There was chaos at the Capitol Thursday as the legislature looked to push through a major tax relief and economic development bill. This single bill would repeal the retirement tax, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, approve $180 checks for tax payers and establish major deposits in the state’s economic development SOAR Fund.
It would also block the automatic income tax rollback expected to go into effect later this year.
The vote in the House was fast and chaotic while the vote in the Senate was skipped altogether.
“If they are frustrated that our seniors are going to get an average of $1,000 back in their pockets, then I don’t know what to tell them,” said Rep. Abraham Aiyash, a Democrat from Hamtramck.
The scene after five hours of waiting on the House floor to vote was loud as several GOP Representatives yelled and shouted down the vote as the Democrats in charge pushed through floor debates and went right to a vote.
“None of the policies that these Democrats are bringing to the floor are getting any due, " said Rep. Bryan Posthumus, a Republican from Kent County. “There’s no conversation, there’s no discussion, there’s no transparency, nothing.”
“There’s certainly no secrets of surprises when the conference report was published yesterday, so it was all there,” said Speaker of the House Joe Tate. “It was all out publicly for people to read.”
The massive tax relief and economic development bill passed by the slimmest of margins, even with one Democrat, Rep. Dylan Wegela saying ‘no’ and Republican Rep. Mike Mueller voting ‘yes.’
But the vote wasn’t what spurned the Republicans the most.
“Who cares if they told us we weren’t going to be allowed to speak. They didn’t allow us to debate a bill on the floor of the House of Representatives,” said Rep. Andrew Fink, Republican from Hillsdale. “So if they tell us beforehand or not, that’s the result.”
The bill just needed to pass the House. In the Senate, it would need two thirds majority to take immediate effect. Without immediate effect, the $180 checks wouldn’t go out, the EITC wouldn’t apply to this year and the income tax rollback would happen.
“I fully expect the Senate to refrain from giving immediate effect,” said Posthumus. “But I can’t speak for the Senate.”
The Senate never got to a vote. While the Democrats were off the floor in caucus, Republicans pulled a move to adjourn the session without them.
“You know, there are always things that people can do to manipulate the rules,” said Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks. “Or to play around things to avoid taking a position.”
Now the vote is pushed to Tuesday at the earliest, delaying action on the bills.
“That’s the thing the Republicans just blocked, for more days by walking away from their job,” said Brinks.
The games played in both chambers by both parties are not a good sign for bipartisanship going forward, just a month into the legislature.
“There will be a response,” said Brinks. “Exactly what it looks like? We’ll find out.”
