Voters again say they support EITC
For the second time in two weeks, polling shows that voters oppose the elimination of the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit, which helps lower-income working families make ends meet.
Last week, a poll commissioned by the League showed strong voter support for the Michigan EITC. Now, a Detroit Free Press/WXYZ poll echoes those results in a poll about Gov. Snyder’s tax and budget plan. The results show opposition to taxing pensions, but even greater opposition to making the poor pay for business tax cuts.
According to Free Press writers Chris Christoff and Dawson Bell:
“The poll found that while most oppose Snyder’s pension tax plan, an even larger percentage – 58 percent – want to keep a tax credit for low-income workers that Snyder would scrap.
Only 36 percent favor eliminating the Earned Income Tax Credit, which gives about 700,000 low-income Michigan families an average $432 credit on their state income taxes. It is 20 percent of their federal Earned Income Tax Credit.”
Another news story, by Brian O’Connor in the Detroit News last weekend, examined the impact of the governor’s tax plan on various income groups. It concluded, “If you’re poor or old, get ready to pay more under Gov. Rick Snyder’s tax plan. But if you’re a working middle-class or even wealthy family with kids, relax: The governor’s tax fairness plan barely lays a finger on you.”
See examples of how the tax plans affect different taxpayers.
Despite big increases to individual taxpayers, business writer Rick Haglund quotes the Department of Treasury as saying only 41,000 of 136,000 businesses that now pay the MBT will pay any tax at all.
It’s wrong to pay for business tax cuts by shifting the burden to seniors, vulnerable kids and families. Despite this large tax increase on individuals, the governor doesn’t plan to use any of the revenue to preserve essential services. (See the League’s fact sheet: The Big Tax Shift.) For more information on the EITC, go to www.saveoureitc.com to see how you can help save this important tax credit for lower-income families.
Please contact your lawmakers now to let them know that it’s the wrong priority for Michigan to make poor working families pay for business tax cuts!
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