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Report: Gov. Snyder Plans Private Pension Tax

LANSING (WWJ) - Some developing news on the state budget front:  WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick reports that Michigan Governor Rick Snyder wants to tax private pensions, for the first time ever, as part of his budget plan. 

Skubick stressed that these are private pensions, not public pensions. 

State Senator Gretchen Whitmer, who said her 97-year old grandmother depends on her private pension, called the plan a "bad idea."

"She's very worried about it -- grew up in the depression. So, you know, I think that this kind of a change will create a lot of consternation among our elderly," Whitmer said.

According to Skubick,  Macomb County Republican Jack Brandenburg called the idea "political suicide."

Governor Snyder unveils his budget on Thursday.  Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for complete coverage. (More on this story).

Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, WWJ Newsradio 950 opened up our Listener Line to your comments.

"Not a good idea. This government infrastructure isn't worth hanging onto anymore. I think they should just shut it down, instead of stripping everybody's financial where for all," said one caller.

"I think it would be a very horrible idea. I think that's like saying that people who've worked all their lives for a living and paid taxes all their lives for a living should get punished. So, if this is the way this new governor wants to start off his regime, then I guess we need another new governor," said another WWJ listener.

What do you think? Comment below.

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