Armed with more than 1,000 yellow postcards, ASMSU is ready to further its quest in eliminating sales tax from college textbooks in Michigan.
The collection of lobbying postcards, which will be sent to state Rep. Michael Kowall, R-White Lake, was filled out by MSU students who favor cutting the tax.
ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
“This is a major step because it shows that there is a mass of student support out there,” said Mark Pritzlaff, ASMSU director of legislative affairs.
Kowall introduced a similar textbook bill in December 1999, which is in the Tax Policy Committee but will likely not be acted and and will die when the state House ends its session next month.
But with renewed student support shown in the postcards and an ideal situation in the state budget, Kowall plans on introducing a bill during the next legislative session in January.
“(The postcards) will not have an impact this year, but it will help to bring (the bill) out next year,” Kowall said. “There is a lot of money in the budget right now, so there is enough money to supplement students’ textbook taxes.”
While the measure will have to go through the same process as the current bill before coming to a vote, Kowall is confident it can gain approval.
“We are a majority, so hopefully we can get something done,” Kowall said, referring to the 58-52 majority held by Republicans in the House.
Still, it appears the proposal may not hit any snags because some Democrats say they would approve of the bill.
“I have to be real, I would be in full support of that bill,” said state Rep. Vera Rison, D-Mount Morris.
Rison proposed a textbook tax measure in 1997 that gained House approval, but was denied by the Senate.
“The big issue was cost. They thought it was quite costly,” Rison said.
So far, ASMSU has received 1,150 of the 1,500 lobbying postcards printed and distributed around campus. ASMSU established 1,000 as its primary goal to send to the state Legislature.
“Everyone’s effort has been incredible,” said Shane Waller, ASMSU Student Assembly vice-chairperson of external affairs. “I was giving us four weeks to get this accomplished and it only took two. That is very encouraging to us and ASMSU.”
Some students filled the cards out without hesitation.
“I filled one out right away,” said Tianne Diaz, a marketing junior. “I have yet to find anybody that was against that.”
But while Pritzlaff and Waller say this is a major accomplishment toward the campaign, a intricate part still remains.
“The big thing I am concerned about is that I hope everyone knows that the big push will be in January when the bill is on the floor (for a vote).”
