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House District 78
(Click for full district map)
Candidates:
Bill Baber
District 78 – Berrien Springs
Republican
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Bruce Hipshear
District 78 – Buchanan
Republican |
Judy Truesdell
District 78 – Niles
Democrat |
Gary Campbell
District 78 – Baroda
Republican |
Sharon Tyler
District 78 – Niles
Republican
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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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| Bill Baber: |
a. Shut down government |
b. Raise taxes |
| Bruce Hipshear: |
a. Shut down government |
b. Raise taxes |
| Judy Truesdell: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Gary Campbell: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Sharon Tyler: |
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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| Carol L. Higgins: |
a. Yes |
b. No |
| Matt Lori: |
a. Yes |
b. No |
| Richard A. Homan: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Monte Bordner: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Rob Sisson: |
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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| Carol L. Higgins: |
a. Flat tax |
b. Graduated tax |
| Matt Lori: |
a. Flat tax |
b. Graduated tax |
| Richard A. Homan: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Monte Bordner: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Rob Sisson: |
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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| Carol L. Higgins: |
a. Support such amendment |
b. Oppose such amendment |
| Matt Lori: |
a. Support such amendment |
b. Oppose such amendment |
| Richard A. Homan: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Monte Bordner: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Rob Sisson: |
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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| Carol L. Higgins: |
a. Increase fuel tax for road improvements |
b. Oppose fuel tax increase |
| Matt Lori: |
a. Increase fuel tax for road improvements |
b. Oppose fuel tax increase |
| Richard A. Homan: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Monte Bordner: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Rob Sisson: |
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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| Carol L. Higgins: |
No Answer |
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| Matt Lori: |
a. Would sign tax pledge |
b. Would not sign pledge |
| Richard A. Homan: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Monte Bordner: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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| Rob Sisson: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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Q7. Additional comments regarding taxes, spending or your candidacy:
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| Carol L. Higgins: |
I am a small businessman and believe we need reform and less taxation. |
| Matt Lori: |
I am a small government conservative. No tax is a good tax. |
| Richard A. Homan: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
| Monte Bordner: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
| Rob Sisson: |
Did not respond to questionnaire |
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