Republican Governor Rick Snyder will not get the support of GOP Attorney General Bill Schuette for the sales tax hike to fix Michigan roads.
The May 5th ballot proposal increases the sales tax from 6% to 7%.
Schuette labels the measure a $1.9 billion “Christmas tree tax hike” saying Proposal One has more pot holes than some of Michigan’s roads. Just the kind of rhetoric opponents of the governor’s proposal can use to kill it.
The Attorney General’s opposition comes during the same week that the Michigan Chamber of Commerce decided to remain neutral on the issue and the 25,000 member Michigan Realtors Association decided not to take a position.
Former House Republican Speaker Jase Bolger has come out with his endorsement of Proposal One while challenging the Attorney General to come up with budget cuts to fix the roads if the ballot proposal fails. However, Schuette refused.
House Democratic leader Tim Greimel supports the sales tax hike and says at the end of the day voters will not base their vote on what any elected official thinks.
Schuette’s critics could argue that he is voting no on the sales tax hike because he might run for governor some day. But Schuette says this is about policy and he is not pandering for votes.