While the elimination of the state sales tax on textbooks would be a nice gesture, the tax’s absence won’t make much of a difference.
State Rep. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake Twp., introduced a bill Thursday that would eliminate sales tax on textbooks. This comes after lobbying by ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government.
Kowall received more than 1,000 postcards from ASMSU that were filled out by students in favor of the tax cut. About 1,500 postcards were distributed by the student government late last year.
ASMSU has pushed for the tax cut for more than four years. Last year, a similar proposal made by the organization passed in the state House, but died in the Senate. There have been two other similar bills on the state Legislature’s agenda.
Five states - Pennsylvania, Missouri, New Jersey, Arizona and New York - already offer sales-tax-free textbooks.
Passing this bill would be a nice gesture to students, but probably won’t make much of a difference to either students or the state. Because of its minor impact, this bill isn’t likely to be a high priority for the Michigan Legislature.
However, ASMSU should be commended for its efforts to get this bill introduced in the Legislature. While this may not make a large impact, it is still something that affects the students ASMSU represents. This is also reassuring, in that ASMSU can rally more than 1,000 students for one cause and can help make a difference for students on a statewide level.
Regardless of whether the bill passes, ASMSU should not give up lobbying for this tax cut. Although the bill is not likely to be high on the state’s priority list, it still has the possibility of passing.
If a similar bill had enough support to pass in the house, this bill or others introduced soon after it may gain more backing.
In the big picture, this tax cut is minimal. A student who buys $200 in books a semester will only save $12. But, because textbooks are a necessity, those who sell them know they can charge as much as they want. Because students have to buy textbooks, the tax adds insult to injury. By eliminating the tax, it would help to somewhat offset the high prices.
This tax cut will also not hurt the state. Textbooks are a small part of the array of items sales tax is assessed on. As long as the state will not lose enough revenue to hurt anything, why not pass legislation to help students?
Although the total savings would be minimal, every dollar counts for most college students. The few extra dollars saved each semester could mean more money toward other supplies or an extra meal or two. It can’t hurt to save money, no matter how little.
While this tax cut is minimal on both sides, it still benefits many students across the state and will not hurt the state as a whole. It is not likely to be a high priority in the state Legislature, but should not be ignored.
College is expensive enough for students, and the state should do all it can to help ease the financial burden of higher education, no matter how small the gesture.
