Thank you for taking the time to read my latest newsletter!

Senator Jim Runestad
Serving the 15th State Senate District

A promise was made to Michigan’s people that the increase to the state’s income tax under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm would be temporary. That promise was not kept by the legislators who were in office at the time. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I have been leading efforts to cut taxes for Michigan’s seniors and hardworking families and businesses. With surging inflation and relative declining wages, the time is now.

Last year, the committee approved Senate Bill 467 to reduce taxes across the board for all seniors, both working and retired, and the Senate voted to approve a child tax credit proposal for working families, Senate Bill 378. This year, the committee has already approved Senate Bill 768 to lower the state’s personal and corporate income tax rates to 3.9% from 4.25% and 6%, respectively.

Until recently, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has vetoed or threatened vetoes for any legislation that cut taxes. Now, she is recommending narrow tax relief, including an expansion of the earned income tax credit and a repeal of the tax on retired senior income.

I’m supporting broad-based tax reform for all Michiganders, including tax relief for all seniors, not just retired seniors. Fourteen states cut taxes last year, and Michigan will continue losing families and businesses unless we make good on our promises and provide meaningful tax relief across-the-board.

I reacted to the governor’s annual State of the State address, talking about energy costs and tax relief, on WXYZ-TV on Jan. 27. Click here to watch their coverage.

I addressed the recent dismissal of University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel and his lucrative deal, as well as current administrative costs at publicly funded universities across Michigan during the Senate session on Jan. 26. Click here to see my remarks.

I addressed my colleagues in the Senate regarding parental rights in education, and recent pushes to silence them, during session on Jan. 27. Click here to see my speech.

This past December, the U.S. Supreme Court held that OSHA does not have the power to mandate the vaccination of 84 million Americans simply because they work for employers with more than 100 employees.

With respect to the interim rule mandating the vaccination of health care employees, the Supreme Court reached a different conclusion. In fact, the Supreme Court held that the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not exceed his statutory authority by requiring that facilities ensure their employees are vaccinated against COVID-19 to remain eligible for Medicare and Medicaid dollars. This means that the rule will remain enforceable. And while the litigation may technically continue at the lower courts, since the Supreme Court has already found that the administration’s arguments were compelling, it is unlikely to change the fact that this mandate will remain in force.

OSHA case: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21a244_hgci.pdf
CMS case: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21a240_d18e.pdf

I joined Michigan's Big Show with Michael Patrick Shiels to discuss the governor's decision to place COVID-19 infected patients in nursing homes without proper precautions. Click here to listen to the interview.

On Dec. 23, two days before Christmas, a bill I passed out of the Senate Finance Committee was signed into law to help smaller state businesses by eliminating their requirement to file taxes on their personal business property. Michigan’s Personal Property Tax is an invasive tax that requires businesses to report and pay taxes on all their real property. This legislation will help small businesses by eliminating the tax for any business with less than $180,000 in real property.

I also passed legislation that was signed into law to allow businesses that are required to pay personal property tax to be able to record that property as located at its original place of business, rather than being required to list all the individual residences where employees may be working from home with business computers or other equipment.

This legislation was passed and signed into law in the wake of a record number of vetoes against our Michigan businesses this last year, including legislation I supported as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee that would have reduced property tax payments for businesses who were forced to close during the pandemic.

I felt compelled to address the absurdity of mask mandates for two-year-olds — all while illegal immigrants are streaming across our southern border, untested and unvaccinated, in the greatest border crisis our nation has ever seen. Click here to see the video of my speech on the floor of the state Senate.

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