Democrats in the state Senate are pushing for an “amusement tax” to ensure that Michiganders cannot have fun without paying fees.
Although a Democratic attempt to pass an amusement tax failed to gain traction when introduced in 2019, the Democrat trifecta currently controlling the state’s governorship, House and Senate increases the likelihood of the bill’s passage, especially during the lame duck session between Nov. 5 and Jan. 1, 2025.
According to a January Bridge Detroit report, efforts to tax fun were led by Detroit City Councilperson Angela Whitfield-Calloway, who partnered with Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, and Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, to push the bill in Lansing.
For her part, Santana introduced an amusement tax bill, SB 235, in 2019. That bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee, and never moved forward.
Whitfield-Calloway appealed to the Lansing lawmakers because amusement taxes – that is, taxes on commercial entertainment, sports games, and movie tickets –could not be implemented in the City of Detroit without an alteration to state law.
She told Bridge in January that, with Detroit’s allegedly thriving tourist scene, it was time for the city to start cashing in. “With all the things happening in our city, people are coming in from all over the world,” she said.
“We want to make sure everyone who supports our venues are safe, we’re able to clean up after everything is over,” she added, suggesting that state laws protecting citizens should be changed so that Detroit can provide a high “level of service.”
In response, state Rep. Donni Steele, R-Orion Township, released a statement noting that Democrats “want to turn $10 ballpark hotdogs into $15 ballpark hot dogs, so they can give even more handouts to foreign governments.”
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