Governor Race: Brandenburg Challenges Tax Structure

Donna Brandenburg, the U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate for Michigan governor, stated on Tuesday that she believes the state imposes an effective tax burden of 85% on residents through a combination of income, property, and discretionary fees. She is one of six candidates competing for the office in the upcoming election. Brandenburg describes herself as a constitutional conservative and a lifelong entrepreneur with experience in energy, real estate, and technology.

Brandenburg told Stateside host April Baer that she entered the race after being asked by supporters to address what she called maladministration in state government. She noted that she initially hesitated because she did not enjoy politics, but she agreed after considering the service provided by the military. "I really don't like politics and I don't like politicians," she said. "So I agreed."

The candidate argued that Michigan’s tax system is unconstitutional because it relies on discretionary levies, such as gas taxes and license plate fees, rather than direct income taxes. She claimed that the state converted property titles into state ownership and collateralized properties at a 21-to-1 ratio, which allows for unlimited borrowing. "They’ve turned into a tax because we have the right to travel without anything," Brandenburg said regarding license plates. "They have no right to charge us fees, licensure or anything on that."

On economic policy, Brandenburg identified high energy costs as a primary burden on Michigan businesses, noting that the state ranks first in the Midwest for energy expenses. She proposed removing regulatory capture to allow businesses to thrive. Regarding federal tariffs, she suggested using the 10th Amendment to assert states' rights and refuse enforcement of federal mandates. "The governor can say, nope, we're not going to be enforcing these.. mandates, laws or whatever," she stated.

Brandenburg also addressed data center development, a contentious issue in local communities. She cited a personal experience where water drained from under her barn, killing her well and 25 nearby wells. She argued that data centers are obsolete quickly due to technological changes and that their placement near residential areas is poorly engineered. "I think that this is going to be perhaps a way to decentralize the monopolies that they have on our energy," she said.

For healthcare affordability, Brandenburg plans to gather public input to guide legislative decisions. She referenced a recent interview where she analyzed over 800 comments from voters. She supports enforcing antitrust laws to increase competition and reduce costs. "People need to be in charge of their own health care," she said. "I think if we look at the monopolies and the corporations and enforce antitrust, we're going to see competition, which will bring the cost down very quickly."

Voters will select the new Michigan governor on Tuesday. The election features five other candidates in addition to Brandenburg.