Poll: Michigan Voters Oppose Cutting Corporate Taxes, Support Constitutional Protection Of Labor Rights

Like other Republican governors, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) has aggressively pursued an agenda to curb labor rights, cut corporate taxes, and slash funding for education. As ThinkProgress reported, Snyder’s proposed budget would cut corporate taxes by 86 percent while making the state’s already regressive tax system even worse by disproportionately increasing taxes on lower-income earners,especially retirees. The tax plan passed both houses of the state legislature last week and awaits his signature.

“Many of us are going to have to sacrifice in the short term. But I can tell you with confidence, with conviction, by making these sacrifices, we can all win in the long term,” Snyder said of his budget.

Snyder’s constituents don’t seem to be buying it, with 70 percent of Michigan voters opposed to cutting business taxes at the expense of education and other social services, according to a new poll from Michigan firm EPIC/MRA:

Meanwhile, 76 percent of voters supported a proposal to require businesses to demonstrate that they have actually created new jobs with the tax breaks they receive. Just 9 percent of voters said they think businesses would use Snyder’s tax breaks mostly to create jobs — most think companies will pocket the savings as profit.

On labor issues, 60 percent of voters oppose taking away collective bargaining rights of public employees, while nearly as many support an amendment to the state’s constitution guaranteeing a right to collectively bargain:

Support for the pro-labor amendment appears to have jumped sharply in recent weeks, as a March poll showed 49 percent of voters supporting it.

Snyder is eligible for recall in July, and a citizens group has already formed to spearhead the effort.