A Republican state lawmaker says he initially indicated to House leadership that he would support an income tax cut bill but changed his mind when the legislation was put to a vote.
Rep. Jason Sheppard of Temperance had his chairmanship of a committee taken away early Thursday because of the switch. House Speaker Tom Leonard accused Sheppard of lying to him.
Sheppard told The Associated Press Thursday the "gut check moment" for him came when he saw numerous Democrats and Republicans opposing the bill. It failed on a 52-55 vote.
Sheppard says as the late-night session dragged on, more constituents and people were calling him to express opposition to the legislation. He says he had to "follow my conscience" and he harbors no ill-will or anger toward Leonard for removing him from the Financial Services Committee.
