"The first step, however, to government's economic recovery is an honest acknowledgement of the crisis. Denial is no longer an option, and reliance on tired old solutions and political rhetoric will not change our fortunes."

How about a "new" solution.

Mandate that state spending MUST include the authorization from the Michigan Constitution. Specifically, the coresponding article(s) and section(s) for appropriation bill(s).

No authorization is included. No spending is allowed.

That will clean things up quite a bit right there.

You are in charge of the Senate. If you really want to make a change, it is within your power to do so.

jskorup, what you're encountering isn't a promotion for a tax hike, but rather "education".

This is a tried and true method promulgated by groups like the MML & SEMCOG to "inform" taxpayers what will happen when they do not get the tax hike they want.