Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to this month’s edition of my e-newsletter. The new Legislature was recently sworn in at our state Capitol, and it is an honor to serve the residents of the 9th Senate District as your voice in the Michigan Senate. I am eager to get to work as we begin the 102nd Legislature and will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to tackle the tough issues that will help lower the cost of living, help families get ahead, and build a brighter future for all who call Michigan home. I will serve as minority vice chair of the Senate Committee on Health Policy and as a member of the committees on Regulatory Affairs and Economic and Community Development.

As always, I welcome your feedback on current issues facing Michigan or in the Greater Rochester Area, Troy, Sterling Heights and Utica communities. Constituent feedback is vital as I represent our community in Lansing. If you are experiencing a problem with one of our state government agencies, my office is always available to assist with finding a solution. I respect your opinion and will always do my best to make myself available and accessible to you.

Please take a moment to visit my website, call my office at 517-373-0994 or send me an email. If you have any questions, concerns or opinions on what is happening, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Michael Webber
State Senator
9th District

No appointment is necessary to attend. Michigan’s 9th Senate District includes the cities of Rochester, Rochester Hills, Troy, and Utica along with parts of Oakland Township, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights.

As we begin the new year, I appreciate the governor’s call to work on a bipartisan basis to lower the cost of living for Michigan families. It is important to promote policies that will help Michigan’s economy by supporting small businesses and the employees who depend on them.

Parents, students, employers and employees in our district are anxious about the high cost of living. They are frustrated and they fear what this year will bring. Job providers need certainty and consistency from state government. Parents need to be empowered in their kids’ education.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature and with the governor on passing a balanced state budget that uses taxpayer dollars wisely. We must make smart investments in our infrastructure, fix local roads and bridges, and protect our Great Lakes.

While the road ahead remains challenging, I will work hard to achieve positive results for Michigan families and the residents of my district.

In 2011, the Legislature and former Gov. Rick Snyder undertook the largest overhaul of Michigan’s tax system in many years, including changes to the way retirement income is taxed. Previously, retirees receiving a public pension paid no tax on that retirement income, while those receiving income from private pensions or other retirement income such as a 401(k) were subject to the state’s income tax.

The Michigan Senate passed Senate Bill 1, which would only repeal taxes on pensions. Income from other retirement sources such as a 401(k) or IRA will still be subject to Michigan’s income tax. I supported SB 1; however, I do believe all retirement income needs to be treated the same and be excluded from the states’ income tax, not just individuals with pensions. I voted yes on an amendment that would do just that, however, this was not supported by the Democrat-controlled Senate.

I personally offered an amendment to improve the bill further by lowering the state’s income tax rate from 4.25% to 4.05% as required under the 2015 Road Funding package when state revenues grow higher than the rate of inflation. This amendment was also not supported by the Senate Democrats.

SB 1 is now before the Michigan House for further consideration.

Senate Bill 3 would provide at least $3,000 in relief to over 700,000 Michigan families. At a time of historic inflation and sky-high energy prices, Michigan’s families are in dire need of financial relief, and this legislation will help address this. The bill would increase the state’s EITC from 6% to 30% of the federal EITC beginning with the 2022 tax year. Taxpayers would not actually claim the extra 24% for the 2022 tax year on their tax returns. Instead, for the 2022 tax year, the state would figure the amount owed to the taxpayer that is above the current 6% and provide that credit as a tax refund.

On average, each household would receive an additional $600 per year with this increase. This would provide much-needed relief to Michigan families and our most vulnerable. That is why I joined my colleagues to support SB 3 during its passage on January 26th.

I welcome this change from Senate Democrats and Gov. Whitmer, who last year opposed and then vetoed a bipartisan bill to increase the EITC from 6% to 20%. I am encouraged by this change, and I am happy that Democrats are on board to provide tax relief to Michigan families.

SB 3 is now before the Michigan House for further consideration.

I was sworn in on Jan. 11 during a ceremony at the Capitol with Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Elizabeth T. Clement administering the oath of office. I was joined on the Senate floor by my wife, Julia, and our son, James; my parents, Bob and Nancy Webber; and my brothers, Matt Webber and Tim Webber.

I reaffirmed my oath of office on Jan. 20, during a ceremonial swearing-in service within the 9th Senate District at the Troy Community Center. Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren administered the oath.

It is an honor to serve the great people of this diverse district. My staff and I will work hard every day to provide great service and be accessible to the residents of the 9th Senate District.

Every January, state and economic leaders come together to offer their economic and state tax revenue projections at the first of at least two annual Consensus Revenue Estimating Conferences. The annual conferences, held during the second week of January and the third week in May, are required by statute.

The January 2023 conference once again revealed that the state of Michigan is bringing in more tax revenue than economists projected in May of last year. Responsible management of taxpayer dollars has led to a strong state budget outlook.

The state’s revenue forecast is expected to trigger a permanent individual income tax rate reduction as part of 2015 legislation that I supported in the Michigan House. The trigger would take effect for the 2023 tax year and could possibly lead to an individual income tax rate reduction from 4.25% to 4.05%, according to the nonpartisan House and Senate fiscal agencies.

I welcomed Dr. Gary Druskovich, regional president and CEO of Ascension MetroWest, as my guest for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2023 State of the State address. Ascension Providence Hospitals’ MetroWest region includes campuses in Rochester, Novi and Southfield.