With the cries from constituents relative to
needed road repairs evidently rising above the deep-rooted, election-minded
desire to provide tax relief, at least a couple members of the State House of
Representatives responsible for introducing the House’s income tax rollback
package have made it clear they would like to see funding for road repair take
a precedent over tax reform.
Representative Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw), as well
as House Tax Policy Chairman Jeff Farrington (R-Utica), both sponsors of bills
in the aforementioned income tax reform legislation, were quoted as saying that
road funding is a priority over tax cuts, and that much of their caucus is
beginning to feel the same way.
House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall), when
opining on the same issue, stated that finding a balance among priorities is a
delicate task, citing investment in education, road repairs, and tax reform all
as priorities for the more than $1 billion surplus.
Meanwhile in the Senate, Finance Committee
Chair Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison Township), the sponsor of the Senate’s
version of the income tax rollback, made it clear he will approach the issue
with an open mind. He remarked that even if all $1 billion of the surplus was
spent on road repairs, there would still be a need for more.