The government nickels and dimes you to fund government growth, and when it comes to taxpayer-funded government programs, you never get what you paid for.

I introduced Senate Bills 986 and 987 to permanently eliminate the sales and use taxes you pay on your utility bills. These bills will help provide the financial relief Michiganders need as we continue to see prices rise everywhere from gas pumps to grocery store shelves.

While these bills will provide tax relief, they also serve to end government profiteering off regulated services. In Michigan, utilities are regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), a three-person panel of government appointees. If a utility company wants to raise customers’ rates, it must first go before the MPSC to explain its case for increasing ratepayers’ bills. Our government has a direct role in regulating utilities and controlling the prices you pay, and that presents a threat to the people of our state.

The government has a vested interest in maximizing its tax revenue, and when it can do so by approving utility rate hikes, it creates a conflict of interest that places government interests over people. Taxpayer dollars are your dollars, but the government views them as revenue.

I will always work to lower your tax burden so you can keep more of your resources at home where they will serve you best. My plan to eliminate the sales and use taxes on utilities is awaiting a hearing before moving forward.

Your voice is critical, and your input is necessary for me to do my job in Lansing. As your state senator, I want to know your thoughts on my plan to eliminate the sales and use taxes on utilities. Please fill out the form below. I look forward to reading your thoughts.