Should we tax pensions? Your opinion.

[Gene Clem]

We have heard a lot about whether to tax pension income on the Michigan income tax.  This was included in Gov. Snyder's budget proposal for the next two years. 

 

Our state senators and representatives have many tough choices to make and are reaching out to friends for advise.  They are asking Tea Party members all across the state what they are thinking.

 

This is your chance to voice your opinion.  Please go to the poll I constructed on google/docs and vote your opinion, yea or nay!  Then post your opinion on this forum.

 

If this works out well, we will forward the results to our reps in the SW MI area and the Tea Parties in other areas of the state.

 

Now, don't feel like some genius if you discover that you can vote more than once; just don't bother.  This is not a scientific survey, just a sense of where the folks in SW MI are at this point in time.

 

(Click Here to Vote)

[Michael A Green]

I would not have a problem with my pension being taxed(I am retired) if we had a level playing field.   I'm not about to give up my pension money willingly for tax purposes while public sector union employee's and their union bosses continue to rape taxpayer's through extortion.   Govenor Snyder needs to follow the example of Wisconsin Govenor Walker in putting a stop to this.  Senator Nof's is biased and of no help to in this issue because he was  a former State Plolice Officer for Michigan.

[Don Anderson]

Everyone needs to pay!  Current tax laws in Michigan are totally antiquated and need to be revised and we must be realistic on taxes.  Michigan is extreme financial difficulty which should have been handled years ago!

[James Lefler]

No.  New.  Taxes.

[Chuck Gibson]

I would not have a problem with taxing pensions if the state first addresses the financial abuses in the state agencies, the universities and the students who are getting millions of our tax dollars in ABT cards they are not entitled to.  We need a forensic audit of all state agencies and institutions that receive taxpayer dollars.  In addition, we had a period of 15 years when illegals could get a voter registration card simply by showing a driver's license.  Secretary of State Ruth Johnson promised to address this situation during the campaign.  We are spending millions in waste, fraud and inefficiency.  When Governor Snyder addresses this issue and makes the hard choices in these areas, if he can then legitimately show why we need to tax pensions, I would have no objection.  Until then, it would appear the Governor is simply trying to shift taxes rather than address the true problem areas. Democrats did this for years.  We do not need democrat light!  Chuck Gibson

[David Stevens]

First,we are taxed to death now.  Anyone clicks yes is someone who's on welfare and pays no taxes so they want everyone taxed so they can suck more of the life blood out of everyone else. I sat down and fgured how much of my  income goes to taxes, 64% so if you think I want to add another tax think again.

Second, my social security has already been taxed so I shouldn't even be paying a federal tax but thanks to Clinton (a democrat) I'm paying twice.  Those who think Snyder is a republican think again, he's a RINO. He is copying Obama in how he is taking away state rights but Snyder is taking away local rights.  HB 4306 is a good example of taking away local rights.

[John C. Schneider]

I think the question is worded incorrectly. It should read, "Do you feel taxing pensions is necessary to help solve Michigan's financial crisis." I certainly don't "favor" it, but am willing to share in the burden if it is absolutely necessary, providing it is applied equitably across the board. That means no one is exempt, and it is on a sliding scale based on the amount of the pension. There should also be a provision that restores the tax-exempt status of pensions, when the State finances recover to a predetermined level.

[Ron Gelesko]

Taxes need to be reduced dramatically.  Having said that ... any taxes that are administered, must be done IN A MANNER THAT IS FAIR AND EQUAL TO ALL.  If INCOME above certain levels must be taxed, then it shouldn't matter where that INCOME originates.  Excluding income from public pensions amounts to UNEQUAL taxation.  

Americans are increasingly UPSET about taxes; Americans are increasingly IRATE about the inequalities associated with these taxes.  

[Bruce Barlond]

Pensions must no longer be exempt from the Michigan income tax.  I think it rights a wrong that was perpetrated on Michiganders years ago that must be done away with now.  I think we need to start taxing all income at the same rate. 

[David Stevens]

One more little detail, all this talk of going after government workers is a smoke screen not wanting to deal with issues like the illegal alien problem. Most of Michigan workers already have 403's, the teachers pay into the retirement system and as they pay the the elected officials spent it not that it's empty they are complaining.  As a teacher I would have preferred not to pay into it just like I would have preferred not to pay into SSI.  If I could have put that money into a 403 I would have control over it and when I die I could leave it to my son, not the state.

[David Stevens]

So when you retire and are collecting social security you want it to be taxed a second time? Wheres the logic in that?

Bruce Barlond said:

Pensions must no longer be exempt from the Michigan income tax.  I think it rights a wrong that was perpetrated on Michiganders years ago that must be done away with now.  I think we need to start taxing all income at the same rate. 

[David Stevens]

What is with people and their socialistic attitudes? Why the heck should people who make more be in a different tax bracket? If you start taxing those who don't pay any income tax which is about 50% of the workers out there they wouldn't have to pay more and they shouldn't have to pay more, were a republic not a dictatorship.  This is why I'm more then likely quitting the Tea Party, most in the Tea Party are just getting involved in politics and the only reason they are is it's beginning to affect their lives. Before they could care less what happened to anyone else.  Most in the Tea Party will quit being involved as soon as it doesn't affect their life anymore. 

People are yelling and screaming about government workers now, well I got news for you this didn't just happen yesterday this has been going on longer then most of you have been alive, where were you 5 or even 2 years ago?

Ron Gelesko said:

Taxes need to be reduced dramatically.  Having said that ... any taxes that are administered, must be done IN A MANNER THAT IS FAIR AND EQUAL TO ALL.  If INCOME above certain levels must be taxed, then it shouldn't matter where that INCOME originates.  Excluding income from public pensions amounts to UNEQUAL taxation.  

Americans are increasingly UPSET about taxes; Americans are increasingly IRATE about the inequalities associated with these taxes.  

[David Stevens]

Heres another good example of someone who watches TV and listens to media crap.  My son works for the state and there is no union, he has a 403 not government.  I have yet to hear anyone yell and scream about judges and the state police, why because the news media doesn't say anything and most people don't do their own digging they listen either to others or the media.  Judges, collect a big percentage of their yearly pay.  State Police on average with benefits make $130,000.00/year.  They don't pay into  social security either, they are exempted.  But they do collect a very large retirement benefit with all the trimmings.  Yea in some states government workers do great but do your home work Michigan isn't one of them.  Computer programmers for the state make way less then in the private sector.  Snyder gave all his cronies a 25% pay increase, why isn't anyone yelling and screaming about that?  Why aren't we dealing with unpopular but expensive issues like illegal aliens?  Because Snyder won't touch it because it isn't PC.

Michael A Green said:

I would not have a problem with my pension being taxed(I am retired) if we had a level playing field.   I'm not about to give up my pension money willingly for tax purposes while public sector union employee's and their union bosses continue to rape taxpayer's through extortion.   Govenor Snyder needs to follow the example of Wisconsin Govenor Walker in putting a stop to this.  Senator Nof's is biased and of no help to in this issue because he was  a former State Plolice Officer for Michigan.