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    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    Pete Hoekstra supports a tax increase


    By Republican Michigander, Section News
    Posted on Sat Mar 20, 2010 at 02:58:14 PM EST
    Tags: Pete Hoekstra, taxes (all tags)

    We all know Andy Dillon supports higher taxes, but I'm a little disappointed in Hoekstra. He was until this my second choice for governor, and one where I wouldn't have to hold my nose in supporting outside of that one bailout vote that left me a bit sour. Well, now the bailout vote isn't the only thing that has me sour.

    From the Detroit News

       

    Beverly Hills -- Two early poll leaders in the Michigan governor's race -- Democrat Andy Dillon and Republican Pete Hoekstra -- found more common ground than differences Friday in a rare joint appearance at Detroit Country Day School.

        They agreed term limits block political relationships in Lansing; it takes too long for businesses to get regulatory permits; right-to-work legislation would be too divisive; and the state needs to retool its tax system, including extending the sales tax to services.

        From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100320/POLITICS02/3200331/1409/rss36#ixzz0ik1tJarD

    Extending the sales tax to services is a tax increase. We pay more for goods. More money goes to government which has proven itself unable to live within its means. Just as Pete Hoekstra voted to bailout the banks which fubared, he now wants to bail out government by taxing others like a democrat.

    There's more:

       

    Hoekstra said Michigan has a "crazy" business climate that drives investors to other states. He called for elimination of the Michigan Business Tax, as well as the levies businesses pay on equipment, and lowering the state income tax and the property tax on second homes to spur more out-of-state people to buy here. He favors initially ratcheting down the sales tax and extending it to services, but then going to voters to ask for a sales tax boost to offset reductions in other taxes


    It's easy to be against the MBT. It was a poorly thought out rush job of a replacement to the bad Single Business Tax. (Thanks to Joe Hune for opposing that piece of crap). I oppose that too, but we have a spending problem more than a revenue problem, and punishing the types of businesses that may be growing is a piss poor way to spur growth. I'm fairly certain though that Pete Hoekstra's plan is a duplicate of self proclaimed "Business Leaders for Michigan" and Granholm's plan of a measly 1/2 cent cut on sales tax only to tax services at that race. It's a tax increase. Period, and needs to be opposed 100%. It was wrong when Granholm wanted a two penny tax. It's worse with BLFM's 5.5 cent per dollar tax increase.

    It was fiscal liberalism from Republicans that cost us both the state house and congress in 2006. We don't need more of the same. Pete Hoekstra unfortunately seems to have caught beltwayitis and is bringing it here. No thanks Pete, and I expected better from you.

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    Need a compromise (none / 0) (#2)
    by jdwalshjr on Sat Mar 20, 2010 at 04:42:15 PM EST
    I don't think it's constructive to get in an argument about what is and what is not a tax increase. But I can tell you this ... the data is clear that high business taxes (and a negative business climate in general) are driving away employers from our state. We need to lower those high costs of doing business because if we don't, the high unemployment numbers (about which there is NO argument) will only continue.

    Unfortunately, Democrats have insisted on a purportedly revenue-neutral reform package. It appears that the only way we can improve our business climate is by expanding the sales tax to cover some services and reducing it to 5.5%. In the current political climate, a compromise with Democrats seems to be the only way of promoting job growth. But such a compromise should also include key reforms like REDUCING the size of state government, encouraging consolidation of services, and rationalizing the benefits to state employees.

    Check out www.michiganturnaroundplan.com. I think this is the only way we can get somewhere.

    If Revenue Neutral... (none / 0) (#3)
    by Tom McMillin on Sat Mar 20, 2010 at 06:27:10 PM EST
    If it were revenue neutral --- say a $500M sales tax increase for a $500M decrease in MBT or personal taxes...many conservatives - hardcore conservatives, would say its not a tax increase.  And if, say, other taxes (MBT/Personal income tax, etc) is cut $600M, then it seems it'd be accurate to call it a tax cut.  

    But all in one year.  None of this $500M sales tax increase now, for a three year phase out of the MBT surcharge (which is what Granholm is pushing currently) -- that would be a tax increase.

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