Philosophy

Want to see what a Michigan republican party-backed $195-million Taxpayer funded bailout of Detroit gets you?

Just to be on the level, I’m not going to bring back stories about grossly overpaid art museum CEO’s and their boards, not-so secret loans to art museum CEO’s, and art millage scams promoted against Tri-County Taxpayers.

Feel free to use that search window in the upper-right corner if you’re inclined to read more about it.

No, I’m going to talk about what the good people in the Snyder/Calley/Weiser/et al republican machine are in effect helping to promote with your own hard-earned tax dollars.

Just a quick warning to those who wish to continue: The remainder of this post does contain some graphic and disturbing descriptions.

Consider yourselves warned!

{Continued after the fold}

You Betcha! (20)Nuh Uh.(0)

Second Highest Sales Tax in the Nation and Chasing Away Employers

They_screw_the_little_guyWell, that’s what the Snyder/Calley Ballot Proposal to raise the sales tax 16.7% is – Second only to California – and we all know (or should know) what a fabulous job creator environment California is, right? Can you say exodus? Yes, high taxes are a factor driving business away but, massive regulatory issues also plague them, which destroys jobs and their creators. Interestingly enough, and very similar to the Golden State, our One Party Rule majority in Lansing, is on floundering course to the same tax and regulatory environment as can be reviewed here.

Oh! Then there is this wee bit of judicial tax policy “intent” legislating from the bench.

The controversy involves 134 out-of-state companies doing business in Michigan. They sued to collect $1.1 billion in refunds they believed they were due under the 2007 law. If they prevailed, the loss would have created a large hole in the state budget.

happy-snyderThe Michigan Supreme Court ruled in July that IBM could receive tax credits under the old law.
….

Tricia Kinley, senior director of Tax & Regulatory Policy for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, said she had not reviewed Talbot’s decision [Engler appointee], but the chamber believed the Supreme Court decision on the IBM case should have settled the issue. She said the chamber found it “utterly disappointing and stunning” when the Legislature and Snyder signed the law to “undermine” the high court’s decision.

“That sends a chilling message to job providers,” said Kinley. “You can try to have your day in court, but even if you go through the great pains of litigating and you win, the Legislature might pull the rug out from under you.”

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Bill Schuette, who defended the state in the case, referred questions to the state Treasury Department, where no one could be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Surprised the top cop and the taxman hide from their retroactive thievery? Not really, as it has become standard operating procedure for those in today’s government, and an electorate with a 30 sec. attention span. Nevertheless, isn’t this refreshing to see someone at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce has the integrity to speak truth to power? I’m actually glad to see a woman wearing the pants at the chamber who boldly calls it the way it is without pulling any punches on The Big Spending Party.

Yes, Mr. Studley, we are directing this at you. It’s time for your leadership against $700 million more for non-road related spending.

Ps. Uh-hum, tis the season, you know? Until we’re proven wrong, res ipsa loquitor

You Betcha! (19)Nuh Uh.(1)

Merry Christmas To The Calleys

The lieutenant governor of Michigan expresses his CHRISTmas greeting.

There is no doubt we feel that Brian Calley could have made a difference by fighting much of Snyder’s progressive left agenda if he had acted the conservative he has claimed to be.

But this is a different message.  It is the message of the REASON for the SEASON.  It is about the birth of our savior, and what it means.  It is also a message that the sitting governor of our state (unlike those in Wisconsin or Indiana) is afraid to, or does not believe in sufficiently, to promote.  Indeed, “Happy holidays” doesn’t cut it.  And while some folks can water down their expectations by claiming that “Holy-days” was compressed into “holidays,” we must then ask “who’s holidays (holy days)?”

Right.

Thank you Mr and MRS Calley for your heartfelt wishes and exclamation of the reason for the season; Jesus Christ, and his promise of forgiveness. It is one that goes beyond our political desires.

Merry Christmas to the Calleys from RightMi.com

You Betcha! (12)Nuh Uh.(12)

Maybe A little Mis-Read?

A Traverse City Retailer might well feel the pain of his misplaced good cents.

There will be more than a few legislators regretting their turkey moves of additional regulatory rules during the ‘lame duck’ session.

But its not just the legislators. ‘Exhibit A,’ might well be a story that ‘celebrates’ the “early Christmas present” that Front Street Traverse City business received via SB 569 and SB 658 on Friday Morning. Demonstrating that the lobbying efforts of a few rent seeking business interests are not at all in line with taxpayer interests, the piece on Saturday’s TC Ticker starts with the ‘celebration’ of the “main-street fairness” law:

“It’s been years in the making, but state lawmakers have handed brick-and-mortar retailers like Bill Golden and others throughout Traverse City and Michigan a welcome Christmas present. Starting in October, more online retailers will have to add on Michigan’s sales tax to customer purchases — just like Michigan retailers have always had to do.”

Of course, folks around here (and very likely in all other places) understand that what is sold as fairness is usually anything but fair.

You Betcha! (19)Nuh Uh.(0)

Oh Noes!

Just happened across an amusing yet insightful Skubick piece where after wading through canned Snyder vague response answers, it appears that our enlightened governor is having a sad moment over those with opinions in the blogosphere.

To be sure the governor did not raise this issue, but he was not bashful about wading into the debate regarding what appears on the blogs that dot the political landscape on the Internet.

sad_snyder_keanu_reeves_meme_He reads some of them and he is concerned.
….

As for the number he assigned to the intellectual offerings he opines, “it’s a very low number.”

A minus number?

He would not go that low but he did offer, “Too often it’s people not acting with civility and
respect. They often are quite mean to one another.”

Well golly gee willikers, effeminate King Richard. Does it make one wonder that every time Snyder dreams up another way to grow government or, blow through yet another $1.9 BILLION on things unrelated to the original purpose of roads, why there may be a lack of civility? Seriously, how endearing is it for anyone to have a Republican in the governor’s office, who when he does not receive his way when in conflict to Party platform, his chosen course of action is to stomp his feet like a spoiled brat child who has never been taught the word ‘no’ in his life? Respect that? Nope, not me. Respect is earned, and not doled out just because one has ability of processing air.

In other news for MI-GOP chair… Sen. Colbeck has chosen to breathe new life into the Rodney Dangerfield joke. Yessirree. Congratulations, Pat, I was wrong about the soap as you’ve now removed any respect I once had for you. Oh! And, Hezbo Paul is contemplating a run, too. Swell. Just, swell.

You Betcha! (29)Nuh Uh.(1)

Why wait?

It's time for the creation a statewide "Tax Me More" Fund. Just think of the possibilities.

When I got back in range of Michigan radio stations this morning and caught the diabetes-inducing, sugar-coating that Gov. Snyder and the proponents of this road funding sham were trying to spoon-feed Michigan Taxpayers, several things came to mind.

Take a sip…you’ll enjoy it!!!

 

You Betcha! (13)Nuh Uh.(0)

Stop The 16.7% Tax Increase

Stop the sixteen point seven percent tax increase May 5th.

Higher taxes, and the return of redistribution aided advanced by Republicans in Lansing last night.

A May 5th special election will have poor voters deciding if they will be getting more cheese.  The corporate abusers will get their pie, and the rest of us in the middle will get the bill.  Pandering welfare gimmicks, corporate cronyism on steroids and a blanket party for the working class.  Whats not to love?

STOP-167

You Betcha! (18)Nuh Uh.(2)

Constantine is Giving us our Wings

Not sure if others noticed this in the Detnews.com yesterday, however, while our strabismus AG rummaged about his archaic footnotes of legalese, and even citing back to his Democratic Party predecessor as to somehow absolve an end to justify a collectivist means – there is this.

Macedonian_MafiaOlympia keeps all revenue, including concessions and parking, and any naming rights deal. In an earlier interview with The Detroit News, Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings Inc, defended the way the arena was paid.

“A public-private partnership is the only way any of these type of projects work in an urban environment,” he said.

He pointed out that while The Palace of Auburn Hills was paid for by private owners, the key difference is it’s an isolated venue in the suburbs.

“The Palace gets all the revenues from parking, concessions, retail,” Ilitch said, pointing out that those sources of revenue are key to the financial success of a major venue.

Did you catch that? Out in the boonies of alleged sparse populous, a billionaire with his own money, is to house his own business with rightful privilege to any and all revenue gained from his ancillary services provided to his customer.

Now, contrast the above with the “urban environment” festooned within a bailout, and the opulence of guaranteed populous in a 143 sq mile boundary, it is unequivocally noted by said li’l Caesar, that not only is what is his, his – what is ours is also his too.

Added bonus to us outside the bowels of “urban environment“?

The state reimburses schools for diverted money.

Well, golly gee. Thanks a lot for that, too!

You Betcha! (34)Nuh Uh.(2)