Senate Leadership Costs MI More Jobs, Makes Roads More Dangerous, All At Once!

by: TomChoske

Thu Jan 28, 2010 at 13:15:48 PM EST

All I have to say is: What the hell, Mike? What. The. Hell.

Today, MDOT had to cut over 243 road funding projects, projects to put Michigan workers to work, make commutes for the rest of us to and from our jobs/leisure spots safer, and save us from having to buy new tires and suspension setups every time our cars hit a huge pothole.

What, pray-tell, would cause our state government, staring down the barrel of 15% unemployment and worsening roads, to do such a thing?

From the Detroit News: "The commission was forced to cut the projects due to continued declines in state gas tax revenues and the state's inability to match federal dollars beginning in 2011."

In other words, the state had to cut these projects because they weren't able to raise enough internal money to receive a free grant from the federal government. Chief reason for this? Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, whose dogged determination to cut taxes and government services has just cost Michigan free money and hundreds of jobs. By refusing bi-partisan proposals to restructure our state road funding system, we weren't able to raise the revenues necessary to qualify for federal funds needed to make these projects a reality in our cash-strapped state.

This isn't a new problem. For a long time, Michigan has known its gas tax funding system, which last saw a rate increase over a decade an a half ago, was inadequate to deal with the changing structure of our state's finances. In 2008, Michigan lost out on road repair revenue when gas was topping $4- a time when other states with percentage excise taxes were solvent despite the decrease in gas consumption. 2009 saw no improvement, and with the general fund continuing to decrease, road groups tried to lobby to maintain the funding needed to keep our infrastructure afloat.

Of course, this fell on deaf ears. The Senate's majority caucus's slavish adherence to the mythic "Read My Lips: No New Taxes" mantra has cost Michigan thousands of jobs and will continue to for years to come. The canceled projects would have created jobs through 2014.

For a caucus that talks about 'running government like a business', you'd think they would know a thing or two about investing in your future. Successful business owners know that you have to be willing to spend a buck to make two- maybe not tomorrow, but a month or a year down the road. Businesses that don't know how to do this quickly fold. By refusing to make the relatively small investment needed to keep our vital lifelines, our roads, safe and smooth, the Senate leadership has proven it is determined to drive Michigan to the point of collapse.

Ensuring the Viability of Public Transit in Detroit

by: TomChoske

Tue Dec 16, 2008 at 11:03:30 AM EST

McManus vs. Michigan's children: the cost of ideology

by: seaborn

Mon May 07, 2007 at 19:48:51 PM EDT

On the bus ride down, the parents on the trip - some Republicans, some Democrats and some independants - talked with the kids about Michigan's budget crisis, including the $125 per pupil cut that will be made if the Republicans don't cover their expenses in the next 24 days.  These cuts would cost the students of the Benzie County Central School District, which includes Crystal Lake Elementary, $246,285.

In response, the kids took part in a silent protest:

This was way, way too much for Michelle McManus.  In response, she allegedly called the Capitol Tour service and tried to have these 4th graders banned from the Capitol building.  That's right: a second term state senator responded to a silent protest not aimed at her but at the budget situation in general by trying to ban a group of 4th graders from ever visiting the site of their state government again!

What was it that Shakespeare said?  That's right: "Me thinks the lady doth protest too much."

While McManus has tried to lay the blame for her budgetary irresponsibility at the governor's feet (even while bragging about blowing an additional $600-700 million hole in the state's budget), her little incident on Thursday shows that not even Michelle McManus believes Michelle McManus's talking points. 

She shouldn't.

ACT NOW: Save the Michigan Model for Health!

by: EL*Liberal

Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 11:55:19 AM EDT

We all know that state programs and services have been cut to the bone and beyond.

Few of the remaining options for resolving the budget deficit will be painless.

Whatever the Governor presents on Thursday will undoubtedly include cuts that will make us all wince and squirm?and then there are some cuts that we simply CANNOT accept.

One of those cuts likely to be proposed that is beyond the pale is the elimination of the Michigan Model for Health.  Never heard of it?  That's not surprising, but in all likelihood you or your children benefit from this program each and every day.

Read below the fold to find out how you can help TODAY!!!

An argument against cutting the DEQ

by: joan

Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 17:27:49 PM EST

Warning: The essay is around 1,000 words, and some of the links are PDFs.

I grew up in Midland, Michigan with three parents: My mother, my father, and the Dow Chemical Company. My father was and still is a chemical engineer in the plant, and my mother, who has since retired, worked as an office manager in the corporate offices. Outside of our house, my third parent's name was on everything: There was the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library and the Dow Gardens. Both high schools had a chemical element to them: My school mascot was the Midland Chemic, and the other school was the H. H. Dow Chargers. Even if the buildings didn't have the Dow name on the sign out front, such as the arts center and several prominent citizens' homes, they had a suspicious look, since they were designed by Alden B. Dow, who had been a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Dow not only dominates the cultural landscape of my hometown, but the physical one: The plant is truly a sight to behold.