Real leaders would spend $700 million repairing Michigan’s road

Listening to SiriusXM’s podcast of Freakonomics Radio’s tax episode, “Ten Myths About the U.S. Tax System,” led me to look up its guest, Jessica Riedl. Riedl is a senior fellow in budget, tax and economic policy at the Manhattan Institute, a right-of-center think tank, whose purpose is to “promote prosperity and upward mobility through the advancement of economic freedom, fiscal responsibility and entrepreneurial innovation.” 

What struck me was her conclusion that rich people are paying their fair share for the government and that the middle class doesn’t pay enough.

Oh, so you hate her now, as well?

She also told host Stephen Dubner that she is “critical of everybody” in Washington. She holds both political parties accountable. That is clear from Riedl’s commentary, “The 10 Worst Republican Budget Gimmicks: A Guide to the Gaslighting of Voters.”

In the introduction, Riedl showed why she has “no friends” in the nation’s capital. She skewers politicians for their handling of voters’ love-hate relationship with taxes and public spending: Democrats talk vague, and Republicans pull gimmicks, like tax cuts we can’t afford.

One of the Michigan Republicans’ gimmicks is Rep. Kathy Schmaltz’ plan to cut the Michigan income tax rate. Her plan, House Bill 4170, calls for slicing the rate from 4.25% to 4.05% for refunds benefitting families and small business. 

On Tuesday last week, the Michigan House of Representatives approved the bill.

If the cut becomes law, taxpayer refunds may be $131 for a family earning about $71,000, says Bridge Michigan news service.

Truly, it’s a paltry tax cut for taxpayers. However, the total amount of money that would be returned to taxpayers is huge: $700 million.

Don’t get me wrong. I am always grateful for money. Any amount. I still pick up pennies from the sidewalk. It makes me feel lucky to find money. But I should not have to be lucky to easily use the things I need to get through everyday life in Michigan. Such as driving home without busting up my vehicle. My granddaughter just asked me for a loan of $900. She needs to get her car repaired after deep pothole damage. 

A $131 refund might make a single person smile for a few minutes. But what is the reward for a family? How many movies can their family see when tickets cost $11.50 for adults, $9.50 for seniors and children, $15 for a bucket of popcorn.

Let’s just deal with the parent who works for minimum wage of $10.56 an hour in Michigan — that’s new for 2025. Their ticket alone costs one hour of work plus another 94 cents from the piggy bank. (What workers need is a wage hike, but that’s another column.)

And President Trump admitted this month that a recession could very well be on the way following mass firings of federal employees and tariffs against Canada and Mexico, our North American bedfellows and biggest trade partners. Because of that, $131 might be worth more than ever.

Twenty-four Republican representatives cosponsored Schmaltz’s bill, agreeing that the tax cut is the right thing to do, and one said that the state needs to “give back” to taxpayers.

Give back? To taxpayers? Yes, however, a $131 return on taxes is not a good gift. It is the pandering talk that tax expert Riedl said voters hear most often from politicians. 

That the State of Michigan could gather $700 million lump sum is akin to hitting the lottery. Oh, the dreams that can come true.  We could fix the roads. A road without potholes would be a gift most of us will be happy to receive. Call it a payoff for enduring a hard winter.

As massive as the amount is compared to my pocketbook, $700 million will only help fix them. The actual road repair bill is much higher.

The cost to reconstruct a mile of road cost $1.5 million, according to the Federal Highway Administration. So, this tax money kept in one bundle can pay for 513 miles of road.

I can’t fix one mile, or 1/100th of one road on my own, so joining with fellow taxpayers to do the roads makes the only sense.

The state needs to do things and provide services only it can provide. Fixing the roads was the first of several essential needs, commented Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi. Others are improving schools, health care and housing. People have a hell of a time finding mental health services and help for caring for their elderly. Fix that. Use taxes for the good of the people.

There is much individuals cannot do on their own, but banded together by our taxes we can fix our infrastructure.

Legislators need to enact legislation helpful to the people of Michigan. Their acts should be emblematic of what the state can do, a testament to its might. No car owner among us should be standing at the tire store hating on democracy because our government trapped us in cars and then refused to fix the damn roads.

In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes, Benjamin Franklin said. So, let’s make the taxes work, by demanding effective management. 

(Dedria Humphries Barker, of Lansing, is a journalist and the author of “Mother of Orphans: The True and Curious Story of Irish Alice, A Colored Man’s Widow.” Her column appears the last Wednesday of the month.)