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Axios Detroit Thought Bubble

Axios Detroit

The anticipated reduction to the state income tax rate as outlined under a law passed by Republicans in 2015 would last only one year, according to a formal opinion published by Attorney General Dana Nessel Tuesday.

Driving the news: Michigan's income tax rate would return to its current rate of 4.25% even after a future reduction, despite the law mandating an automatic rate cut if government revenue grows faster than the rate of inflation, Nessel wrote in the opinion.

Between the lines: Republicans want income tax to be cut to 4.05%.

Democrats have pushed back against the policy, most recently while negotiating their tax package earlier this year.

What's next: State courts could have the final say in how the law is interpreted and if you're paying more in taxes.

Expected tax cut could only last 1 year

Attorney General Dana Nessel wrote in a formal opinion that the law is temporary.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel speaks in East Lansing last year. Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Michigan

The anticipated reduction to the state income tax rate as outlined under a law passed by Republicans in 2015 would last only one year, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="formal opinion" data-vars-click-url="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MIAG/2023/03/28/file_attachments/2449811/%237320.pdf" data-vars-content-id="279de094-8567-4f30-b177-84129c024cc4" data-vars-headline="Expected tax cut could only last 1 year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MIAG/2023/03/28/file_attachments/2449811/%237320.pdf" target="_blank">formal opinion</a> published by Attorney General Dana Nessel Tuesday.Driving the news: Michigan&#x27;s income tax rate would return to its current rate of 4.25% even after a future reduction, despite the law mandating an automatic rate cut if government revenue grows faster than the rate of inflation, Nessel wrote in the opinion.

Politics

The median annual earnings for Michigan men is $11,875 higher than the median for Michigan women among full-time workers, according to the latest census data.

Why it matters: Men in Michigan earn a median $53,435 a year, while women earn $41,560 — the eighth-worst gap in the country.

Michigan women are more likely to be registered nurses, administrative assistants and elementary and middle school teachers.

And men are more likely to be employed as truck drivers, construction workers or sales workers.

The latest: Michigan's Progressive Women's Caucus is working on reintroducing a bill package to address the state's gender wage gap.

Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) introduced a 12-bill package last year.

What they're saying: Pohutsky says she met with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity on Thursday to discuss how to strengthen the bills, which she expects to pass this session.

"We know that pay inequity still exists and is even worse for women of color. It prevents the upward mobility of women, obviously, but has negative impacts for the economy and their families as well," Pohutsky tells Axios.

"When women are paid equitably, the whole state benefits."

What's next: The goal is to get it introduced before summer, she says.

Lawmakers take aim at Michigan's gender pay gap

Annual earnings for Michigan men is $11,875 than women

Pay equity

The median annual earnings for Michigan men is $11,875 higher than the median for Michigan women among full-time workers, according to the latest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="census data." data-vars-click-url="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/03/what-is-the-gender-wage-gap-in-your-state.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="31f016d9-c396-4e31-bc6f-79a3c3c8ce6a" data-vars-headline="Lawmakers take aim at Michigan&#x27;s gender pay gap" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/03/what-is-the-gender-wage-gap-in-your-state.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">census data.</a>Why it matters: Men in Michigan earn a median $53,435 a year, while women earn $41,560 — the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eighth-worst gap" data-vars-click-url="https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/12/michigan-has-one-of-the-largest-gender-pay-gaps-in-the-us.html" data-vars-content-id="31f016d9-c396-4e31-bc6f-79a3c3c8ce6a" data-vars-headline="Lawmakers take aim at Michigan&#x27;s gender pay gap" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/12/michigan-has-one-of-the-largest-gender-pay-gaps-in-the-us.html" target="_blank">eighth-worst gap</a> in the country.

👋🏽 It's Sam,writing to you from Troy's Kimchi Box.

The intrigue: The fast-casual spot serves fried chicken, kimchi and more with comfortable seating in a clean space.

Kimchi Box's Korean fried chicken is fried twice for the perfect crispy texture. It somehow lasts in your fridge way longer than you'd expect a piece of chicken slathered in soy garlic or sassy sauce — their house hot sauce.

I got the popcorn chicken ($12) with a side order of the kimchi ($2).

If you go: Open 11am-9pm Monday-Friday, 11:30am-9pm Saturday and Sunday.

💭Sam's thought bubble: Someone really needs to bring Korean fried chicken to the city. Having to drive 25 minutes to the nearest spot severely diminishes the amount I consume.

When I lived in Ann Arbor, Hola Seoul and Miss Kim's were part of my weekend routine.

Here's a roundup of where you can get Korean fried chicken in Metro Detroit.

Finding Korean fried chicken near Detroit

Kimchi Box's chicken is fried twice for the perfect crispy texture.

Small popcorn chicken from Kimchi Box. Photo: Samuel Robinson/Ax

👋🏽 It&#x27;s Sam,writing to you from Troy&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Kimchi Box" data-vars-click-url="https://kimchiboxusa.com/" data-vars-content-id="4fc7ffbb-7f51-49a1-bd82-a264bbb56886" data-vars-headline="Finding Korean fried chicken near Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kimchiboxusa.com/" target="_blank"> Kimchi Box</a>.The intrigue: The fast-casual spot serves fried chicken, kimchi and more with comfortable seating in a clean space.

Food and Drink

There's still 11 weeks until the first day of summer (June 21), but temperatures could reach the high 50s this weekend for the first time this year.

⚽️ Detroit City FC is back: Detroit City FC men’s soccer play Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday at 4pm.

The team returns to Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck after losing its home opener last weekend. Tickets start at $15.

🌳 Sensory friendly adventure: The DNR's Outdoor Adventure Center on Atwater Street is welcoming families with sensory processing differences to explore the adventure center with building sounds and ambient noises at a lower volume.

Saturday from 10am-12pm. Admission is free.

💨 Hash Bash: Michigan's annual smoke fest and political rally takes place at noon Saturday at The Diag on University of Michigan's campus in Ann Arbor.

The Monroe Street Fair, which annually coincides with Hash Bash, returns this year along the same block. Both events are free.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and actor Hill Harper, who is considering a U.S. Senate bid, are set to speak at the event.

Last year, former Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya was a guest speaker.

3 cool things to do this weekend in Detroit

Here's what's happening in Detroit this weekend

Above Second Avenue in New Center. Photo: Samuel Robinson/Axios

There&#x27;s still 11 weeks until the first day of summer (June 21), but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="temperatures" data-vars-click-url="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.33168000000006&amp;lon=-83.04799999999994#.ZCXjOOzMKWA" data-vars-content-id="99842590-3b71-417b-99c4-c3667d0c7607" data-vars-headline="3 cool things to do this weekend in Detroit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.33168000000006&amp;lon=-83.04799999999994#.ZCXjOOzMKWA" target="_blank">temperatures</a> could reach the high 50s this weekend for the first time this year.<ul><li>Here&#x27;s what&#x27;s happening around Detroit:</li></ul>

Things to Do

Democrats in Lansing have wasted little time getting their legislative priorities to the governor's desk during the first two months of their new majority.

Driving the news: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week signed into law bills to:

Repeal the law requiring students whose reading skills are lagging to repeat the third grade.

Repeal right-to-work, which allows nonunion employees to reap the same benefits as members without paying dues.

Restore the prevailing wage, which requires contractors on state projects to provide union-level wages and benefits.

Between the lines: Both bills include appropriations that make them referendum proof, meaning they would need to be overturned through a constitutional amendment.

As a candidate, Whitmer promised to veto bills that include spending designed to block a referendum vote.

The other side: Business groups and Republicans say the legislation will hurt Michigan's ability to compete for new jobs.

Meanwhile, some Republicans have distanced themselves from their state party after recently elected chairperson Kristina Karamo tripled down on controversial social media posts comparing Democratic gun legislation to actions taken by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.

In an appearance on WKAR's "Off the Record," Karamo said  that so-called red-flag gun bills, which allow a judge to confiscate the firearms of a person who may be a danger to themselves or others, are a slippery slope.

"With the red flag laws, it starts with someone making a sole accusation and another individual can have their weapons taken away from them," she said.

What's next: Michigan will soon have updated gun laws, as Democrats sent legislation to curb gun violence to the governor's desk last week.

Whitmer has indicated she will sign them.

Capitol catchup: Prevailing wage, third grade reading law signed

Democrats have wasted little time getting their priorities to the governor's desk.

The Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. Photo: Samuel Robinson/Axios

Democrats in Lansing have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wasted little time" data-vars-click-url="https://www.npr.org/2023/03/17/1164040738/michigan-democrats-abortion-guns-labor-right-to-work-whitmer" data-vars-content-id="a10d4810-2d7c-4800-9af5-bc88fc54e10a" data-vars-headline="Capitol catchup: Prevailing wage, third grade reading law signed" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.npr.org/2023/03/17/1164040738/michigan-democrats-abortion-guns-labor-right-to-work-whitmer" target="_blank">wasted little time</a> getting their legislative priorities to the governor&#x27;s desk during the first two months of their new majority.Driving the news: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week signed into law bills to:

Samuel Robinson

Featured stories

Lawmakers take aim at Michigan's gender pay gap

3 cool things to do this weekend in Detroit

Expected tax cut could only last 1 year

Finding Korean fried chicken near Detroit

Capitol catchup: Prevailing wage, third grade reading law signed