Michigan Democrats propose union due tax credit
ROYAL OAK, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - A new bill proposed by Stare Rep. Alabas Farhat of Dearborn aims to give tax credits to union members paying dues.
"It's something that workers used to have the right to do," said Ron Bieber, AFL-CIO President.
Beiber said House Bill 4235 gives union workers a tax benefit that was taken away when the Tax Cuts and Job Acts was signed into law by the Trump Administration in 2017.
"In 2017, there was a federal tax law changed that took that away, before that workers could deduct dues they paid to their union," Bieber said.
Bieber said the bill is not political, but rather improves the lives of workers across the state.
"It's gonna make everything better for the workers in Michigan, having their wages improved and their working conditions improved, and a fair shot at a decent life," Bieber said.
"Most of us who work for a living and pay taxes for a living will be paying union dues of everyone in Michigan," said Jamie Roe, a political consultant and founder of Team Roe.
Roe argued that non-union members shouldn't have to flip the bill for union members to get this added benefit. Previously, there was a tax deduction at the federal level, which was not a burden to taxpayers. However, Roe said this new bill places the burden on Michigan taxpayers because it's a tax credit.
"I don't know how that's right and I don't know how that's fair. In fact, it isn't right and it isn't fair," Roe said.
Roe also said this tax credit could be used to fund more pressing issues that the state is facing.
"I think those of us who pay taxes in Michigan would much rather have our taxes going to fixing the damn roads as Governor Whitmer would say or to educate our children or to hire more police officers to keep our streets safe," Roe added.
Meanwhile, Bieber is hopeful now that Democrats have the majority in the State House and Senate that Michigan changes from a Right to Work state to a Workers' Rights state.
"Michigan has an opportunity now with a pro-worker legislature in the majority and a Governor who has workers' backs to do things to restore the balance," he said.
"This will ease the burden on workers as they rejoin their unions now that Right to Work is repealed," Rep. Farhat said.
