“It’s a first step. It’s a big step – don’t get me wrong. In a bipartisan way, the Michigan Senate was ready to say, `We want to fix roads and we’ll take tough votes to do it,”‘ said Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, a Monroe Republican.
“What I would say is the House action doesn’t get us there fast enough or far enough. It also creates major consequences to schools and local partners — that I don’t want to see negative things happen to them,” said Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.
And these guys are “republicans”?
So, who’s thirsty?
{Not to fear, more below the fold}
The days are counting down.
Five days left (after today) in the 97th Session of the Michigan Legislature.
Five more days to look for new and innovative ways to pick your pocket under the guise making Michigan Roads better.
Yes, Michigan Families and Businesses need to make the tough decisions on where to spend their money when things get tight.
But we’re Lansing politicians, we know how to better spend your money than you do.
So what if we haven’t done an honest job overseeing what monies we do collect from you.
P’shaw!
We’re doing this for the kids, you know. That’s it. We’re doing it for the kids.
You don’t want to hurt the kids now, do you?
There really isn’t anything left for us to cut to pay for this.
So, who’s up for a drink?
.
.
.
Really now, why is it that a hard decision?
On one side, we have the Michigan Senate and Governor (both “republicans”) stumping for an almost doubling of the Michigan gas tax.
On the other side, we have the Michigan House finally making the call to put the nearly $1-billion from the sales tax collected at the pump into the roads. Technically, it will eventually be a one-for-one swap when the wholesale tax is phased in over several years.
Still, there are calls for some kind of “compromise” buzzing about.
The talking head shows this weekend were a little stumped on how they could actually pull off a stunt like that.
On the surface, it is almost like shoving a square peg into a round hole.
That is until Rep. Forlini kind of let the cat out of the bag that one of the scenarios being considered on last Sunday’s “Let it Rip”; Start shifting away the sales tax towards the wholesale tax while simultaneously imposing the Richardville Gas Tax. The additional revenue would be used to “hold harmless” schools and local units of government if the economy doesn’t improve.
Um, yeah?
A “temporary” tax hike.
I’ll tell you what. Let’s just stick with the Michigan House’s gas tax plan and use some ideas from people like Sen. Colbeck and the Mackinac Center on where more than enough money in the Michigan Budget can be cut.
Like I said earlier, Michigan Families and Businesses have been doing this for a long time now.
And if they can do it, then a Cracker Jack business leader like Rick Snyder should have no trouble implementing most, if not all, of those ideas.
In the meantime; Don’t forget about the AFP Citizen Activist Day at the Michigan Capitol, December 10th, 9:00am
Among other issues, lawmakers will consider a gas tax hike in the “lame duck” legislative session. With 80 lawmakers unable to run for re-election, your voice in the policymaking process is needed now more than ever!
AFP experts will provide training and talking points that will equip you to interact with your policymakers on this and other issues. A complimentary breakfast and lunch will be served for all who come out to lobby their lawmakers.
Day at the Capitol
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Contact: Bev Sempsrott or Annie Patnaude at Americans for Prosperity-Michigan with questions, (517) 853-9073 or infomi@afphq.org
(15)Nuh Uh.
(4)
The real issue here is whether $ 1 billion in extra annual spending will result in a discernible improvement in Michigan roads. Despite MDoT's assurances, it will not - unless truck weights are brought down or road building standards are markedly improved. Proponents of additional road funding by itself are unwittingly subscribing to the 'broken window' theory of economic growth.
And that is the fundamental problem that Michigan Motorists are facing right now.
Remember: Rick Snyder took his little road show to a section of freeway that the State of Michigan started work on back in 2007 and spent nearly a year rebuilding.
The fact that he stood there with a straight face several days ago looking at the cameras, holding up a section of crumbling roadway and told people that Michigan NEEDED higher taxes to fix our roads was insulting to our intelligence (to say the least).
As I cited earlier, the techniques used to build The Davidson Freeway are not part of some arcane lost technology.
If you cannot (will not?) do the job correctly in the first place, building roads using proven substandard methods from this point on is a waste of Michigan Motorists hard-earned money.
Yeah, those long lasting Michigan roads. Few years back they repaved parts of I-69 between Flint and Swartz Creek. During the first winter the road began cracking, crumbling, and sinking. In less than a year. The state did that section over. Then did it a third time. Within just four years. This last time they finally got it right.
The crazy way our roads are fixed makes me wonder who they hire. Do these people have experience? I remember when roads lasted decades. Now they last less than five years before needing major work.
Scam. By a lot of people.
Nice turnout.
If I remember correctly, I believe it was Krauthammer, who said something to the effect about November's election - Yes, we know, The Left led early at the polls, then quitting time came for The Right, and the rest is history.