SBAM gets national visibility for its opposition to sales tax on services

SBAM’s President and CEO Rob Fowler was featured recently in The New York Times and ABC World News with Diane Sawyer.

An excerpt from The New York Times article:

Though some say the proposed service taxes face opposition too fierce to succeed in many places, particularly in an election year, even some of the most ardent opponents predict that some of the taxes will scrape through. The current budget misery will probably “push the idea over the edge” in at least some states, said Robert D. Fowler, president and chief executive of the Small Business Association of Michigan. “And they won’t be any better off for it, either,” said Mr. Fowler, who added that his members detested the notion. “It’s the wrong time, in the heat of just trying anything to find money, to have this discussion. “Yes, we need more money, but is this a step toward turning the economy around?” Mr. Fowler asked. “Taking more money out of peoples’ pockets? Putting more burdens on small business? It doesn’t seem like a recipe for a state turnaround.”

And, an excerpt from the ABC News video report:

“Adding a new tax burden to our citizens and our small businesses at a time when the state is hurting so badly doesn’t make a lot of sense,” says Rob Fowler of the Small Business Association of Michigan, “I would say it’s bad for business, it’s bad for consumers, and it’s bad for Michigan.”

What do you think about Michigan’s proposed sales tax on services? Leave a comment below or tell us more in our sales tax on services forum.