Michigan

Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Rent Seeking, Republicans, Taxes

Ron Boji et al. Pocket $134,000,000 for Their “Better View”

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Our wayward Elected Class spending saga continues via WXYZ

This pay-to-play wasteful spending has got to stop. So does this crap.

“I don’t like to look backwards. I’m a guy who looks forward and solves problems,” Pscholka said.

Snyder_54B_ballonWhat a pompous, can-kicking schmuck, but, there it is as plain as day. Rick Snyder’s playbook line used to justify his actions as a big spending, everyone connected gets a kickback Republican. You folks tired of hearing it yet? Guess not. Methinks, there’s a growing consensus they all should just be thankful there is a disinterested, ill-informed, and apathetic electorate otherwise all the Oath sworn f****** would be hearing footsteps in their sleep.

In other words, this is the government that has been consented to by our vote. Pay up, suckers…

SB 509 and SB 1149.

Ps. thanks for the empty words, Colbeck you fraud.

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Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Rent Seeking

It Would Be About Time

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moore-moneyTaxpayer provided incentives for one industry or another have always been morally wrong and with questionable results.

Maybe this time we can end ONE particular part of an ongoing ‘eating out of our substance’ for the purposes of one industry’s benefit.  HB4122 will do this, and we support its passage.  The Ivory Tower reports on the effort to push through this bill with some commentary on both sides of the debate.  Supporting removal of the subsidies is one former lawmaker:

“The film subsidies send much of the $50 million allocated to them, out of state — to Hollywood millionaires and billionaires,” said former state Rep. Tom McMillin, a leading opponent of the incentives. “A lot more jobs will be created by keeping that money in Michigan and employing Michigan workers to fix roads or keep the money in the pockets of business owners across the state, so they can hire more employees.”

Indeed, one of the missed points when giving taxpayer money away is what the benefit might have been if it had been left in the hands of those who produced it.

This is a start.  Rumors of a bill to end the MEDC have been floating around, and would be well received by overtaxed Michiganians, but so far no such effort from ANY lawmaker has borne any fruit.

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Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

Congratulations on the Reluctant Baby Steps

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Now that the Michigan Chamber of Commerce has bailed on Snyder and Calley two days ago, it becomes painfully obvious that somebody is sniffing at 2018 in the air.

Hinky_BillAttorney General Bill Schuette said Wednesday he opposes the Proposal 1 sales tax increase on the May 5 ballot, making him the latest Republican politician to buck Gov. Rick Snyder’s plan to raise $1.2 billion in new road funding.

Schuette told The Detroit News that the proposal’s $700 million in added taxes and spending on schools, municipalities and a tax break for low-income families are a bad policy prescription for fixing the state’s roads.

“On a policy basis, Prop 1 has a lot of potholes,” Schuette said in an interview. “There’s too much under the Christmas tree that goes beyond roads.”
….

Schuette would not say whether he would have supported a sales tax increase that dedicated new money only to roads and bridges.

MORE

Cutesy catchphrase that impresses some staffers, which is all fine and dandy, however, when is AG Schuette going to start probing MDOT with the department he created? Pick a spot. Any spot.

Interesting too is how Ruth Johnson now keeps her yap shut about the registration fee hike and loss of deduction within Proposal 2015-1, huh?

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Cronyism, Michigan, Opinion, Rent Seeking, Taxes

Wednesday Edition: Our Tax Dollars at Work…

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Read for yourself: http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?2015-HR-0026

Helluva job you’re doing there, Dave.

roach-motelDave is the owner of the Portage based real estate appraisal firm Maturen & Associates Inc. He holds a Michigan Certified General Real Estate Appraiser license, a Real Estate Broker license and the SR/WA designation from the International Right of Way Association (IRWA). He held a Level 3 Assessor Certificate for over 30 years. Dave worked for 13 years for the Property Tax Division of the State Treasury Department.

Dave served on the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners for 12 years and was chairman from 2012 to 2014. Prior to that he was a Brady Township (Kalamazoo County) Trustee for 14 years.

What an asset. Heavy on the ass part.

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Elections, Michigan, Republicans

Eleven Yo.

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Three side with the rule of law. Eleven put a blue ribbon on his prize.

IllegalsWell .. craps.

For those of you getting a little excited about being able to finally be proud of our Michigan delegation?  It’ll have to wait another day, or week, or decade in all likelihood. The vote? Three Michigan Republicans voted to enforce the rule of law through the ONE tool that congress has.

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 109
      H R 240      YEA-AND-NAY      3-Mar-2015      3:14 PM
QUESTION:  On Motion to Recede and Concur in the Senate Amendment
BILL TITLE: Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes

U.S. House of Representatives  
 
Representative Justin Amash (R) Voted NO on funding amnesty
3rd District – Cascade Township  
Committee:  
Oversight and Government Reform  
114 Cannon House Office Building  
Washington, D.C. 20515-2204  
(202) 225-3831  
(202) 225-5144 (fax)  
Contact Information: https://amash.house.gov/contact-me/email-me  
Website:http://amash.house.gov/  
 
Representative Dan Benishek (R) Voted Yes to fund amnesty
1st District – Crystal Falls  
Committees:  
Natural Resources;  
Veteran’s Affairs  
514 Cannon House Office Building  
Washington, D.C. 20515-2204  
(202) 225-4735  
(202) 225-4710 (fax)  
Contact Information: https://benishek.house.gov/contact-me/email-me  
Website:http://benishek.house.gov/  

READ MORE ►

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Cronyism, Michigan, Opinion, Rent Seeking, Taxes

Cradle to Grave

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Our *feel good* tax dollars at work…

not-convinced-wasted-workplace-ecard-someecardsIt’s possible Michigan students might have a state lawmaker reading to them in the classroom this month.

The leaders of the education committees in the Michigan Legislature are challenging their colleagues to each read to 1,000 Michigan students as a part of March is Reading Month.

Rep. Amanda Price, R-Park Township, and Sen. Phil Pavlov, R-St. Clair Township, issued the challenge to their colleagues last week. If each lawmaker reads to 1,000 children, the legislators would read to a total of 148,000 Michigan school children during March.

REST

Memo the Republican Majority in Lansing: You gaggle of inept simpletons are the last people who should be invading schools reading to children.

Yes, Snyder’s newest agenda pimp, John Walsh, proves that nobody can accuse Sen. Jones of being a liar.

Education is the parent’s responsibility – not yours.

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Cronyism, Michigan, Opinion, Taxes

Don’t act Surprised When They Broadcast Their Intentions

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The Michigan Gang Of Polyps are already priming the pump.

At the state convention just over a week ago, Republican activists elected his successor, Ronna Romney McDaniel, after he decided against running again. Schostak, 59, who also runs a Livonia commercial real estate company with his family, is leaving largely on a high note.
….
“A candidate way to the right may not win in Michigan. The candidate who portrays maybe a more centrist, middle-of-the-road right probably could be more successful in Michigan,” he said.

Yep, told you so.
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