FlintTalk.com Forum Index > Political Talk Topic: A sensible alternative to more taxes.

Author    Post   twotap F L I N T O I D - In a Press Release this week: House Republicans proposed an alternative to the recently approved service tax, which is scheduled to take effect Dec. 1. The caucus offered a detailed plan to repeal the harmful tax and restructure government to fill the budget gap so that no tax increase is necessary. “The service tax is not the only option Michigan has right now, nor is it by any means the best option,” said House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche. “Lawmakers have before them a tough choice – make reforms to state government or kill more jobs. Lansing must refocus on providing better services at a lower price to the taxpayer.” The reforms House Republicans propose eliminates $677 million from the state budget, well above the $614 million the service tax is expected to generate for this fiscal year. “The state shouldn’t fund a 10-percent increase in government spending when taxpayers are losing their jobs,” said Minority Vice-Chair of Appropriations Dan Acciavatti. “There is no faster way to accelerate Michigan’s downward economic spiral than to tax the few areas in the economy showing growth.” The House Republican reforms for the Fiscal Year 2007-08 budget include: Five percent legislator pay cut - $600,000 Michigan Business Tax transition windfall - $219,400,000 Reexamine state employee benefits - $100,000,000 Department of Information Technology reduction - $10,000,000 Competitively bid corrections services- $50,000,000 Charge prisoners more for goods purchased in prison - $3,000,000 Streamline the Department of Community Health - $92,833,331 Department of Human Services reform - $109,499,998 Stop new appropriations to 21st Century Jobs program - $75,000,000 Eliminate the Community Service Commission Grant to train volunteers - $3,190,000 Remove the increase to the Treasury Department to implement the new taxes - $9,000,000 Continued reduction of public transit funding - $5,000,000 “These are not easy reforms, but what Michigan needs most is leaders willing to make tough decisions to fix Michigan’s economy,” said state Rep. John Stakoe. “Our proposal and the eight and a half percent increase in government spending both show that the Democrats did not need to raise taxes. Rather, we need to respect the taxpayer by reforming government and fighting for jobs in Michigan.” DeRoche said: “Reforms and structural changes will have to be made to change the way government operates, both immediately and in the long run. We are asking for support on this repeal because everyone realizes the harmful effects this tax will have on our economy.” Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:24 am  Adam F L I N T O I D Some of these proposed cuts would eliminate goverment employees. Granholm and the democrats would not allow that. Government employees are the most powerful lobbying group in the state. If we did things right I'm not convinved we would even need a state income tax except that most liberals and Republicans feel good about supporting the war on drugs. _________________ Adam - Mysearchisover.com - FB - Jobs Sun Nov 04, 2007 1:01 pm    Display posts from previous:   All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First

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