Tag: Higher Taxes

Its not as if they weren't warned.

State appointed Emergency Financial managers couldn't touch any pension contracts whatsoever. As a state initiated law, it would  have run afoul of article 9, section 24; the state's own constitutional protection for pensions.  The EFM law was however, a tool to readjust current contracts not associated with those pensions.  Federal courts would have no say at that point.  But labor unions, and certain municipalities' elected bodies preferred to not allow such a thing.

Instead, a bankruptcy, fully clarified in the constitution as being under federal jurisdiction, takes the state's constitutional protections of those pensions off the table.

"Bait and switch," a term he uses to describe the promises and ultimate product, is no stranger to any government program designed to help so many.  He writes:

"In 2012, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that the United States leads the world in health care research and disease treatment.

For the 85% of Americans that have health insurance, the access they have to cutting edge, life saving technologies is among the very best in the world.

But not every American has insurance, with upwards of 49 million being uninsured, according to the 2010 Census.

The question for policy makers in Lansing and in Washington should be what to do to help the 15% gain access to the quality care that the rest of us have.

Unfortunately, Washington and Lansing's answer has been to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

In 2010, Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the widely unpopular and flawed Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Among the provisions of this act is enticing Michigan to put an additional 300,000 citizens on Medicaid with the promise that the federal government would pay for taxpayers' additional costs.

When the expansion was first voted on in the House, I supported it. This wasn't really Obamacare, we were told. This was Michigan getting its fair share back from Washington.

It initially seemed like a good deal for Michigan taxpayers, who receive back only $0.80 for every tax dollar they send to Washington.

But there was more to the bill.

The governor actually does something that makes sense, (and only 2-3 decades late) and the protectors of leftist failures jump into action. And, the kids are getting hurt feelings. Yesterday's Detroit Bankruptcy filing made little Rose cry.  She thought she had beat the bad man to the punch.  So she has retaliated:

"Aquilina said she would make sure President Obama got a copy of her order."

Kevyn Orr, The emergency financial manager, was given an unworkable task. In a city that has been reassured repeatedly that it is too big to fail, the lights are going out. All manner of economic development incentive paid for by Michigan taxpayers as yet proves to be insufficient to generate the activity necessary for basic government services, and a sustained infrastructure. Four decades of progressive politics and fear of calling out bad decision making as it happened; fearing the sting of racial politics, and lack of compassion.

Its far too late now.

Banks that have loaned Detroit operating cash should count those loans as losses.  Retirees that did their jobs, and counted on their employer to manage finances and their retirement moneys appropriately might wish to reevaluate their portfolios. Orr's current status report?

"Excluding proceeds from debt issuances, the City's expenditures have exceeded revenues from fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2012 by an average of $100 million annually. These financial shortfalls have been addressed with long term debt issuances (e.g., $75 million in fiscal year 2008, $250 million in fiscal year 2010 and $137 million in fiscal year 2013) and by deferring payments of certain City obligations, such as contributions to the City's  two pension funds."

The accumulated unrestricted deficit was $326.6 million at the end of fiscal year 2012. Fiscal year 2013 (year ending June 30, 2013) is currently projected to add approximately $60 million to the accumulated unrestricted deficit balance (excluding the impact of the $137 million debt issuance).

There are some other interesting items that have a familiar smell

Jase Bolger attempting to keep ALL the options on the table for the road funding component of Michigan's budget speaks of reaching out across the aisle. From SFGATE on Saturday:

"They're saying, 'We want everything we want and then we'll give you no assurance that we'll help you with solving the road problems,'" said House Speaker Jase Bolger. "We're saying, 'Please, give us a list of what you want but participate in providing the solution at the same time.' ... We've continued to reach our hand out and that hand has not been returned."

Stop feeding the beast that would bite them off.  If they refuse to deal with such common sense solutions as removing the prevailing wage provisions (saving hundreds of millions annually) then they offer no value to the conversation.

Moving forward, ignore the buffoon in the other chamber:

"Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, a Monroe Republican, said the prevailing wage legislation won't go anywhere "unless I were to die."  "

NO?  Me either.

It just happens to be the analogy (well ONE of them) that comes to mind with what appears to be Michigan Democrat's pick for the US senate seat that is being vacated by Carl Levin in 2014.  Gary Peters is one of those cats that have been around for too long, with policy desires that stink to high heaven, and will be hauled out for even higher levels of destructive office occupation when they have nothing better to offer.

And they really don't. Have. Any. Better. Oh..Whats that smell?

MEET MICHIGAN DEM'S #1 RECRUIT For US SENATE
- He supports Cap & Trade.

There is nothing like a made up global crisis to provide for a cronyism scheme that is enforced by government to instill confidence in a free people, hmm?  His vote for the The job killing Waxman-Markey Bill; The "American Clean Energy And Security Act Of 2009" cleared the house 219-212.  Had it passed the senate, it would have mandated changes in the way we live our lives, eventually putting controls on when and HOW we could use energy without paying severe penalties.  In fact, if taken to the extremes, the air you breathe could have actually been taxed under that bill.

Take a deep breath.  There is more.

The effect on industry would have been even more draconian, effectively putting the EPA in charge of operational elements of all industry, adding regulatory expense and killing jobs.  A 20% mandate on renewable energy built in to the bill would have made it nearly impossible for energy producers to keep costs at a level that promotes local (U.S.A.) manufacturing and jobs. More jobs would flee to other nations that have yet to strangle their industrial base with such unrealistic legislation.

"Fair share" without repealing Prevailing Wage on the table, Mr. Zang?  If that isn't a load of Granholm-sized mental masturbating psychobabble, I don't know what is.  Nice try, Gov. Snydholm, but your taxpayer funded mob-rule bus tour for tax hikes would even make Obama blush with your blundering heavy-handed propaganda.

Snyder can't get his Exchange, and expansion of Medicaid abyss sitting Sen. Kahn's lap when Snyder has his Sales Tax, and Fuel Tax Hike scheme sitting in Sen. Kahn's lap too, so Slick Snyder scrapped Repeal of Prevailing Wage.  The Governerd played right into the Democrats hands unwittingly, or not.  More importantly, the Governerd is filling the goonion coffers for the Michigan Democratic Party voting base.  Talk about being "divisive," Governerd?

With the acceptance of 30.9 million of Federal money being offered to Michigan to fund the Health Care Exchange, 2013 could see Obama Care in MI and More! There is expected a Committee vote anytime, which has precipitated a grassroots backlash. This money is key to jump-starting the Health Care Exchange this year. It was stopped by our efforts last year. We can do it again! IT MUST BE DONE. Stopping the funding of the Health Care Exchange is necessary in stopping the expansion of Medicaid in Michigan as the Exchange will administer the program.

A press release issued this morning (published at Jen Kuznicki's blog and elsewhere) from other activists and grassroots leaders suggests withholding support from organizations which support the exchanges as well:

"The coalition of activists urges those who are like-minded members of The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM), Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Manufacturing Association and The Michigan Business and Professional Association to cancel membership until these organizations withdraw their support of the Exchange."