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.

Granholm to End Inspections & Enforcement on Demolition/Renovation Asbestos Emitters

by: asagady

Mon Mar 23, 2009 at 10:11:19 AM EDT

Granholm Plans to End MDEQ Policing of Cancer-Causing Asbestos Emissions from Demolition and Renovation Operations

Governor Jennifer Granholm's proposed Fiscal 2009-2010 budget eliminates Michigan inspections and enforcement of Federal Clean Air Act emission control requirements on asbestos-related demolition, renovation and waste disposal operations.

Although the federal rules requiring control measures would remain legally binding, neither Michigan DEQ nor U.S. EPA would run effective inspection, enforcement and complaint response to ensure compliance with the rules after the Granholm asbestos program cut is made.    

Demolition and renovation operators would not face effective enforcement since U.S. EPA is not prepared to field an asbestos inspection/enforcement program that would approach the present state efforts.

The Politics of Potholes (and Crackpots)

by: LiberalLucy

Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 10:45:00 AM EST

This time of year, there's one thing that really scares me - driving.

It's not the snow, the sleet, the ice, the deer/turkey/wildlife that always seem to aim for my car, or even my fellow drivers who seem to lose all of their driving skills as soon as the weather drops below 40 degrees. It's all those blasted potholes. This year it's gotten even worse. With all the heavy weather, road commissions are running out of salt and picking and choosing which roads get treated.

I think about the cost of alignments, new tires, struts and shocks, and the ever expensive axle rods and I feel a financial panic attack coming on. There's no such thing as a cheap auto repair, it's just the nature of the business.

Media outlets always seem to budget time and staff towards covering the craters in the road, and some even sponsor "find the biggest pothole contests'. It's a smart tactic actually, slow news day, go for the potholes. They always unite people in their anger and frustration and it's the classic us v. them example. We all fall for it, because, well, who really likes potholes? 

People blame the weather, blame the law of physics, blame the government for under-funding MDOT and all of the above. To a certain extent, it's all true.

You Get What You Pay For

by: Cordelia Lear

Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 02:27:06 AM EST

We have to save Michigan. Raising revenues is absolutely necessary if we are to keep the essential services going that will allow the state to continue to be a decent place to live. The state has been cutting taxes, often irresponsibly, for years, thanks to selfishness, greed and cracked-brain ideologies.

Taxes sound terrible, I admit. We've been brainwashed to think they are always bad. But what do you think pays for the water that makes the toilet flush? What do you think paved the freeways and paid to teach you how to read this column? Taxes, that's what.

It's not just the water, it's the infrastructure to get it to your house and make sure it's safe to drink when it comes out of the tap. Remember what happened in Walkerton, Ontario several years ago? Provincial Premier Mike Harris and his Tory Party were in a tax cut race.

Between tax cuts, privatization and cronyism, the water became not only unsafe, but deadly. Seven people died, over 2000 others were sick and every house and business in Walkerton was disrupted, in some cases for over a year.