Michigan budget problems - again - because of lower tax revenues

[Gentle Taz]

wth wrote:

Do any "real" decent people ever run for office, because we need them. Everyone in our government should be replace by people who are smart and know how to do something and have a commen sense.

"Real" decent people (like Colin Powell) are too smart to run for office and put up with the mud slinging and character assasination that takes place in political campaigns.

[rockford]

Hurley35 wrote:

LMAO, Fewer people buying cigarettes??? Wait a second... Didn't they just pass a law banning smoking from restaurants and bars? I guess the non-smokers will have to take up the slack LOL...

I would love to see that!

[Mrs Batch]

"Reasons include the national economic slowdown's effect on Michigan's economy and fewer people purchasing cigarettes and buying and selling homes."

What happened to lottery money going to schools? Hmmmmm? There's a lot of people out there playing the lottery with hopes it will save their homes. And the money's supposed to go to the kids. Especially after the new millage request in our area failed.

[Baruch HaShem]

Gee, we would never guess this would we, and just a few days ago, our fantastic wonderful leaders in Lansing were talking about a summer break in one of our many gas taxes. Sure, what about your wages, and some of your benefits, I truly think it is time we think about a part-time legislature. They only work part-time anyway and look what we are getting. Welfare State and one of the highest unemployment in the nation.
God Bless America.

[Baruch HaShem]

Gentle Taz wrote:

<quoted text>
"Real" decent people (like Colin Powell) are too smart to run for office and put up with the mud slinging and character assasination that takes place in political campaigns.

Agree here, we are the only nation in the world that will praise somebody continuously until they get in office and then watch out.
God Bless America.

[RLB]

Michigan is one of only two states that charge sales tax on gasoline. Michigan is the ONLY state left in the union to offer unlimited lifetime welfare benefits. Other states allow people to be on welfare only two to four years before they are out of the system. Michigan also has $170 million in the budget for education in the prison systems. Why are we taking money away from the kids - let's cut out trying to educate criminals. We should also cut back on the types of food and sodas inmates get. Prison should be an uncomfortable place. I don't even buy soda anymore. We need to cut wasteful areas of spending. There are plenty of places to start. Too bad no one in Lansing reads these posts. Granholm is so busy posturing for bigger political positions that she has sold Michigan residents down the river. Hard working people are leaving in droves while lazy good-for-nothings are piling in. When will it stop?

[Hurley35]

Gentle Taz wrote:

<quoted text>
The trouble is that any law that they pass to get more revenues that would impact the non smokers will also affect the smokers. So the smokers will get to pay more again.

Well lets give them another nine months, like it took them last year, to figure out the budget and I'm sure they will come up with something totally unworkable. I'm getting to the point where, when I vote, I don't even bother looking at what the people running for the office say, I just look for the Incumbent (I) and then vote for the other person.

[danasue]

I thought the Lottery was supposed to go towards the schools?

[TDJensen]

Hurley35 wrote:

LMAO, Fewer people buying cigarettes??? Wait a second... Didn't they just pass a law banning smoking from restaurants and bars? I guess the non-smokers will have to take up the slack LOL...

I never knew how important smokers were to the Government! Maybe they should show us all how important the drinkers are, too? They are rampant in politics, so why not let them help contribute to our deficit by increasing liquor taxes?

[Sandi]

Example of spending comes straight from Washington...spend and spend way beyond what the budget will bear. For Michigan we can start by letting the husband of our esteemed governor go - and all his assistants. Then we can get rid of a full-time legislature - and then get rid of the governor who hasn't done a blame thing for almost 8 years!

[unnamed]

The goverment needs to stop spening money on unnessery things and take a pay cut to fix the state. They only work for their money not for the people who voted them in.

[John M]

As a famous man Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. once said: Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

[Youre_doing_it_w rong]

I still wonder why people voted Jenny into office again. Anyone want to buy a house? I really want to move out of this state!

[Mark]

So why is it us common folk are the only ones with ideas that will work while the idiots we elect are all suffering cranial\rectal inversion, as Jenny apparently still is?

Lots of good ideas. Time for a tea party in Lansing. Anybody else want to join in?

[Gentle Taz]

Baruch HaShem wrote:

<quoted text>
Agree here, we are the only nation in the world that will praise somebody continuously until they get in office and then watch out.
God Bless America.

Actually, the criticism starts as soon as they announce a run for office. It hasn't really cranked up yet in our presidential elections yet because we're still in the primaries, although some has started up in the Democratic primary. They don't dare to go full tilt yet as thay'll hurt their own party if they do by giving ammunition to other parties if they do so. Once the Democrats settle on who is their candidate, it will probably swing into high gear.

[Gentle Taz]

I wouldn't put all the blame on Granholm. Let's face it, it was a Republican who came up with the wonderful idea of a sales tax holiday for gas purchases during a time that our state revenues are declining due to a slow economy. Much of the garbage coming out of Lansing is due to partisan politics. Their only concern is keeping their party in power or gaining power for their party.

[Mark]

Gentle Taz wrote:

I wouldn't put all the blame on Granholm. Let's face it, it was a Republican who came up with the wonderful idea of a sales tax holiday for gas purchases during a time that our state revenues are declining due to a slow economy. Much of the garbage coming out of Lansing is due to partisan politics. Their only concern is keeping their party in power or gaining power for their party.

Which is why we need to vote any incumbent of any party out and break the control that the 2 party system has on our government.

[Jay]

Mad Taxpayer wrote:

Then make the CUTS that have to be made ! Notice the Legislators NEVER took any CUTS to their salaries or benefits like they said they were going to? The people in Lansing continue to SPEND MONEY (OUR MONEY) that they don't have. This is Leadership? In November it is time to vote these leeches out of office. We need a Part-time Legislature with NO LIFE TIME BENEFITS ! Can't even balance a Budget, but can stick us with the BIGGEST tax increase in Michigan History, Stick the Businesses of this State with the MBT and a surcharge on top of that. And still not have enough money. What a BUNCH OF GOOF BALLS. Not enough money? Make CUTS like the rest of us has had to ! LETS THROW THEM OUT IN NOVEMBER !!!

Recent labor statistics show that, on average, the State employee in Michigan earns 17% more than the average worker in the private sector (manufacturing included). And I'm willing to bet that Lansing is going to raise our taxes again before they do anything about that.

Folks, it's time to put your complaints into action. There are plenty of things that you can do and groups that you can get involved in to send a very powerful message to our tax-loving friends in Lansing. Want one example? Well, pay particular attention to Mr. House Speaker Andy Dillon. Why? Because he's about to become the first House Speaker in this state's history to get thrown out on his arrogant little can for raising our taxes last year. Watch for his name on the recall ballot this August. I know I'm looking forward to it.

So democracy can and dones work. It just requires a concerted effort by a mass of people that have decided that they just ain't gonna take it anymore!!

[Gentle Taz]

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
Which is why we need to vote any incumbent of any party out and break the control that the 2 party system has on our government.

The problem you run into with that idea is the partisanship. In Ottawa County, for example, most will not vote for a Democrat, no matter what so anyone running as a Democrat has no chance of winning. But the Republicans stick with the incumbent, so all that's on the ballot is the incumbent.

[Jim]

Too many illegals, we can not support them any longer and to be honest I don't care. Send em back to Mexico!!!