  Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2966 Registered: 11-2003 |
Word on the street, and several texts I've received to boot, tell me that there is talk of ramming through a hike in the Michigan Income Tax...tonight. So instead of living within its means like everyone else...we get the shaft! | ||
Bratt Member Username: Bratt Post Number: 616 Registered: 01-2004 |
That's why everyone is leaving. | ||
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard Post Number: 3836 Registered: 10-2004 |
They are trying to ram the sales tax to 7%--a 17% increase. However, the voters must vote on that first. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 3167 Registered: 12-2005 |
It was the Detroit News headline today. Tax hike talks escalate | ||
Ccbatson Member Username: Ccbatson Post Number: 3258 Registered: 11-2006 |
Political suicide...it should be, if it isn't. | ||
Perfectgentleman Member Username: Perfectgentleman Post Number: 2344 Registered: 03-2006 |
From Leon Drolet Friends, Weirdest thing just happened. The entire Senate waltzed into the House chamber and began lobbying House members to put up the two-thirds vote for the placing a sales tax increase question on THIS November ballot. And Granholm came over with them! Granholm and the Senators from both parties spent about 15 minutes lobbying for 'yes' votes - until the House Speaker, a Democrat, kicked them off the House floor! I am unsure what is happening behind closed caucus room doors, but Granholm is really working it right now. And why the heck would every senator, join Granholm on some lobby-march thru the House? Current rumor - no income tax hike tonight, but a two-thirds vote for the sales tax hike election. If citizens reject the sales tax, then the legislature would figure out what to do. JUST A RUMOR. The rumors change by the minute. Gotta go. I'll keep you posted. Leon Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine... (Message edited by perfectgentleman on September 06, 2007) | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2967 Registered: 11-2003 |
This is the first I've seen of the News' article. I haven't received any replies yet as to specifically what they are doing. Whether or not it'll follow what's outlined in the article, or some other ridiculous plan to shake us down (again) I'm not sure about yet.  | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2968 Registered: 11-2003 |
I need to get Drolet on my IM list! | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 3168 Registered: 12-2005 |
quote:That wasn't exactly the article that appeared on the hardcopy front page today. It's a fast-moving story so I suppose that's not unexpected. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2712 Registered: 06-2004 |
"Senate Republicans say budget cuts and government reforms should be made first." Great. Start with your own pay and expenses. http://www.taxadmin.org/FTA/ra te/sales.html | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 294 Registered: 02-2006 |
Didn't the voters of Michigan recently re-elect the current governor and the legislators who are, and have been driving the state into ruin by old politics and taxation policies? I guess we get what we wanted. | ||
Granmontrules Member Username: Granmontrules Post Number: 159 Registered: 01-2007 |
I am not a big fan but she is better than the alternative ole whats-his-face! | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2713 Registered: 06-2004 |
She's not the problem. It's the Legislature that's the problem. Bipartisan bitchery on behalf of Michigan | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2970 Registered: 11-2003 |
I'll give the guv credit, her acting classes have really paid off for her. She has been able to successfully convince people to think that she can be an actual governor. | ||
Perfectgentleman Member Username: Perfectgentleman Post Number: 2348 Registered: 03-2006 |
Yeah I would love to see a YouTube of her appearance on "The Dating Game." | ||
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001 Post Number: 2971 Registered: 11-2003 |
Lilpup, there's enough blame to go around to all. | ||
Perfectgentleman Member Username: Perfectgentleman Post Number: 2349 Registered: 03-2006 |
Lilpup - There ain't nothin bipartisan about that site, its a Grahnolm love fest. | ||
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2 Post Number: 95 Registered: 07-2007 |
If the sales tax is raised, I guarantee I will leave Michigan! seriously (don't all cheer at once) | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2714 Registered: 06-2004 |
I see both Dems and Repubs receiving criticism on that website - I'd say that's bipartisan | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 10021 Registered: 10-2003 |
Tax rates by State: I don't know what the (2) listed for California and Virgina State Tax Rates ALASKA none DELAWARE none MONTANA none NEW HAMPSHIRE none OREGON none CALIFORNIA (3) 7.25 (2) VIRGINIA 5 (2) MISSISSIPPI 7 NEW JERSEY 7 RHODE ISLAND 7 TENNESSEE 7 MINNESOTA 6.5 NEVADA 6.5 WASHINGTON 6.5 ILLINOIS (2) 6.25 TEXAS 6.25 ARKANSAS 6 CONNECTICUT 6 FLORIDA 6 IDAHO 6 INDIANA 6 KENTUCKY 6 MICHIGAN 6 PENNSYLVANIA 6 VERMONT 6 WEST VIRGINIA 6 DIST. OF COLUMBIA 5.75 ARIZONA 5.6 NEBRASKA 5.5 OHIO 5.5 KANSAS 5.3 IOWA 5 MAINE 5 MARYLAND 5 MASSACHUSETTS 5 NEW MEXICO 5 NORTH DAKOTA 5 SOUTH CAROLINA (6) 5 WISCONSIN 5 UTAH 4.75 OKLAHOMA 4.5 NORTH CAROLINA (5) 4.25 MISSOURI 4.225 ALABAMA 4 GEORGIA 4 HAWAII 4 LOUISIANA 4 NEW YORK 4 SOUTH DAKOTA 4 WYOMING 4 COLORADO 2.9 | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 10022 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ignore comment above the (2) means (2) Includes statewide local tax of 1.0% in California and 1.0% in Virginia. | ||
Novine Member Username: Novine Post Number: 105 Registered: 07-2007 |
As long as it doesn't go above the tax rate when Engler was Governor, I'm fine with that. | ||
Digitalvision Member Username: Digitalvision Post Number: 339 Registered: 11-2003 |
The children couldn't make a deal. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20070906/NEW S06/309060013 I understand some on this forum are friends with folks, and are supporters, obviously, as they are on email lists - but I'm pragmatic, middle-of-the-road guy and I don't give a &&&& whose fault it is. Fix the problem. I'm not voting for any incumbents at all at this rate - not that it matters with the gerrymandered districts. I'm starting to think, at times like these when compromise is in order, that term limits was a really, really bad idea. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 714 Registered: 12-2006 |
The sales tax rates per state above don't tell the whole story. Many states allow local governments to collect additional sales tax. So, for instance, in very few places in New York is the sales tax actually 4% and it is nearly 10% in New York City last I was there. In Michigan, only the state collects sales tax and local governments can't add to it. So when we say it's 6%, it's 6% uniformly, everywhere. Everyone is oversimplifying the problem because they are all panicking. We don't have to do that on this board. So let's think about the fundamentals: what do we actually expect the government to do, and how shall we pay for that? We have a history in Michigan of having a big state government that pays for a lot of things. Can we afford that anymore? If so, who should pay, and how? If not, what should the state stop doing? I pose these questions just to point out that they don't have simple answers (to most people). Anyone have any creative ideas? I have a friend in the state House; I'd be happy to pass any good ideas along. One comical thing: you notice any time the State goes so far as to "run out of money", they shut down the "nonessential" parts of state government and almost nobody gives a shit. That should tell all of us something. | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 715 Registered: 12-2006 |
By the way, Lilpup, a lot of people say the same thing you said: "start with your own pay and expenses". That's not realistic. It's not that they are underpaid (they aren't); it's just that a truly insignificant part of the budget goes to pay for the elected government and its staff. The only ways to make a dent in the budget problem are to increase revenue or to cut major expenses. The cost of the Governor and legislature is nickel-and-dime stuff, relatively speaking. It's cathartic to say that, but it really doesn't help to solve the problem. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2720 Registered: 06-2004 |
People would give a shit if the shutdown was permanent. Certain things can be delayed but not eliminated. I'd not like a tax on services or food, but I don't mind a higher sales tax - those who spend more/have more to spend will pay more. The stuff Bishop wants to cut is not acceptable. He's eyeing all quality of life stuff - schools, libraries, museums, DNR, DEQ, etc. The biggest advantage of going unicameral, or otherwise reducing the number of Legislators, would be to do away with much of the obstructionism like that going on now. (Message edited by lilpup on September 07, 2007) | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 716 Registered: 12-2006 |
Good post 'pup. I don't mind a higher sales tax either, personally. Cut-wise, what would you do? I agree with your opinion on Bishop's targets; those are the things that make Michigan barely worth living in. Of course, Bishop is a silly ass, but (as Dennis Miller used to like to say) that's just my opinion, and I could be wrong  | ||
Perfectgentleman Member Username: Perfectgentleman Post Number: 2357 Registered: 03-2006 |
If you folks don't mind paying more taxes, feel free to send Lansing some donations. As for me, I think feeding government with more money is not getting us anywhere. There should always be cuts first before any talk of new taxes should begin. (Message edited by perfectgentleman on September 07, 2007) | ||
Professorscott Member Username: Professorscott Post Number: 717 Registered: 12-2006 |
Perfect, that's unhelpful. What would you cut? Don't gloss it over; details are important here. | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 2721 Registered: 06-2004 |
PG, that's just not going to happen. Cuts in previous years have eliminated the excesses and any substantial cuts made now are going to seriously affect the state. Even the Republicans haven't been able to propose a budget that's balanced without tax increases. School districts have consolidated and schools and local governments are already working on sharing resources. What's up with the Secretary of State offices? Some were scheduled to close yet the Legislature bailed them out, and the SoS hasn't had a budget cut. With more of that stuff available through mail and online why are they getting more $$? The SoS could probably be streamlined via process simplification. Corrections as big a problem as they say? Decriminalize and tax pot and kick non-violent offenders out to extended community service. Chasing potheads is a huge waste of time and funding. Some depts it's hard to say without seeing the specifics, but why is IT so damned high? And somehow be more aggressive about reducing the cost of debt service. Just like in business it's the nickel and dime stuff that kills a budget. Cutting payroll is the lazy way to save money (and detrimental in the long run). Active management is necessary for optimal operations. |
