Pontiac Times

State Rep. Donni Steele, a Republican from Orion Township, has expressed concern over recent reports that Detroit Democrats are considering implementing an amusement tax in Michigan. According to the plan, municipalities would have the power to impose fees on tickets, concessions, and parking passes for sporting events, concerts, zoos, and museums.

In response to this proposal, Steele criticized the Democrats, stating, "While many of us were rallying around a Lions team that hasn't been successful for more than half a century, Democrats saw over 65,000 fans in Ford Field as joy-filled dollar signs just waiting to be taxed." He added, "The governor was on the sideline for the Lions' last home win of the year. But if her Democrat amusement tax comes to fruition, she and her fellow elites may be the only ones who can afford to attend the games at all."

Steele, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, expressed concern that an amusement tax would significantly increase costs for events and make them unaffordable for middle-class families. He pointed out that the Detroit Lions recently won their first playoff game since 1992, the Michigan Wolverines won their 12th national championship, and Taylor Swift performed at Ford Field in front of over 120,000 people. Implementing an amusement tax could prevent similar events from being accessible to the general public.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently delivered her State of the State address, where she discussed the successes of the Detroit Lions and introduced several new and expensive programs she plans to advocate for in the coming year. These proposals include two years of free community college tuition for high school students and tax rebates for electric vehicles. However, Steele and other Republican legislators are concerned about the funding for these initiatives.

Steele emphasized that "nothing is free; the money has to come from somewhere." He criticized the Democrats' approach, stating, "Democrats want you to pay more on tickets to the zoo so rich people can pay less for electric vehicles. They want to turn $10 ballpark hotdogs into $15 ballpark hotdogs, so they can give even more handouts to foreign governments. The governor wants to make it so anyone who steps foot in an urban center will be taxed for every door entered, purchase made, and inch traveled."

The implementation of an amusement tax in Michigan has raised concerns among Republicans like Rep. Steele, who believe it would burden middle-class families and hinder access to entertainment and cultural events. Meanwhile, Democrats argue that such a tax could help fund important programs and initiatives. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether this proposal will come to fruition.