The Michigan League for Human Services is pressuring lawmakers in Michigan who voted last year cut tax credits for working poor families.
The earned income tax credit - or EITC - gives people who would qualify for welfare an incentive to go to work instead. There's a federal credit, and one offered at the state level too. But the state credit was reduced last year in a budget-cutting move.
The reduced tax credit allows families who qualify to claim 6-percent of the federal earned income credit on their 2012 state taxes. In the past, families could claim 20-percent.
Judy Putnam is with the Michigan League for Human Services; a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group. She says the tax credits boost the economy because poor families spend the money right away.
"Whereas a business or an upper-income tax payer you know getting tax breaks they don’t automatically go and spend that money,” Putnam said.
The organization has published a report it hopes will convince Republicans to restore the earned income tax credit. The report outlines the legislative districts with the most residents affected by the change.
Here's the breakdown by state senator's district; while another set here break the data down by state representatives.
“We want to make sure that lawmakers understand what this vote to cut the EITC really means in their own backyards,” Putnam said.
The league hopes this report and other efforts will convince lawmakers to restore the credit.
Families won't notice the reduction until they file their taxes next year.
