House Republican Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, on Tuesday criticized Democrats’ ongoing quest to raise taxes and make life less affordable for Michiganders after the governor signed laws to subject more food and drink products to sales and use taxes.

“Democrats are yet again forcing a tax hike on the people and small businesses of Michigan,” said Hall, R-Richland Township. “They already jacked up all kinds of burdensome state fees. Now this confusing tax increase on food and drink will increase costs on businesses like coffee shops and movie theaters and cause higher prices for customers. Next, the Democrats plan to raise the income tax because they don’t have enough funds to pay for their entire wasteful budget.

“Taking more money from Michigan taxpayers and tying down small businesses with red tape will make life less affordable for the people of our state, but the Democrats clearly prefer to raise taxes rather than relieving the rising costs of living for Michiganders.”

House Bills 4377 and 4378 create an incredibly complex new standard that will now tax many food and drink items that were previously exempt from sales and use taxes. The new rules will raise prices for consumers and force small businesses to track seemingly arbitrary distinctions, such as when napkins and utensils are available for food or when tea is sweetened or unsweetened.

The new food tax increase comes after Democrats just recently increased other state fees to help pay for their $82 billion state budget. On top of the fee increases, Democrats also plan to raise the income tax in January in order to pay for all the wasteful spending in their budget.