2005 Senate Bill 453 / 2006 Public Act 372

Establish state earned income tax credit

Introduced in the Senate

May 3, 2005

Introduced by Sen. Nancy Cassis (R-15)

To establish a state earned income tax credit (EITC), which would provide a refundable credit (meaning that a check is sent to the taxpayer for the balance of the credit exceeding taxes owed) equal to 10 percent of the federal EITC. The federal EITC is a refundable credit (or “reverse income tax”) for low income workers. For a person with two or more children, it begins to phase out at an income level of $13,549 and ends at $34,458. These amounts are considerably less for those with no children. The size of the credit runs between $390 and $4,300 depending on tax status (2004 tax year figures).

Referred to the Committee on Finance

Aug. 30, 2006

Amendment offered

To tie-bar the bill to Senate Bill 1364 and House Bill 6213, meaning this bill cannot become law unless those ones do also. These are the other bills in the "deal" made to get Democrats to approve immediate effect on the minimum wage "clean-up" legislation. The amendment was to a substitute adopted on a voice vote which increases the EITC from 10 percent of the federal level to 20 percent, phased in over two years.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)

To establish a state earned income tax credit (EITC), which would provide a refundable income tax credit equal to 20 percent of the federal EITC in 2009, and 10 percent in 2008. The federal EITC is a refundable tax credit (or “reverse income tax”) for low income workers. The bill was part of a "deal" between legislative Republicans and Democrats to get the latter's support for immediate effect on <a href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/2006-HB-6213">House Bill 6213</a>, which corrects unintended consequences of a bill that increased mandated private sector minimum wage levels, and in the process upset the balance of a law mandating that employers in certain industries must pay overtime rates for shifts lasting longer than eight hours.

Received in the House

Aug. 30, 2006

Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Motion by Rep. Chris Ward (R-66)

That the bill be placed on the order of Third Reading of Bills.

The motion passed 100 to 2 (details)

Sept. 5, 2006

Passed in the House 103 to 3 (details)

To establish a state earned income tax credit (EITC), which would provide a refundable income tax credit equal to 20 percent of the federal EITC in 2009, and 10 percent in 2008. The federal EITC is a refundable tax credit (or “reverse income tax”) for low income workers. The bill was part of a "deal" between legislative Republicans and Democrats to get the latter's support for immediate effect on <a href="http://www.michiganvotes.org/2006-HB-6213">House Bill 6213</a>, which corrects unintended consequences of a bill that increased mandated private sector minimum wage levels, and in the process upset the balance of a law mandating that employers in certain industries must pay overtime rates for shifts lasting longer than eight hours.

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Sept. 22, 2006