Tuesday, July 10, 2007

The Governor's "Tax Hike Shopping List"

Thanks to Ken Braun at the Mackinac Center for calling attention to this: (www.mackinac.org)

The Treasury Department has put out a publication called an "Appendix on Tax Credits, Deductions, and Exemptions". What it really is, is a listing of things not currently taxed that could be taxed so as to bring more revenue in to the state. In other words, "we want to soak the taxpayers even more, so let's consider these ideas..." Here are some of the things your governor would consider taxing you for and the estimated revenue she would take (from your wallet):
Certain agricultural products - $12.9 million
Brownfield development zones - $29.4 million
Credit for contribution to community foundations - $755 thousand
Exemptions for employers who pay unemployment, social security and workers comp - $155 million
Credit for donating a car to charity - $130 thousand
Deductions for employers paying for health care for employees - $31 million
Credit for donations to homeless shelters, higher ed and historic preservation - $4 million
Credit for expanding your business, hiring new workers - $62 million
Taxing federally exempted non-profits - $109 million
Credit for purchasing anti-pollution equipment - $44 million
Exemption for church construction or cars used by religious organizations - $7.5 million
...I could go on and on, but as you can see, this report, http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ExecBudgAppenFY2007_164822_7.pdf puts EVERYTHING up for consideration as a place to get more tax revenue. Nothing is sacred, not even the sacred.


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