Cut back on Michigan Taxes says Attorney General

Mike Cox, (R) Attorney General of Michigan, had an Op-Ed piece in the Detroit News today, and what he has to say makes TOTAL SENSE!

If we want to stop exporting jobs to Virginia, Tennessee and Texas, then we must change our tax structure now. This imperative is not a matter of Republican or Democratic dogma; rather, it is a matter of survival.

Changing our state’s perception requires bold action. I propose the Legislature repeal the $700 million increase in personal income taxes signed by the governor in 2007 and cut in half the new $2.6 billion Michigan Business Tax (MBT). Those tax increases hurt our product and our perception. After taxes were raised, unemployment went up, more jobs were lost, and more families and college graduates left Michigan.

This combined $2 billion reduction in taxes would deliver a powerful message to job providers and job seekers that our state has fundamentally changed for the better.

My proposal merely seeks to spread benefits of that tax cut to every Michigan business and citizen. This sweeping reduction in taxes would provide a real stimulus to Michigan’s economy immediately. It would throw a desperately needed lifeline to struggling job providers in our state. It would help homeowners and families make ends meet and pay their bills. And overnight it would make Michigan more attractive to companies looking to expand or relocate.

BTW… Mike is considering a run for Governor in 2010…. let’s encourage him!