MICHIGAN — Democrats in the Michigan legislature introduced legislation to restore Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) after it was gutted in 2011 by then-Governor Rick Snyder. Titled the Working Families Tax Credit, the legislation would deliver an average refund of $3,000 to over 700,000 households when they file their taxes this year.
Bills were introduced in both Chambers with slight differences. In the House, Representative Nate Shannon introduced House Bill 4002 and Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet introduced Senate Bill 3.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed support for the Working Families Tax Credit at a press conference this month, “This is our opportunity to do right by the people of Michigan. This is an opportunity for us to show that the things we said we’re going to do here? We’re going to get them done,” she stated.
In addition to members of the legislature and Governor Whitmer, other organizations have come out in favor of the credit. Monique Stanton, the President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, wrote in an Op-Ed published by Michigan Advance, “when paired with the federal EITC, increasing the state EITC to 30% of the federal credit for Michigan’s working families would deliver an average combined tax refund of more than $3,200 to over 730,000 families.”
Stanton also noted that, “An analysis by the national Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that the increase would lift 32,640 people — including 16,800 children — above the poverty threshold.”
