tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7249046870998281086.post-17552591268911295952007-11-29T17:31:00.000-08:002007-12-03T13:13:45.264-08:00Friends,<br /><br />Is there any hope? Should I even ask you to spend a few minutes of your time to contact legislators and ask them to demonstrate common sense? Or, as we witnessed in the wee hours on October 1st, are Lansing's politicians so unbelievably incompetent that they can't possibly do anything right.<br /><br />State Senator Valde Garcia's new service tax on Michigan's job providers (those that remain) is scheduled to take effect this weekend. Next week, every shoe-shine guy, lawn maintenance person, financial advisor, ski hill operator, janitor and a whole bunch of other seemingly-randomly-targeted businesses (that already pay the state's Michigan Business Tax) will have to begin filling out more Treasury forms and collect a 6% sales tax from their customers.<br /><br />Now, everyone in Lansing claims to hate Republican Senator Garcia's devil-child of a tax increase, but a majority of them voted for it. As of last night, the House and Senate passed different versions of a replacement that would increase the state business tax by between 14% (Republican plan) or 33% (Democrat plan). Wow! That will really encourage business to locate and expand in Michigan.<br /><br />Why, why, WHY isn't there a credible push in Lansing to replace this stupid tax increase with BUDGET CUTS?! The 2008 budget passed in October increases spending from the '07 budget by over 8% (General Fund spending), by 2.5% (overall spending) and by over 7% (the budget for the legislature itself). The Mackinac Center for Public Policy lists $1.4 billion in suggested budget cuts on their website that could be used to replace the $700 million that Garcia's new tax will take from citizens and send to Lansing. Check their list here: <a href="http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=9059">http://www.mackinac.org/article.aspx?ID=9059</a>.<br /><br />So, should I even bother to ask you to call Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and demand they cut spending? Dillon simply won't listen. He has been perfectly consistent in his preference for higher taxes and increased spending. Bishop will sympathetically tell you that it is too late, the Governor has already signed Garcia's tax hike into law, and she would simply veto any spending cuts even if they reached her desk.<br /><br />You know what? Bishop is right. He missed his chance. But call Dillon (517-373-0857) and Bishop (517-373-2417) anyway - just to tell them how angry you are. Don't use profanity, but don't be respectful. They haven't earned it.<br /><br />In other news: yesterday, Michigan Recalls Committee (<a href="http://www.michiganrecalls.com">www.michiganrecalls.com</a>) sent legal requests for expedited hearings to judges in Macomb and Wayne Counties that are sitting on appeals to legally approve recall petitions against tax hiking politicians. Including the recall of House Speaker Andy Dillon. Stay tuned.<br /><br />Leon Drolet<br />MI Taxpayers Alliance<br />www.mitaxpayers.orgLeon Drolethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117688179160110290noreply@blogger.com