Valid question.
One that I’m surprised to say I haven’t exactly got a definitive answer to.
{More after the fold}
Watching the backlash from Michigan Taxpayers who are slowing becoming aware of the inner working of Gov Snyder’s 16.7% sales tax hike is pleasantly reassuring.
Local democrats who were dotingly supporting this atrocity, including several of them who actually voted on it, can’t get away from it fast enough after getting more than an earful from their constituents. Even explaining the pork they so lovingly supported, which they thought could bribe voters with would bring people around (i.e. schools, buses, EITC) hasn’t blunted the growing opposition.
Statewide, republicans haven’t exactly been very enthusiastic about Gov. Snyder’s 16.7% sales tax hike either.
Oh sure, they’re toting the “let’s-all-hold-hands-and-sing-kumbayah” mantra of not publically embarrassing a sitting “republican” governor by vocally opposing his ill-conceived scheme that runs totally opposed to the party’s stated philosophy.
However, when you see them being interviewed, ranging from Speaker Kevin Cotter to newly elected Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Lil’ Ronna, I cannot help but notice a lack of conviction in their “support”. In fact, I would perceive a very visible ambivalence in their statements.
Even State Budget Director John Roberts admitted on last week’s Off the Record that he never included revenue from Gov. Snyder’s 16.7% sales tax hike in the upcoming budget.
Strange?
Gov. Snyder’s own number’s guy not including money collected from his own bosses 16.7% sales tax hike that he is personally heavily promoting in next year’s budget.
Well, moving on.
At this point you’re probably asking yourself; “So what are you getting at, KG?”
Well, here it is.
The one thing that I am constantly challenged with by advocates of Gov. Snyder’s 16.7% sales tax proponents is (echoed in all unlikely places…here), “So what is the alternative?”
My pat response has always been to cite the House Bill supported by former Speaker Bolger that simply reallocated the sales tax collected at the pump to go 100% towards roads.
Pass the bill. Get the guv to sign it (Override his veto if he doesn’t). Everyone head over to Finley’s to celebrate afterwards. We now have $1.2-billion that can be spent on Michigan Roads!
Slight problem with that scenario, that bill has yet to be re-introduced.
Now, this has troubled me for one simple reason, That guy sitting in his office at the Romney Building is just as aware as the rest of us that no one cares for his ill-conceived plan.
And despite his “relentless positive” demeanor, my observations of his actions to date show a personality which is actually that of a very spiteful man who doesn’t take well to failure. Oh sure, like any good actor, he smiles a lot on the outside. But, he also isn’t above turning around and putting the screws to those he felt had “wronged” him.
I really wouldn’t put it past him to have one of his catspaws in the Michigan Legislature throw a new bill in the hopper on May 6th to really shake down the Michigan Taxpayer (i.e. even higher registration fees, higher gas tax, extending his income tax hike even longer).
I think that now would be a great time to take that scenario out of the equation.
We really need to have someone reintroduce the bill so that the Legislature can tackle the issue of funding Michigan Roads
This really sounds like something for someone like Rep. Courser or Rep. Gamrat to introduce.
Thoughts?
(13)Nuh Uh.
(0)
Nope. No way. Not one more damn penny to Lansing, until MDOT is reined in, and this guy is either fired and/or behind bars wearing an orange jumpsuit. None of that phony corporatism mutual agreement resignation Golden Parachute bullsh!t, either - fired.
Bolger capitulated with his Bee-esS "plan," which is why we're where we are at with a pork laden $2B ballot proposal.
I overheard a prominent state rep at the Republican convention address this point. His opinion was that if the legislature tries to undermine the proposal by offering an alternative plan before the election, the Governor will blame them for its failure. However, if it fails on its own (which he expects), then tax increases will be off the table in the legislature.
Not saying he's right or wrong, but that's his thinking.
You damn straight, Skippy. Whoever the State Rep. was - stay out of it. Let the Nerd run with his carrot & stick game, and when it all turns to sh!t on the Nerd's head, let him be the one to play the game of using his MDOT Director giving taxpayers the stick. That SOB is exposed as the Granholm boob he is. Schuette is a disgrace.
Not one penny.
The Gov was missing from the biggest GOP social event of the year--was he afraid of boos? Gosh darn it, I even saw Teri Lynn Land there---She's braver than I thought.
Nobody has ever accused Mrs. Hibma of not being a blundering dunce. There is a difference, you know?
Build Roads and Bridges to Last:
1) MDoT has not developed a pavement joint design which can withstand Michigan's freeze-thaw weather cycles. In the short term, MDoT needs to come up with a new maintenance protocol to seal/reseal pavement joints. In the long term, MDoT should hold a competition to devise a superior joint design which outlasts the pavement. No more jointing repairs.
2) Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a major cause of premature concrete deterioration, especially in concrete bridge piers:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/concrete/asr/pubs/hif12022.pdf
This form of deterioration cut the lifespan of Detroit Metro's $ 225 million Runway 4L-22R in half:
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2015/01/04/airport-needs-rebuild-million-runway/21236323/
3) MDoT needs to honestly appraise the effects of Michigan's unique heavy truck loadings on pavement using instrumented pavement testing, not simplistic UTM laboratory tests.
4) Enforce contractor warranties:
http://www.audgen.michigan.gov/finalpdfs/14_15/r591021014.pdf
5) Favor low warranty contractors in bidding
Assess Michigan's Infrastructure Deficit and Develop a Remediation Plan
1) Conduct a genuine assessment of Michigan's infrastructure deficit with a list of needed projects and their estimated costs.
2) Propose a plan of remediation showing projects, timing, and total annual funding required over a 10 year period.
3) Develop a 10 year incremental funding plan which addresses infrastructure remediation and excludes boundless pork. At the end of the 10 year period, the tax increment ends. Period.
Notes
Our Nerd is not much of a corporate manager. I would be laughed out of a corner office if I went in with a proposal for open ended funding of a billion dollar project whose ultimate cost I could not or would not detail. I would be fired for proposing any project to the suits when I couldn't even assure them of my command of glaring technical issues with existing practices.
A closed end plan with mileposts is the only way to hold MDoT accountable. "Trust Me" is not an acceptable plan for remediating Michigan's infrastructure. End of story.
As I've been getting a lot of feedback over the Courser-Gamrat surrendering of their principles, I wouldn't put anything past these 2. The question hounding them today is what did they get for supporting the worse choice to run as chairperson, and the question surrounding unaccomplished Romney is how soon will she abandon her new position.
RINO's will remain in-season in the fine state of Michigan for many more months to come.