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House District 19
(Click for full district map)
Candidates:
Steve King
District 19 – Livonia
Democrat
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Jennifer Rutkey
District 19 –Livonia
Democrat |
John T. Walsh
District 19 – Livonia
Republican |
Michigan Taxpayers Alliance 2008 Candidate Questionnaire
*Answers in Bold.
Q1. Last year, Governor Granholm and the state legislature increased the state income tax by 12% and increased the state’s main business tax by 22%. These tax increases allowed the state to increase state spending to a record $43.3 billion.
Governor Granholm and lawmakers supporting these tax hikes said that the tax increases were needed to protect critical programs and invest in future growth. A few lawmakers opposed the tax hikes in principle, but voted for them to avoid a budget impasse and a state government shutdown.
If you had to vote today, and the choice were to increase state taxes or watch state government experience a temporary shutdown, how would you vote?
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| Steve King: |
a. Shut down government |
b. Raise taxes |
| Jennifer Rutkey: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| John T. Walsh: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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Q2. State of Michigan employees are the sixth highest paid in the country. Would you support freezing or cutting state government employee salaries or benefits to balance the budget?
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| Steve King: |
a. Yes |
b. No |
| Jennifer Rutkey: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| John T. Walsh: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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Q3. Michigan’s state income tax is a flat 4.35%. Some advocate for a graduated income tax, where higher income citizens pay a higher percent of their income to the state. Do you support a “flat” income tax, where everyone pays the same percent, or a graduated income tax?
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| Steve King: |
a. Flat tax |
b. Graduated tax |
| Jennifer Rutkey: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| John T. Walsh: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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Q4. Under 1993’s Proposal A property tax reform, homeowners’ annual property tax increases are capped at the rate of inflation or 5% (whichever is less) as long as homeowners stay living in their same home. One increasingly common complaint about Proposal A is that the capped property tax increase can occur even if a home declines in value. Would you support amending Proposal A to prohibit a homeowners’ taxes from increasing if their home has lost value, even if such an amendment would result in less government revenue?
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| Steve King: |
a. Support such amendment |
b. Oppose such amendment |
| Jennifer Rutkey: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| John T. Walsh: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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Q5. Repairs and improvements to Michigan’s roads are funded primarily though a tax on gasoline. Some believe that the deteriorating condition of the roads justifies increasing the state’s 36 cents per gallon gas tax, which they argue is a ‘user fee’ for motorists. Other people believe that the state’s 6% sales tax on gasoline, which currently funds education and other state spending, should be dedicated exclusively to road improvements. Do you believe Michigan should increase fuel taxes to fund road improvements/repairs?
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| Steve King: |
a. Increase fuel tax for road improvements |
b. Oppose fuel tax increase |
| Jennifer Rutkey: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| John T. Walsh: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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Q6. Some candidates have been very outspoken and firm in their opposition to increasing state taxes. They have make public, written promises in the form of a pledge against raising taxes. The best known pledge against tax increases is distributed by a national taxpayer organization called Americans for Tax Reform. That pledge allows for revenue-neutral tax shifts and increases in legitimate user fees. Detailed information about the ATR pledge can be found at www.atr.org. Would you be willing to sign a pledge to the voters of the district that you seek to represent that you will not vote to raise taxes if you are elected?
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| Steve King: |
a. Would sign tax pledge |
b. Would not sign pledge |
| Jennifer Rutkey: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| John T. Walsh: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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Q7. Additional comments regarding taxes, spending or your candidacy:
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| Steve King: |
I do not sign pledges, I will be judged by my actions. |
| Jennifer Rutkey: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
| John T. Walsh: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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