(WWJ) Outlining more details of her "Lowering MI Costs" tax proposal, Gov. Whitmer says the plan includes inflation relief checks for all Michigan taxpayers in the amount of $180.
That amount is a little less than the initial estimate of up to $500 that was floated after Whitmer and fellow state Democratic leaders first mentioned the checks on Friday.
"These are dollars right back in your pocket," the governor said. "They will help every taxpayer, including our small business owners get by."
Whitmer said the checks will dwarf what any income tax rollback would bring to taxpayers...but there may be so bad news if you're married.
The Detroit News reports that, under the plan, the refund checks would be issued based on a tax return filed with the state, meaning married couples filing jointly would get a single $180 check, rather than $180 each.
This new information from Whitmer came Monday as she was joined by Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and Speaker of the House Joe Tate to talk about what Democrats say would be the largest tax break in decades for millions of Michiganders.
Along with the checks, Whitmer said the plan rolls back the retirement tax and boosts the Working Families Tax Credit.
“The #1 concern for Michiganders right now is costs,” said Whitmer. “...Getting this done will help people pay the bills and put food on the table as inflation impacts their monthly budgets. I am proud that we are hustling to get this done and deliver real, immediate relief to Michiganders.”
While Democrats have a majority in the legislature in Michigan, they would need some Republican senators to support the plan in order for it to take immediate effect.
House Speaker Joe Tate said he believes some Republicans will go along with the plan. "I am encouraged that this will be bipartisan in nature, because everyone wants to be able to put people first and to provide this tax relief immediately," Tate said.
Among Republicans speaking out against the proposal is State Rep. Donni Steele of Oakland County, who sits on the Appropriations Committee. She said this idea for rebate checks kind of came out of nowhere.
"They were slammed in last week, not there's talk about (the plan) being revamped this week," Steele said. "And I don't think they're going to to through the committee... Actually, anything that we've voted on so far hasn't gone through committee, which is very untransparent."
It's not yet clear when Michiganders could expect to receive the checks. The plan still has to pass both the Michigan House and the Senate.
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