Emily Betz Tyra's Page

Hi Emily , I’m the Internal Communication Director for the Michigan FairTax Assn. As you’re aware, our state legislature has recently enacted the Michigan Business Tax [MBT] as a response to ending the Single Business Tax [SBT] (a gross receipts tax). Our goal is to inform Michiganders about a proposed Michigan FairTax alternative that would both simplify, and stimulate, Michigan's business / jobs climate in order to stem the mass-emigration of businesses and families currently taking place.

The proposed Michigan FairTax would REPLACE the income tax and current sales tax, with a consumption tax (sales tax at point of retail sale). Under this plan, no more state tax will be withheld from Michigan wage-earners' paychecks. What's more, every Michigan resident-family will receive a monthly "prebate" check, in amount based on family size. This will ensure that NO Michigan family will EVEN BEGIN paying the MI FairTax on goods / services unless, or until, they exceed poverty-level spending.

Under the MI FairTax plan, points of collection are substantially reduced to just retailers, many of whom are already collecting sales tax. Because service providers must account for income tax withholding and compliance costs, their prices carry a hidden tax which a FairTax will make visible. (Business-to-business purchases would not carry the tax, as this would, again, hide the cost of taxation in prices.)

Because of the "prebate" (advance rebate calculated as .0975 x $ [poverty level spending per family size]) to ALL Michigan-resident households, the MI FairTax rate would effectively be 0% on all monthly family spending to the poverty level; thereafter it's 9.75%. A reasonably inferred average effective rate would be ~5.5% (see p.2 of pdf brochure, also review an economic analysis [pdf] on MI FairTax effects prepared by the Hillsdale Policy Group).


Please, join our email list to be kept informed!

Mike Gravel (D) - Mike Huckabee (R) - Ron Paul (Libertarian R)

Why the FairTax idea is right for America's working families.

Dr. Laurence Kotlikoff believes that it will take the FairTax to reverse unfunded obligations, now above $53 trillion and counting!

I really enjoy your essays. I went back and read An Orchard Upbringing. I love the sentiment within your work. Very nice. Best, Darren King

Hi Emily! I just joined via an email. Looks like a fun place to be. What could be better? Good food, good conversation, good friends! Hope to see you at Lil Bo again soon.

Welcome, Emily! It wasn't quite right not seeing you as a member. Have fun fooling around. Load pictures, write a blog, comment in a discussion, start a new discussion. Just get comfortable!