Lansing lawmakers -- Republicans in particular -- may think the lion's share of Michigan residents want to see them use the $1 billion state budget surplus for tax cuts. It's a nationwide Republican mantra that has often resonated with voters.
But in this case, they're wrong, at least according to a poll conducted by Lansing-based EPIC-MRA of 600 state residents, Kathleen Gray of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The poll shows that 38% of the people think the surplus should be spent on K-12 education and another 36% say the cash should go to improve roads. Only 11% say lawmakers should provide an income tax cut with the funds.
“You have to think, ‘Who are are they responding to?’ ” Bernie Porn, director of Lansing-based EPIC-MRA, told the Freep in a quote referring to legislators. “If Republican legislators decide not to do a tax cut, or just a minimal one, and they used the surplus to deal with schools and roads, they’re not going to make anybody unhappy.” -- Allan Lengel
