State Rep. Joe Bellino, R-Monroe, today released the following statement criticizing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new call for a sales tax pause after she previously vetoed three bipartisan tax relief plans passed by the Legislature:

“After vetoing three separate bipartisan tax relief plans approved by the Legislature over the past year that would have brought necessary and broad relief to Michiganders throughout the state, the governor proved she was not working for the people. The governor’s inability to work with the Legislature has continuously burdened Michigan’s hard-working families, individuals and seniors. Today’s ‘announcement’ is nothing more than an election year stunt. Meanwhile, folks in our community have been struggling for months at this point. Due to record high inflation and the ongoing recession, essentials such as groceries and gas cost too much for my neighbors. We’ve had the ability to provide Michiganders necessary and wide-ranging relief to return some of their hard-earned money on three separate occasions, but the governor went AWOL. After our determined and tireless work in the Legislature to help the people of our great state, I am perplexed the governor continues to turn her back on Michigan citizens.”

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• Senate Bill 768 would have reduced the income tax from 4.25 percent to 3.9 percent while providing a nonrefundable child tax credit of $500 for each qualified dependent. The bill was introduced in December 2021, and gathered bipartisan support through the Legislature, only to be vetoed by the governor.
• House Bill 5570 would have temporarily suspended the state’s 27-cent-per-gallon gas tax. The bill was introduced in November 2021, and gathered bipartisan support through the Legislature, only to be vetoed by the governor.
• House Bill 4568, along with a tie-barred Senate bill made up a $2.5 billion tax relief plan that would have returned money to taxpayers by cutting their income tax rate. The bill was introduced in March 2021, and gathered bipartisan support through the Legislature, only to be vetoed by the governor.