(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/08/2024) As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer touted in Utica Monday the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) with Rep. Nate Shannon (D-Sterling Heights), a non-profit think tank proposed another $1 billion to a similar program called the Working Parents Tax Cut after running polling showing strong support.
Michigan Future's polling data shows 76 percent of Michiganders support a $5,000-per-child tax credit for kids up to three and a $2,500 credit for kids between three and six. On top of that, there would be a $10,000 credit for families making about $64,000 per year. There would be a limit of three children per family.
"This support is almost as strong among people who are going to be non-recipients, as recipients, and a strong preference to provide support that we've been urging through providing cash through a tax code rather than through programs," said Michigan Future Inc, President Lou Glazer.
Glazer said he hoped to see bills introduced in the House and Senate by the end of the week regarding the tax credit, which could be extended to more than 250,000 Michigan children.
He said they were hoping to make the case for the tax cut as decisions were being made for the 2025 budget over the next eight weeks. He said it would help put money in the pockets of more families in the state than are currently being served by state tax cuts.
"This is a powerful way of helping those people," Glazer said.
The March 5-10 poll run by Impact Research of 500 Michigan voters was done online and through a text-to-web survey.
The plan comes as the state government could be using up the remaining one-time COVID-19 pandemic funds and the previously inflated budget numbers were coming down to a level of increase previously predicted.
Whitmer was in Utica today with Shannon talking about the tax credits she already signed into law, including the expanded EITC, which she rebranded as the "Working Families Tax Credit." She is heralding the legislation as putting $3,150 in the pockets of 700,000 families with the benefits impacting nearly 1 million kids.
