State Rep. Joe Bellino of Monroe today issued the following statement after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her state budget proposal:

“There’s a lot in the governor’s budget proposal that concerns me, but I’m a positive guy and I’m starting with the good news. I am glad to see the governor working toward fulfilling her campaign promise to repeal Michigan’s pension tax.

“I am proud to sponsor legislation in the state House that would repeal the pension tax changes of 2011. We’re already making progress, with the proposal receiving bipartisan support in a recent vote from the House Tax Policy Committee. It’s just step one, but I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to get this to the finish line.

“Michigan should not be balancing its state government budget on the backs of retirees. They’ve paid taxes their whole lives, and they deserve some relief in retirement. I will work to make sure a repeal of the pension tax is reflected in our next budget.

“Also, we should not be fixing our roads at the expense of those who can least afford it – and raising the gas tax by an astronomical 45 cents per gallon would harm families across Michigan. It would add an additional $6.75 in taxes alone every time a family fills up a vehicle with a 15-gallon tank. That isn’t going to help the hard-working people of Michigan.”

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