Update 5:21 p.m.
Republicans eked out a legislative victory today as Governor Rick Snyder's tax overhaul package cleared the state Senate.
It fell to Snyder’s lieutenant governor to cast the tie-breaking vote.
Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley delivered a short speech before he cast the vote to break the deadlock on the tax reform package he had a hand in designing.
Calley predicted some lawmakers will pay a price for supporting the administration's tax reforms.
"Because real change comes with real consequence," said Calley. "Real change will come with drama."
Seven Republicans joined Democrats to vote against the package, largely because the measure will end the tax exemption on pension income for anyone born after 1946.
Democrats say it will shift the burden of paying for government services to families and the elderly.
State Senator Steve Bieda was one of the Democrats who voted against the measure.
"It’s shifting the tax to those who are least able to pay in our society," said Bieda. "We are talking about the elderly, people who are living on pensions are going to see a huge increase. I think it’s unjust, unwise, and it’s certainly very unfair."
Bieda tried to delay the vote until next week when the state adopts new revenue numbers. It’s expected there will be a windfall of more revenue than was anticipated at the beginning of the year.
The package eliminates the Michigan Business Tax in favor of a corporate profits tax.
It also eliminates a host of tax breaks, including the income tax exemption for people on pensions.
Overall, the package rolls back taxes on businesses by nearly $2 billion. Most of the businesses that would benefit are small and medium-sized corporations.
Republicans say the result will also be a tax code that is simpler and easier to follow.
State Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville says there are some hard choices in the package, but they combine to make Michigan more business-friendly.
"So we put the good, the bad, the ugly altogether in one package and said, we believe the greater good is worthy of some of the not-so-good or ugly, so to speak."
The Senate bill restores the earned income tax credit for working poor families, but at a reduced rate.
The House is expected to quickly concur with the Senate action and send the measure to Governor Snyder for his signature.
3:55 p.m.
Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley has cast the tie-breaking vote to win Senate approval of Governor Rick Snyder's tax overhaul plan.
The package scraps the Michigan Business Tax in favor of a corporate profits tax.
It will be a net tax cut on many small and mid-sized businesses.
It also eliminates a host of tax breaks, including the income tax exemption for pensions.
Republicans say the result will be a tax code that is simpler and easier to follow and more business-friendly.
