen by consumers, although not necessarily on the item itself.

The current item-pricing regulation will remain in effect until September first. After that, price tags will no longer be required on individual items.

Gov. Snyder, in January's State of the State address, called on the Legislature to repeal the 35 year-old law, calling it expensive and obsolete. Unions, including the United Food and Commercial Workers, contend  jobs will be lost and consumers harmed if item-pricing is repealed.

Massachusetts is the only other state with a similar statute, but it applies only to food retailers.

(Copyright 2011, WWJ Newsradio 950. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press Contributed To This Story.)