Posted on 10/05/2007 7:45:43 PM PDT by Westlander
There was good news and bad news Friday about the proposed new taxes in Michigan.
Democratic House Speaker Andy Dillon said Friday some of the planned taxes on services could be eliminated -- if the state's sales tax is increased.
Dillon said lawmakers are debating the idea of putting the sales tax increase on the ballot next year so that voters can decide their own financial fate.
The proposal, according to lawmakers, is to raise the state's sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent and to reduce the number of services that would be taxed.
Critics of the service tax idea would also like to see an alternative plan. "We can't find any guiding criteria or principal that identifies why the (services) that got selected got in and the ones that got excluded are not in," said Tom Clay of Citzens Research Council, a non-partician group.
Governor Jennifer Granholm said she is open to alternatives, but that the budget must be balanced. "If there needs to be adjustments certainly, I'm open," said Gov. Granholm. "But what I will not compromise on is, creating another structural deficit."
Lawmakers are expected to discuss the idea of a public vote on the sales tax sometime next week.
Meanwhile, both the Democrats and Republicans have launched radio ads addressing public criticism over the service tax vote.
"The Democrats in Lansing finished their night of taxing and now we see what they've done," states an ad from the state GOP.
State Democrats are running an ad that states "Ever notice when times get tough there are those who would rather tear people down and divide us."
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710070598
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Granholm said those who clamor for lower taxes aim at the wrong target. She said there is a deeper issue of shared sacrifice.
“It’s not just about me, me, me. It’s about investing in Michigan,” she said. “Where’s the notion of the common good? It’s been lost over decades because there’s been ... this idea that it’s your money, it’s your money.
“What happened to, ‘It’s your schools, and it’s your roads and it’s your parks, your libraries?’ “
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Or to make it more succinct:
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” Karl Marx.
Last I heard was the Senate Minority leader wanted the service tax to go to the polls with the proviso that the sales tax gets jacked to 7%. And as far as I understand, the income tax jack is a non-negotiable issue for those ingrates who are actually working.
“... to fight for what is left of this state.”
It’s a nice sentiment to stay and fight, but when your customers (businesses) leave, reality dictates other options. Welfare bums, state bureaucrats, crooked politicians, retirees and people scamming the system for SS disability and workmen’s comp do not buy my service.
Good luck. Don’t be the last one left to turn out the lights.
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