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"I believe we have reduced taxes too far. Tax cuts are popular politically, but tax cuts by themselves are not an effective economic strategy. If reduced taxes were the key to prosperity, Michigan's economy would be booming.

No one enjoys paying taxes, but taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society."

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"If we want to support education adequately, the resources are there. All we have to do is reinstate some of the tax revenues we used to collect."

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"I commend Governor Snyder for avoiding the extreme anti-worker policies and rhetoric of Wisconsin's Governor Walker."

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"Michigan is one of only seven states with a flat-rate income tax. Most states have a graduated income tax, with higher rates on those with higher incomes.

I believe we should have a graduated income tax in Michigan. However, a graduated income tax would require a constitutional amendment, so it is unlikely to occur soon.

In the meantime, we could raise the flat rate of the current income tax. Michigan's rate is 4.35 percent. If we increase the rate to 5 percent, we would collect an additional $1 billion per year of tax revenue."

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Charles Ballard has been on the Economics Department faculty at Michigan State University since 1983, when he received his Ph.D. from Stanford University. In 2007, he became director of the State of the State Survey in MSU's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. Also in 2007, he won the Outstanding Teacher Award in MSU's College of Social Science. In 2011, he joined the board of directors of the Michigan League for Human Services. He has served as a consultant with the U.S. departments of Agriculture, Health & Human Services, and Treasury, and with research institutes in Australia, Denmark, and Finland. His books include "Michigan at the Millennium" and "Michigan's Economic Future."