LANSING (WKZO-AM/FM) — MIRS News reports a southwest Michigan House Representative is calling for an investigation after what he claims were questionable tactics used to try and pass an income tax cut this early Thursday morning.
Rep. Dave Pagel, R-Berrien Springs, was one of 12 Republican members to vote against the measure and now wants to know if the strong arm tactics that were allegedly used were appropriate.
Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, said they held the session open past midnight while the speaker and others tried to put together enoubh votes to win, and then it actually failed. He said normally, when a Republican-sponsored measure comes up for a vote and it doesn’t have the numbers, they will close the voting before it’s concluded. Not this time.
Soon after the vote, Speaker Tom Leonard stripped Rep. Jason Sheppard, R-Temperance, of his committee chairmanship because Leonard claimed that Sheppard said he would vote for an income tax cut, and instead voted against it.
There were also reports of threats to strip other members of perks, appointments and assignments, even their parking spots if they didn’t vote yes.
Pagel said those are the tactics he wants investigated.
