Michigan has a problem and it isn't going away. Businesses are leaving, unemployment is high, and the state wants to maintain its level of spending.
Today, it was suggested that the gasoline taxes might be raised since they are low. This chart appeared in The Detroit News:
At 19-cents per gallon, Michigan gasoline is clearly taxed modestly.
Okay, now let's add in the remainder of the taxes... including state sales taxes.
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Oh, different story. It's those other state taxes that are applied to gasoline... yes, Federal too, but all states have that... that add just a "few more cents" per gallon.
Now that we've been honest, let me say that I agree that this is the least painful way to address the State's unwillingness to lower spending... in the absence of becoming more efficient and effective.