Bolger, state House GOP stand firm against repealing tax on pensions
By Jake Neher
State House Republicans on Thursday formally unveiled their priorities for 2014 - and an election-year tax cut is near the top of the list.
The big question is, who will get that tax cut?
Democrats say it should be retirees. A couple years ago, the state stopped allowing people to exempt pension income from their taxes. Democrats say that policy unfairly burdened retirees and needs to go.
But state House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) says he's not open to that idea.
"If you're going to tax income, all income should be treated the same," Bolger said.
"I would be very resistant to undoing the reform we did last time. That is a reform that makes our tax system more fair."
Many Republicans in Lansing favor reducing the state's income tax rate.
Bolger says improving Michigan's roads and bridges and overhauling the state's controversial auto no-fault law are also among legislative priorities in the new year.
