LANSING, MI-- State House Democrats want to offer universal tuition-free community college as part of a list of priorities for 2018.
The Democrats would pay for their plans by shifting from a flat-rate state income tax to a graduated tax that would have wealthier people pay more.
State Representative Christine Grieg is the Number Two Democrat in the House.
“When we talk about funding, we’re talking about our values, and that starts with a fair tax structure,” she says. “We have to make sure everyone’s paying their fair share, and when you even out that tax structure and you close corporate loopholes, you will generate revenue to take care of our priorities.”
Estimates suggest that a graduated state income tax would generate 870 million dollars a year.
With Republicans in control, most of the Democrats’ plans won’t get a hearing. But they function as a counter-point to the GOP in an election year.