Robert Jones Wants to Raise Your Taxes

State Representative Robert Jones never met a tax increase he didn't like. Jones happily voted for the largest tax increase in Michigan history back in 2007. Now, Jones has a new plan.

There's embarrassing and then there are these local Dems

According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, Representative Robert Jones yesterday introduced legislation to raise taxes on home sales specifically to fund new housing projects for people who can't afford to buy homes.

Jones bill would raise taxes to aid homeless

LANSING -- State Rep. Robert Jones has reintroduced a bill that would allow counties to raise real-estate transfer taxes to fund housing projects for the homeless.

Representatives from homeless advocacy groups Michigan People's Action and the Michigan Organizing Project said Jones' bill fulfills "a pledge he made to the homeless people of Kalamazoo last year."

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The bill sponsored by Jones, D-Kalamazoo, would allow Michigan counties to increase real-estate transfer taxes by 25 cents for each $500 of real property value sold and earmark the added revenue for a county "housing trust fund for the homeless." For example, the measure would add $50 to the transfer tax paid at closing on a home that sells for $100,000.

This bill would punish homeowners who have already seen their homevalues drop significantly, and it would mean less affordable housing for folks looking to buy.

That's Robert Jones' plan for housing.