Article courtesy of MIRS
Gov. Rick Snyder has stayed radio silent on the prospects of the Legislature overriding his veto on speeding up the phase-out of the sales tax on used vehicle trade-ins, although sources tell MIRS the administration is taking the matter “semi seriously.”
With some lawmakers coming back into town on Wednesday, reporters could get a better feel for whether this is idle summer chit chat or something more serious.
That said, the Governor’s team wants to make it clear that one “wants to see this happen,” although “no one is frantic about it.” The vantage point of some is that pulling the pin on a veto override over an issue that has such little political upside seems like a drastic move.
How many voters are clamoring for a speed up of the “sales tax on the difference” and how many are more likely to support a lawmaker for “standing up to the governor” for doing it?
The issue has come up for internal discussions and there will be an effort to “reach out” to lawmakers, but “no full court press” is anticipated.
Whether a veto override on SB 0094 and SB 0095 happens may boil down to the warmth of the relationship between Snyder and Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive).
The latter has reported that the override is on the table, but there are no signals Meekhof is ready to go there, if at all. Some in various industries, like the recreational vehicle industry, wouldn’t be sad if Meekhof did, however. As for any residual legislative animosity toward the Governor concerning a second veto on the Right to Life license plate, a source said that is not a problem. Meekhof’s spokesperson has made it clear he’s not interested in pursuing more than one override if he even pursues one.
The administration is reportedly not as concerned about this car tax break issue, but about the long-term implications of an override potentially damaging the relationship between the chief executive and members of his own party in the House and Senate.
The administration wants to make sure the lame duck governor with 17 more months in office continues to remain “relevant” and not weakened by a successful override attempt.