State Representative Aric Nesbitt says nobody like raising taxes, but he says the citizens of Michigan will have a voice in deciding how to pay for road repairs.
In Tuesday night's State of the State Address, Governor Rick Snyder urged voters to approve a ballot initiative to raise the state sales tax. Nesbitt says he is trying to provide information to his constituents about the proposal on the May ballot. But he says the question facing voters will be whether to raise the sales tax by 1% along with some other changes, or find the money in a state budget. But Nesbitt says the general fund faces a shortfall right now.
Asked how he would like to address that shortfall, Nesbitt says protecting education funding is a top priority for lawmakers. He says it's important to move quickly to avoid larger cuts. Nesbitt says tax credits promised under the Engler and Granholm administrations are now coming due and more are being collected because of the improving economy.
Snyder called for lawmakers to continue discussion of expanding the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. Nesbitt says he believes that no one should be discriminated against. but he wants to examine the impact on businesses before agreeing to support expansion.