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!!!
First off, why are we waiting until May to vote on this?
The law was changed to allow only four months for statewide elections: February, May, August and November.
We were told (repeatedly, actually) that generating revenue is important.
So, why wait?
The language for the ballot language has already been generated (Wow! That was quick) and the good people over at MLive have gotten a hold of a copy.
So, why isn’t someone going over to the Michigan Board of Canvassers and telling them to expedite placing it on the ballot in February?
Second, another common theme that I’m getting from the same people is that Michigan Taxpayers are eager to pass this in order to get Michigan Roads fixed.
Given the level of sweetener added to bribe “induce” votes from each caucus like the expanded EITC and increased mass transit funding , of course you’re going to have people jumping on the vote “Yes” bandwagon.
So, why wait for Michigan Taxpayer approval?
We are told to “voluntarily” pay sales tax on internet purchases.
The Michigan Treasury even has a form for it (actually, several).
So why can’t the Michigan Treasury create a new form for the 16.7% sales tax hike (we can even call it what it is: a “Tax Me More” fund), so that those eager taxpayers can begin paying right away.
Just think of it, no need for an election in May.
No need for a tedious campaign in order to promote taxpayer support, which we are told already exists.
And the extra added benefit is that Lansing would immediately have a new source of revenue in which they can dole out payments to the various constituencies like the EITC-crowd, Mass transit and schools. But there is one major area that they could already be spending that money on right now. I can’t quite put my finger on it?
Oh well, it will come to me later.
Anyway, if they can generate petition language toot sweet, someone can just as easily crank out a new tax form for people to voluntarily send their payments into Lansing. Just remember to fill out every field on them correctly and make those monthly checks out to the “State of Michigan”.
And my one final “Why wait”.
The way this “palatable” package of bills was kludged together is remarkable.
In fact, based on the simplicity of its overall form, I’m at a loss as to why the people promoting this couldn’t have presented it for a vote much earlier.
Like, before November.
I’m certain that it would have been very informative to voters going into the polls, or staying away from them, when they get a stellar example of the results from their leadership in Lansing.
Oh well, que sera, sera.
Say, how long do you think it will take for the “Tax Me More” bandwagon to catch on?
I’m sure that it’ll be a huge hit!
(13)Nuh Uh.
(0)
What you may be forgetting, KG, is that the first Tuesday following the first Monday of May is about a month and a half into the typical Michigan Pothole Season; and you can bet your sweet bippy that any and all road projects relying on state dollars will be delayed as long as possible, "... because we need transportation funding ..." so as to incentivize voters into approving Proposal 15-1 at the polls.
You mean Gov. Snyder might borrow a page from Pres. B.O.'s playbook and start playing petty games on Michigan Motorists for political expediency???
I didn't forget about it.
I'm counting on it!!!
Let him issue all of the back-door orders and edicts to M-DOT to his little heart's content.
All it will do is give us more ammunition to kill this abomination.
Remember: A consistent argument that he and his acolytes continually use is that this is a time-sensitive issue.
Well, strike one against him right there for delaying placing this on the ballot in February where at least the timing of that election date makes for better optics with potential voters.
Most people are smart enough to know that construction companies don't just show up at work sites and begin to fix things automatically.
Short version of how that really works: Bids are put out and reviewed. Companies are awarded to winning bids. Contracts are signed and then the actual work begins.
That process alone is time-consuming by itself. Rick Snyder will only make himself look incompetent by adopting any strategy which delays work.
Strike two: The month that Rick Snyder chose for the election.
Gas prices fluctuate year-round. And I shouldn't need to remind anyone that they typically go up right before holidays when people are prone to travel.
While people don't travel much around Valentine's Day. Michigan Motorists aren't going to be so lucky in the days leading up to Memorial Day. The EPA-mandated switch to the "Summer Blend" of gasoline around that time won't help either.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that rising gas prices will be a factor on people's minds in May.
Strike three: He's got to convince people to swallow the "need" for a $1.8-billion tax/fee hike.
Good luck with that after his the laundry list of tax hikes he's already promoted over his time in office.
And who is he going to get to bankroll an ad campaign in support of this?
The Michigan Chamber?
Even though they were once willing to tote the barrels of Kool Aid to various officials, they seemed to be a little hesitant this time around.
On a side note: just to reinforce this apparent about face, they scrubbed any reference to this from the Michigan Chamber's website.
Will the MEA open up their checkbook?
I highly doubt that they have Gov. Snyder on their Christmas Card list.
The EITC-crowd?
Kind of hard to stump for free money when you are dropping a boatload of cash on an advertising campaign.
If the cards are played right, not only should this pathetic joke of a road funding plan go down in flames (as it rightly should), but we might be able to pick up steam with other items (i.e. Part Time Legislature).
Nevertheless, we need a coordinated strategy to make triple-damn sure this thing is D.O.A. at the ballot box. I won't discuss details here, but it does involve coordinated localized resistance.
Another reason that this is on the May ballot instead of the February ballot is that the certification deadline for February 2015 ballot proposals was December 2nd, which was already past tense when this piece of sausage hit the Senate floor.
All true.
You know that.
I know that (and had my own reasons for not specifically mentioning it right away).
Gov. Snyder knew that along with the Quadrant Leaders.
I'm even going to venture a guess that the merry band of "Capitol Colleagues" were very aware of this, too. Only, they didn't want to add more egg to the face of their people they need to go to every week for material in order to do their job. The backlash that I'm reading about in newspapers all across Michigan pretty much confirms this.
It's also pretty damaging to a governor who now has to explain to voters on why he could not be bothered to read a calendar since time was obviously so important on this issue.
LOL... Quadrant *leaders*
You're kidding me, right? Count who was there... the only one who was half-straight was Bolger himself. It wasn't *his* Nerd *appointed* corporate shyster from Meijer (internet tax scam) nor could it be the fat man who is going to be worse than Moolenaar.
There's two.
So, y'all had enough of wet willy Modus OpeRandy? C'mon, he's an old fart trying to shag a shyster with a judicial appointment - cut the old bastard some slack (bang-bang for sale). The fun part begins with a banning lighters are more important than banning aborting babies Gretchen on the *committee*.
The House plan took a sh!t on the above alone (Nerdholm demanded). Step back and look at the big picture. You should see it.
Tho, really?
Seriously hanging hats on that?
F**k me running...