This week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her Lowering MI Cost plan which would eliminate the state’s retirement tax and increase tax credits for working families. Perhaps the one aspect of her plan that got the most attention from the average taxpayer is Whitmer’s plan to issue “inflation relief checks” directly to taxpayers in the state.

Under the plan, “inflation relief checks” of $180 would be sent to every Michigan tax filer. It would cost $800 million. Michigan currently has a budget surplus of $9.2 billion.

The plan must first be approved by the state Legislature before it becomes the law of the land.

Sounds good at face value. Who couldn’t use an extra $180 in their pocket when the price of nearly everything continues to spiral upward?

This plan, however, as it stands is cheating a large number of Michigan taxpayers from ever receiving their $180 check. The one-time $180 checks would be issued for each income tax filing. That means couples filing jointly would receive one check for $180 and not two for $360. Couples who chose to filing single would each receive $180 each.

In our opinion, that doesn’t seem to be fair. Many, many Michigan taxpayers choose to file their taxes jointly. It’s fair to say that many of these couples are two-income families — each paying taxes to the state. It doesn’t seem right that a large portion of taxpayers should be penalized simply because they filed their taxes jointly.

We hope that this oversight is corrected by the time it is considered by the state Legislature.

If you agree, let your feelings be known.

Whitmer’s office can be contacted at:

P.O. Box 30013

Lansing, MI 48909

517-335-7858

State Sen. Ed McBroom can be contacted at:

P.O. Box 30036

Lansing, MI 48909

855-347-8038

State Rep. Greg Markkanen can be contacted at:

P.O. Box 30014

Lansing, MI 48909

517-373-0850

Email addresses may be accessed through their websites.