Update 5:14 p.m.
Governor Rick Snyder’s tax overhaul plan began working its way through the Legislature today as it cleared the state House by a mostly party-line vote.
The Republican tax reform bill would replace the complex and unpopular Michigan Business Tax with a corporate profits tax.
Two-thirds of Michigan businesses would not have to pay the tax.
Part of the revenue lost to the state would be made up by eliminating dozens of tax breaks.
Many of them go to businesses and charities. Also gone would be earned income credit for working poor families and the income tax exemption for most seniors on pensions.
“This is a turnaround moment for Michigan,” said Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger. “Today’s winners are our local small business owners. Today’s winners are the unemployed because now those small business owners can create jobs.”
Democrats say it’s not fair to make working families and seniors make up the difference while most businesses pay less. Democratic state Representative Barb Byrum says it's not a fair trade.
“This legislation is not a shared sacrifice and should not be adopted. Today is just another day another day to give an 82% tax break to wealthy, corporate special interests. Another day to take from our children, our seniors, and our working poor."
The measure now goes to the Republican-controlled state Senate.
3:41 p.m.
Governor Rick Snyder’s tax overhaul plan has begun its march through the Legislature.
It won the approval of the state House by a mostly party-line vote.
The measure would scrap the complicated and unpopular Michigan Business Tax.
It would be replaced by a corporate income tax that would not be paid by two-thirds of the state’s businesses.
Part of that lost revenue would be made up by ending many tax breaks for businesses, working poor families, and seniors on pensions.
