Thank you to all of you who called and emailed your state representatives asking them to vote no on the bill to eliminate the state income tax.  The bill failed in the State House because of bi-partisan opposition, including two of our local State Representatives, David Maturen (R) and Jon Hoadley (D).  Our calls and emails helped!

ISAAC sent out this information from The Center for Michigan, which publishes Bridge Magazine and is “a nonprofit, bipartisan centrist think–and–do tank, designed to cure Michigan’s dysfunctional political culture”:

Bridge Magazine Articles

Michigan shuts down bad schools. Leading states build them up.

Phasing out income-tax revenue a dangerous game.

And ISAAC sent out analysis from the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan with these highlights:

“According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, the tax cut will greatly benefit wealthy MI citizens.  The average tax cut in ten years by household income for households earning between $0 to $21,000 will be $56 and for the top 1% the tax cut will be $13,573 a year.

“The income tax accounted for about 67% of the general fund and 22% of the school aid revenue in FY2016.  There is no replacement for the lost revenue. Funds for local units of government, services for people in need and the education of our children would be at risk.”

“Testimony by Michigan League for Public Policy CEO Gilda Jacobs’ states, ‘This proposal will not create jobs or grow the economy as suggested and will disproportionately benefit the wealthiest taxpayers most.  Instead, it will leave our state unable to invest in our schools, colleges and universities, communities, infrastructure, healthcare and public safety – the things that actually fuel economic growth.’ ”

– Tobi Hanna-Davies, VP for Communications