Bratt Member Username: Bratt
Post Number: 521 Registered: 01-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 4:34 pm: | |
So Jennifer is threatening a Government shutdown. So what does that really mean? All Government offices would shut down? Really? |
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 302 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 4:36 pm: | |
Don't you remember when Bubba did it with the federal government? |
1953 Member Username: 1953
Post Number: 1338 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 4:38 pm: | |
What a great idea! No more money to our silly state reps and sens or that ineffective governor of ours! d |
Bratt Member Username: Bratt
Post Number: 522 Registered: 01-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 4:57 pm: | |
So if they really shut down, does that mean no money is sent out and none taken in? For anything? |
Gumby Member Username: Gumby
Post Number: 1545 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 5:07 pm: | |
It means us government workers would go without pay for a couple of days. Well us little guys at least, the congressmen and senators will not have their pay reduced, of course. |
Blueidone Member Username: Blueidone
Post Number: 11 Registered: 03-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 5:12 pm: | |
Think entitlement programs (FIA, etc) go out, but can't swear to that. Only skeleton crew works. Pending items will sit in limbo till they go back to work. |
Mcp001 Member Username: Mcp001
Post Number: 2501 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 5:36 pm: | |
This is political brinksmanship and nothing more. Granholm doesn't have the spine to shut down the government, especially at the "risk" of hurting those she supposedly cares about preserving their government largesse. Hopefully, the legislature won't blink on this one. |
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 576 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 7:01 pm: | |
It's as childish as it is unrealistic. While I'd still rather have her than DeVos in office, I'm appalled that she would sink to such ridiculous tactics. |
Mthouston Member Username: Mthouston
Post Number: 795 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 7:06 pm: | |
Shut it down for a couple of weeks, Let's see if the vast majority of people notice. |
Supersport Member Username: Supersport
Post Number: 11443 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 7:55 pm: | |
How about we simply pay our government officials according to their performance? In which case Granholm owes us all some serious back pay. |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 1947 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 8:00 pm: | |
but nowhere near as much as the joke of a state congress |
Charlottepaul Member Username: Charlottepaul
Post Number: 720 Registered: 10-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 8:34 pm: | |
The federal government shutdown during the Clinton administration was because the government couldn't get its budget approved. It isn't necessarily a 'tactic' for anything as Rhymeswithrawk suggested. |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 5682 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 10:02 pm: | |
YAY!!! That will teach those Neo-Cons in the Michigan Legislature to abide by her proposal for the 2% tax increase. Way to go Granholm. SHE IS CALLING FOR A POLITICAL CIVIL WAR IN MICHIGAN. JOIN THE FIGHT. |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 5683 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 10:07 pm: | |
REVOLUTION REVOLUTION REVOLUTION!!!! The Michigan Revolution is here. Shut down the Neo-Con government kick them out of Lansing. |
Mthouston Member Username: Mthouston
Post Number: 799 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 10:09 pm: | |
quote:SHE IS CALLING FOR A POLITICAL CIVIL WAR IN MICHIGAN. JOIN THE FIGHT. Great, two titans on mediacracy battle it out in a Political Civil War. This will be truly boring. (Message edited by Mthouston on March 28, 2007) |
Ccbatson Member Username: Ccbatson
Post Number: 232 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 10:33 pm: | |
Call her bluff, and make sure it is clear that she is to blame for the adverse effects of HER shutdown. |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 5685 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 10:37 pm: | |
Ccbatson, The Neo-Cons in the Michigan Legislature are to blame for their mess. I want them all recalled and replace them with a Democratic Michigan Legislature. WAR! |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 5311 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:07 pm: | |
Why do I imagine Danny is typing with mittens and a helmet on? Yeah, this isn't a tactic, it's something that happens when a budget can't be compromised on. |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 2929 Registered: 10-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:13 pm: | |
Good! Let the people decide if Michigan really wants more socialism. Especially if that requires increased cigarette state excise taxes and still more excise taxes on liquor, and afterwards wine and beer. And then even higher state gas and income and inheritance taxes. And mandating that the taxpayers pay still more for teachers and government employees' salaries and healthcare benefits. I guarantee at some point that the taxpayers will let Jenny know that she'll be leading only a relatively few to and over the cliff when she heads that way... |
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 1145 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:18 pm: | |
If they shut the govt down, do we no longer have to pay taxes for those days? Will we save 4 percent on our income tax, six percent on goods, and 19 cents on a gallon of gas? |
Ccbatson Member Username: Ccbatson
Post Number: 233 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:25 pm: | |
Correct it is not a tactic, but it can be used as a political tool. The trick is to communicate to the public that the other side is responsible for the impasse. |
Gmich99 Member Username: Gmich99
Post Number: 171 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:33 pm: | |
The government of Michigan is running out of enough money to maintain its operating expenses. The state legislature, not the governor is responsible for passing taxes, and approving the budget. The legislature rolled back taxes, but did not cut expenses. No one wants to pay taxes, or seems to recognize the purpose of taxes, but no one wants to cut any major funding to anything unless it doesn't affect them. The Michigan Constitution requires the state legislature to balance the budget. The state cannot sell its debt to China and the EU like our federal government. |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 5312 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:38 pm: | |
Ccbatson, of course it can be used as a political tool. A politician would be a fool not to when something as embarrassing as a government shutdown, happens. |
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge
Post Number: 311 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:41 pm: | |
I'd like to hear some ideas on how to cut expenses. All I hear is anti-tax talk, don't raise our taxes, lower our taxes... Then what expenses should be cut? Something has got to give. |
Livernoisyard Member Username: Livernoisyard
Post Number: 2931 Registered: 10-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 11:49 pm: | |
quote:... and 19 cents on a gallon of gas? It's misleading suggesting that Michigan's total gas tax is only 19 cents/gal. Depending upon the gas price at the time, the state sales tax tacked onto the gas tax runs another 11 to 18 or so cents per gallon. So instead, Michigan's gas tax is about the highest in the country already. Only a very few states tax their gas at anywhere near 30 cents per gallon, and Michigan's is clearly over that amount. |
Dnvn522 Member Username: Dnvn522
Post Number: 215 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 7:07 am: | |
So we shouldn't have to pay sales tax on gas? Why not? |
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 559 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 7:40 am: | |
She should shut it down just like Corzine did in New Jersey last year. I hope this just isn't another one of her idle threats. Maybe someone will actually start to take her seriously... I remember driving up the NJ turnpike reading the electric signs flashing "The State of New Jersey is Closed". |
Bratt Member Username: Bratt
Post Number: 523 Registered: 01-2004
| Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 9:36 am: | |
Okay, so I just read that a democrat is drawing up something to propose a tax on electric companies. This would bring in $1 billion annually. If the electric companies agree to the tax, the State would agree to not allow any competition. Excuse me? Of course they are going to agree to this. All they are going to do is pass the tax increase along to us. We need more competition you idiot! Our utility bills are already way too high. We should have just passed the 2% service tax. |
Beavis1981 Member Username: Beavis1981
Post Number: 487 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 9:53 am: | |
She doesn't have the balls. (pun intended) Her decisions are often wishy-washy at best. Couldn't stand up to unions and remained about as neutral as can be on the gay-marriage thing. Somebody please tell me how a f--king c_nt of a canadian is supposed to know anything about a working-class, manufacturing economy. Anyways I can't really blame her, I think that giant wart is actually an Alien implant. The wart is the one who truly "runs"<-LOL michigan. |
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia
Post Number: 837 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 9:55 am: | |
Just shut it down. |
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 1147 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 9:57 am: | |
"It's misleading suggesting that Michigan's total gas tax is only 19 cents/gal. " Gas is a good, I mentioned the goods tax. |
Atl_runner Member Username: Atl_runner
Post Number: 1960 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 10:01 am: | |
Sell the Naming rights to the State of Michigan for a few years. Introducing, the Comerica Fifth Third Bank, State of Michigan.. joke, but that's how bad the situation appears up there. |
Gannon Member Username: Gannon
Post Number: 8826 Registered: 12-2003
| Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 10:11 am: | |
Atl_runner, I won't willingly yield my MONEY to a bank that cannot count if it is the fifth or third, I'm surely not going to gladly see our entire state maligned by their idiocy in naming! Heh. My bet is that the Gov's hubby and his extensive staff have scheduled their vacations for this time period, so they get paid. Whaddya think?! |
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 580 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2007 - 10:38 am: | |
Correct it is not a tactic, but it can be used as a political tool. The trick is to communicate to the public that the other side is responsible for the impasse. My point exactly. |
Gumby Member Username: Gumby
Post Number: 1546 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 10:24 am: | |
http://www.michigan.gov/docume nts/gov/eo2007-3_190893_7.pdf |
Dnvn522 Member Username: Dnvn522
Post Number: 224 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 11:29 am: | |
quote:She doesn't have the balls. Why not? She's done it before. |
Ccbatson Member Username: Ccbatson
Post Number: 245 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 9:52 pm: | |
Privatization is how to cut expenses. All state run programs would be assessed for feasability, open bidding to private companies, once privatized, the costs and profits of any state run service will become, well, private. Since government is the most inefficient way to run a business, guaranteed to lose money, give the private sector the opportunity. |
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 754 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 10:18 pm: | |
quote:So we shouldn't have to pay sales tax on gas? Why not? The point is that Michigan levies the state sales tax on the price of gas after including the state gas tax - in other words, they tax the tax. This is the hallmark of a high-tax state.
Should five per cent appear too small, Be thankful I don't take it all. 'Cause I’m the taxman, Yeah, I’m the taxman. (if you drive a car, car;) - I’ll tax the street.... |
Bob Member Username: Bob
Post Number: 1422 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 11:30 pm: | |
I am guessing that if the government was shut down there owuld be some things that we would notice and some things we would not. One big thing we would notice if schools districts (and charter schools) that would shut down. The state is supposed to pay schools their money on May 20th, which amounts to about a billion dollars. Those that have some fund balance left will still be able to operate, but most do not have enough in savings to operate. Having that many children home will definitely make people take notice. |
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan
Post Number: 5323 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 11:51 pm: | |
Mike, The hallmark of a high-tax state is that it has high taxes. Michigan, when ranked by total tax per capita, ranked number 18 in 2005 according to the census, outranked by such states as Arkansas and Minnesota. When ranked by State-Local Tax Burdens, by rate in 2005 by CNNMoney.com, Michigan ranked 22nd. Really, I could find all types of different tax measures, it's evident that Michigan generally ranks in the middle. This is not to argue that out tax system is outdated or couldn't be made more efficient. I think it's pretty obvious that it is. I guess my point is that you don't have to mis-represent Michigan as a "high-tax" state to advocate for better and lower taxing. |
Planner_727 Member Username: Planner_727
Post Number: 97 Registered: 07-2006
| Posted on Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 12:24 am: | |
A government shutdown typically involves prioritizing the critical operations needed. The State Police will not stop operating or cut shifts, but they'll stop any cadet training classes, put promotions and overtime on hold, and cancel training sessions. Schools likely will still recieve their payments; there are certain things that would do irreprable harm. On a side note, I work with urban and transportation planning on a private level, and we have heard just today that there is a freeze on all State grants. Several projects we were working on have contacted us to stop work until they have funding restored. Hopefully this is temporary; the grants the state issues (at least those we're dealing with) are a very efficient and pro-active use of tax dollars that have a short-term and long-term, measurable benefits for communities across the state. |
Ccbatson Member Username: Ccbatson
Post Number: 248 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 1:12 am: | |
Number 1 is the highest tax state, right? So, bottom third or so.....Anything wrong with being the best? Bottom third with an acutely depressed economy doesn't sound good at all. |
Mikeg Member Username: Mikeg
Post Number: 756 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 1:48 pm: | |
Lmichigan tries to convince us that Michigan is not a high tax state by offering ranking examples that show our state being the 18th and 22nd least tax-friendly state out of 50. But doesn't that mean that a majority of the states have lower taxes than Michigan? Don't let that confuse you, take it from Lmichigan, we're not a high-tax state - why we're almost down near the middle of the pack! Yay! But if Granholm has her way, we'll be moving up the ranking charts with a bullet! Seems Michigan's government needs more revenue to fund the gov's proposed budget spending increase and there's no longer any employment growth to count on. Michigan: "taxing your gas taxes until you die, then we'll tax your FULL estate if you make the mistake of letting it grow past $2M". |
Ccbatson Member Username: Ccbatson
Post Number: 259 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Sunday, April 01, 2007 - 10:54 pm: | |
It seems to me that it is a very bad time to be a liberal Governor in Michigan. When times aren't so bad (and they are so bad right now thanks to organized labor) the citizenry will tolerate more taxation which is the core MO of liberals. Right now the exact opposite is true. The only hedge in favor of socialist liberals is the large group of dependants created by their entitlement programs making for a large block of voters that are obligated by circumstances to vote for the liberals. Problem is, the economy can't sustain the revenues required for Granholm to feed her dependents. For this to happen, the non dependent productive citizens have to provide the revenue. Ask them to do so, when a neighboring state doesn't and watch how fast they move away (ala Comerica). Maybe the electorate will wise up in the next election cycle. |
Bobj Member Username: Bobj
Post Number: 1887 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, April 02, 2007 - 9:48 am: | |
ccbatson, The lines who spends more are a bit blurry with the Bushman bringing on the deficit spending he has at the Federal level, additionally, Jenny inherited a mess from the other big spender, Mr Engler. I am not in favor of more taxes. What I am in favor of is the Dems and Republican sitting down and coming up with spending cuts that make sense and and not all this gamesmenship that has gone on. If after careful consideration of the needs of the State, more taxes are needed, then so be it. We do need a replacement for the Single Business Tax, we cannot cut our way out of that. |
Mthouston Member Username: Mthouston
Post Number: 814 Registered: 01-2006
| Posted on Monday, April 02, 2007 - 10:12 am: | |
quote:When times aren't so bad (and they are so bad right now thanks to organized labor) the citizenry will tolerate more taxation which is the core MO of liberals That,s a pretty bold statement Cc do really believe that organized labor in cause for Michigan economic problems? |
Swingline Member Username: Swingline
Post Number: 772 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, April 02, 2007 - 10:35 am: | |
CC has a good job, works hard and deserves to keep his money. Income taxes are socialist. He also deserves to live in his home worth several hundred thousand dollars and not pay property taxes over, say about $3000. None of those state employees or school employees work as hard as he does and we don't need a lot of them anyway. Those extra employees, as well as all those poor folks who get entitlements like Medicaid and AFDC are sponging off of hard working folks like CC. Oh, and by the way, CC also deserves a fully funded Social Security old age benefit, a beefed up Medicare and especially that nice new Medicare prescription drug benefit. Those aren't really entitlements, he earned them through hard work. |