Michigan

2015 MIGOP State Convention, Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

Why is Prop 15-1 a $2 Billion Dollar Tax Hike?

by Corinthian Scales • February 12, 2015 • 4 Comments

I don’t have time to mince words today so, I’ll let the headline speak for itself.

Media Muddles Magnitude of May Tax Hike Vote

Speaking of muddlers, it’s the parasite from Monroe, who wouldn’t go away.

allah Shazam! Yes, here’s how they voted on SB 509 and SB 1149 (Take note of names alleged Taxed Enough Already folks). More background here. Furthermore, good riddance to an Engler era affirmative action toady. Downside is Meekhof replaced that with a Richardville toady.

That said, Governor Spanky presented his $54 Billion dollar budget yesterday.

Asked whether he can find $1.2 billion in the state’s $52 billion total budget (federal & state funds), @onetoughnerd simply replies: “No.”

— Chad Livengood (@ChadLivengood) January 12, 2015

Ps. with respect to the MCC article above, well, Jim Stamas is a documented a**hole.

You Betcha!

(17)Nuh Uh.

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2015 MIGOP State Convention, Cronyism, Detroit, Elections, Michigan, Opinion, Philosophy, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

R Gang: 16.7% Sales Tax Hike for roads is a “Grand” Bargain

by Corinthian Scales • February 11, 2015 • 2 Comments

How will that Sales Tax Hike work? Here’s more Snyder/Calley & Jones Day “Grand” bargain at work.

Costs for water service would rise an average of 9.3 percent this year in Metro Detroit under rates proposed Wednesday by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

The department’s board discussed preliminary water rates for the 2015-16 fiscal year, which would rise 3.4 percent for Detroit customers and 11.3 percent for suburban users, on average.

Suburban customers’ water bills could be even higher, [snip]
MORE

Remember what WXYZ warned? Pay up, suckers.

Not to say I told ya so, but… I told ya so.

You Betcha!

(15)Nuh Uh.

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Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Proposal 15-1, Taxes

Another Glitch in the ‘Road’ Tax Package

by 10x25MM • February 10, 2015 • 7 Comments

Legislative Craftsmanship at its Finest

A week ago we found out that the new road tax package vehicle registration fee system would end its Federal tax deductibility. Now Gongwer News Service is reporting another glitch, this time in the gasoline sales tax provisions of the road tax package:

Fix Planned to Correct Sales Tax Problem in Roads Plan

The administration of Governor Rick Snyder will seek legislation to correct a potential problem in the road funding plan that as written would lift the sales tax off of gasoline only for motor vehicles, but not for boats, snowmobiles and other non-road purposes like generators and gasoline-powered equipment.

As currently constructed, that would create a mess for retailers who theoretically would have to determine whether or not to charge the sales tax and even ask customers filling up a gasoline can what the intended use of the purchase is. The Citizens Research Council of Michigan, as part of a broad analysis it is conducting on the road funding plan, noted the quirk and provided the information to Gongwer News Service.

It will be interesting to see how Governor Snyder fixes this. Purchasing gasoline for your boat or ORV could become a really entertaining bureaucratic exercise. Ready for the ‘Gasoline Police’? Think of the new forms to be filled out.

CRCoM is a collection of the usual corporate interests orbiting Michigan government. Not certain why they would have ratted out this bungle to Gongwer, but it does suggest a certain degree of unease among the establishment.

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(17)Nuh Uh.

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Elections, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Proposal 15-1

Northern Resistance

by Jason • February 10, 2015 • 9 Comments

Two Northern County parties on record in opposition to proposal 15-1.

Antrim and Grand Traverse County Republicans have said “nope.”

Last Thursday (February 5, 2015), a couple of Northern Michigan county conventions had the opportunity to vote on a resolution in opposition to the 17% sales tax increase. With only ONE dissenting in the Antrim County convention, and NO vocalized dissent in the Grand Traverse County convention, both county Republican parties made it clear that the tax increase was unacceptable.

The GTGOP event had about 70 voting delegates present. Antrim had 43 signed in

2015 MIGOP State Convention, Cronyism, Elections, Michigan, Opinion

13 Days and Counting…

by Corinthian Scales • February 9, 2015 • 1 Comment

“a family and *police* matter.”

It most certainly is beginning to appear that way.

You Betcha!

(23)Nuh Uh.

(6)

Cronyism, Michigan, Michigan Politics, Opinion, Proposal 15-1, Republicans

The King Says Vote Yes On May 5th

by Jason • February 7, 2015 • 17 Comments

No level of protection for the taxpayer is left, as any defining lines to cross are swept away like sand.

That’s right, ‘the king’ dictates a yes vote.

Enjoy the commercial Rick Snyder has made with taxpayer dollars. All we did was add the funk for all the junk in Lansing’s trunk.

When the bureaucracy cannot (or WILL NOT) tell the difference between an opinion and a directive (express advocacy), no citizen protections are left in play. The Bureau of Elections had already tipped its hand that a denial of my complaint was coming prior to receiving it. The spokesguy Fred Woodhams made that announcement even admitting they had not yet seen it.

How could it possibly be doing its job if it had already made the decision without review of the facts? How could the process be properly run, if the denial of the complaint had to be crafted and spun to fit a predetermined outcome? Strangely enough, Woodhams himself has previously said that no statements about such things should happen prior to review. In 2012:

“Secretary of State Spokesman Fred Woodhams said that the office had received the complaint as of Friday. Woodhams said the Secretary of State’s office does not comment on allegations until they have an opportunity to review it.”

Pretty FUNKY, yes?

Indeed. Something stinks in Lansing, and it ain’t the Red Cedar Drain.