LANSING, Mich. – Citing philosophical differences, the bipartisan team that was in place to attempt to get Michiganders to vote yes on a sales tax increase in May to fix the roads is now off the ballot proposal.
Selling the voters on approving that 1 percent sales tax increase is a tough proposition any way you look at it, but now that a new team has to come in with three months to go, it's a very tall order.
Gov. Rick Snyder has been trying to get a comprehensive road fix done for two years, and so far there has been zero success.
Experts like political consultant Dennis Darnoi pin the odds of this ballot proposal being a hit with the voters in May at "relatively small."
"Again because they are starting new, you have a brand new team that has a different track record than the one that was in place. It's going to be a hard sell to the voters," Darnoi said.
The first idea to pay for more than $1 billion in road repairs was increased vehicle registration fees -- it went nowhere. The next idea was a gas tax -- that went nowhere.
The Legislature has now punted to the voters, asking Michiganders to approve a sales tax increase that would make Michigan a state with the second-highest sales tax in the country.
"Karma can be a cruel mistress, and the likelihood of this going back to the Legislature and forcing them to actually do their job is quite high," Darnoi said.
Election day is May 5.