From the Offices of State Representatives Pete Lund and Kim Meltzer:
After seven years in office, the governor finally managed to get Lansing leaders to all agree on one thing: her idea to expand the state sales tax is a bad one.
While it was no surprise that the governor presented her executive budget with a tax increase, it is a disappointment. The governor’s proposed tax hike includes a sales tax expansion in exchange for lowering the business taxes — a move she calls “revenue neutral.” This “revenue neutral” tax shift is the world’s first half-a-billion dollar “revenue neutral” tax hike.
The last time she tried to expand the sales tax in 2007, the government shut down and the unemployment rate has since doubled. Her proposal also relies on hundreds of millions in federal stimulus dollars that we may or may not receive.
Michigan’s next governor would do well to learn from the many mistakes of this governor and not rely on leprechauns and fairy tales to balance a state budget.
The reason Michigan has a structural budget deficit is because the state continues to spend more than it can afford. We must scale back the size of government to meet our economic reality TODAY. Travel around the state and ask ordinary working families and small business owners how do we fix Michigan and no one will say the solution is higher taxes. People want us to reform government, to make the tough decisions to cut spending and eliminate bureaucratic red tape that is stifling businesses and driving jobs out of state. In the next few weeks, House Republicans will unveil a plan that balances the budget without raising taxes or creating new fees on job providers. Reforms must come first. People want government reforms now, not taxes.
State Rep. Pete Lund represents the 36th House District which covers Shelby, Washington and Bruce townships in Macomb County. Residents may contact Lund at his Lansing office by calling 1-888-MICHREP (1-888-642-4737) or by E-mailing him at petelund@house.mi.gov.
State Rep. Kim Meltzer is the primary sponsor of HB 5758 and represents the 33rd House District, which covers Ray and Macomb Townships, and a portion of Clinton Township in Macomb County. Residents may contact Meltzer at her Lansing office by calling (517) 373-0820 or by E-mailing her at kimmeltzer@house.mi.gov.
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