Dear friends,
This was a busy week in the Legislature as we took up various packages that will have lasting impacts on working families throughout our state. I wanted to make you aware of two bill packages in particular that I voted in favor of, and to let you know why I thought they were going to benefit you and your family.
On Wednesday, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 748, which would protect the state personal income tax exemption. As a result of the tax plan pushed through Congress at the end of 2017, Michigan taxpayers stood to lose their ability to file personal and dependent exemptions beginning in the next tax year. That could have cost working families to lose out on an estimated $1.5 billion in additional tax income beginning next year. I realize working families throughout our state need tax relief, which is why I was pleased to vote in favor of these bills to make up for the mistakes made in Washington D.C. Moving forward, my Democratic colleagues and I will continue our efforts to make our tax code work better for our state’s working families.
We also voted on legislation on Wednesday that eliminated driver responsibility fees for Michigan drivers. Since their inception in 2003, driver responsibility fees have served the sole purpose of balancing our state’s budget on the backs of our most vulnerable citizens, and I was proud to join my colleagues in putting an end to this repressive system once and for all. Being saddled with these fees can derail a person’s entire life, causing them to lose more than just their driver’s license. I am pleased we could work to allow Michiganders to keep more of their hard-earned money.
As always, please feel free to reach out by phone or by email at RonniePeterson@house.mi.gov if you have any questions about these issues, and check my website to stay up-to-date on what I’m doing in Lansing at Peterson.housedems.com.
Sincerely,
State Rep. Ronnie Peterson