GOP bill would raise taxes on working poor

by: danscripps

Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 13:37:54 PM EDT

In addition, while calling herself "a strong advocate of the EITC," Cassis continued to defend the bill by questioning "how responsible it would be to remove $132 million from the general fund when the budget faces a potential $1.8 billion shortfall."  Coming from the very same Nancy Cassis who earlier this year proposed a $600 million tax cut for businesses, the hypocrisy on "responsibility" is a bit hard to take.  It's not about responsibility, it's about Republican priorities: Tax cuts for businesses.  Tax increases for the working poor.

For some background, the Earned Income Tax Credit was passed last year as part of the debate over increasing Michigan's minimum wage.  If you remember, the Republicans in the legislature approved a minimum wage increase in a cynical attempt to kill a Raise the Wage ballot initiative that threatened to boost Democratic turnout in the November elections.  But in their haste, they messed it up, and Governor Granholm was able to get the EITC passed as part of a deal to correct the Republican mistakes in the original legislation.

Now, however, Sen. Cassis and her Senate colleagues are proposing to break their end of the deal (though when Cassis was asked by MIRS if her bill reneges on the agreement, she responded with the classic line "Not really").  There's a word for people who break their promises.  And to lie while hitting Michigan's working poor in this economic climate is shameful.

It's also worth noting that Cassis's top ten campaign contributors include Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of MI/ BCBSM PAC; Singh PAC; DTE Energy Co. PAC; Building Industry Assn. PAC; MI Bankers Assn. PAC/ MI BANK PAC; MI Beer & Wine Wholesalers Assn. PAC; RJ Reynolds MI PAC; MI Credit Union League Action Fund; Auto Dealers of Michigan PAC.  Notably absent from this list of bankers and cigarette companies is the single mother working two jobs to give her children a shot at a better life or the young person just starting out deciding whether to build his or her future in Michigan or somewhere else.

The question isn't whether a tax increase is part of balancing the budget, but whose taxes the Republicans will raise.  Now we know the answer.