Jackson Citizen Patriot Columnist Points Out Mis-truths in Walberg's Tax Rhetoric

In case you missed, Brad Flory called out Tim Walberg for his false rhetoric on taxes in today's Jackson Citizen Patriot column:

Perhaps I am anal-retentive, but I dislike seeing terms like "biggest tax increase in Michigan history" tossed around loosely.

Specifically, the commercial accuses Walberg's opponent, State Sen. Mark Schauer, of supporting Michigan's biggest tax increase ever. It's just not true.

In 1994, Michigan voters increased the sales tax by 50 percent, from 4 to 6 cents on the dollar. Lawmakers primed the pump by passing a 30 percent income-tax increase slated to go into effect if the sales-tax hike failed at the ballot box. For voters, it was a pick-your-poison choice.

Today that sales-tax increase costs Michigan residents about $2.2 billion dollars a year. That's $220 for every man, woman and child in the state.

What Walberg calls the biggest tax increase in state history combines two separate increases passed with Schauer's support in 2007. They were expected to generate a combined $1.6 billion a year, but one tax was repealed before it went into effect.

I don't know if $2.2 billion is the biggest tax increase in Michigan history but I am pretty sure it beats $1.6 billion.

Walberg should know it, too. He was in the Legislature in 1994 when the sales tax was increased as part of Proposal A.

Tim Walberg co-sponsored HJR B in 1993, a resolution to increase the sales tax from 4% to 6%.

Some people might say the $2.2 billion was just a tax shift because property taxes were reduced at the same time.

Others might agree with the Detroit News' description of Proposal A: "A Trojan horse for a tax hike."

Emphasis added