Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Michigan lottery, gambling and cigs taxes plummet, Gov. Granholm says decline is "breathtaking".
mlive.com ^ | March 11. 2009 | Peter Luke

Posted on 03/12/2009 11:32:18 AM PDT by mombyprofession

by Peter Luke | Lansing Bureau Wednesday March 11, 2009, 6:54 PM

LANSING -- Michigan residents bought fewer Michigan lottery tickets, cigarettes, clothes, restaurant meals and household goods, as they saw the stock market plummet and the economic outlook darken.

The sharp pullback in consumer spending sent sales tax receipts downward 18 percent in February, or more than $100 million. It will force Gov. Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers to cut the budget more, agree on tax increases or use more of the federal economic stimulus money to balance the state's books.

It was the steepest monthly decline in 25 years.

Overall revenue declines total $200 million from forecasts made just seven weeks ago.

Since income tax receipts from paycheck withholding were pretty flat in February, economists say concerned consumers may be putting away their credit cards and spending less.

"The big reason revenues are tanking is that consumers are negative and they're saving their money," Senate Fiscal Agency economist David Zin said Wednesday. "We thought consumers would ratchet up the savings and they've done so even more than we thought."

Also down were tax receipts on specific forms of discretionary spending, according to the agency's new revenue report. Tobacco tax receipts were down 6.7 percent and casino wagering taxes were down 7 percent. Michigan Lottery ticket sales dropped nearly 19 percent. One factor that explains some of the decline from a year ago was that February 2008 provided a 29th day of sales.

Tax collections from the sale of real estate are down 42 percent from a year ago. While the focus of the state's economic woe is the auto sector, sales tax receipts from car sales actually climbed 15 percent last month.

(Excerpt) Read more at mlive.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: business; government; haha; jennygrandstand; michigan; michighanistan; pufflist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 next last
To: Para-Ord.45
Are Michigan voters the dumbest in the USA yet?

My county is among the dumbest of them all. 70% Obama, 29% McCain. Thank you Ann Arbor and Ypsi.

61 posted on 03/12/2009 12:25:41 PM PDT by Darren McCarty (Obama = Jimmy Carter II)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: MrB

Or Heroin or Meth if you’re in some of the rural areas. It’s bad everywhere.


62 posted on 03/12/2009 12:27:27 PM PDT by Darren McCarty (Obama = Jimmy Carter II)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: MrB
Buy Nothing Until This Guy's Gone

My refrigerator pooped out the other day. Thankfully I keep very little food on hand that requires refrigeration. My brother gave me a little dorm room sized fridge that is sufficient for now.

I haven't decided whether I'm going to fix the one I have, buy a used one or just try to get along with the little one.

63 posted on 03/12/2009 12:29:07 PM PDT by jellybean (Who is John Galt? ~ Bookmark http://altfreerepublic.freeforums.org for when FR is down)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: jellybean

You could buy (or get free) used off of craigslist.


64 posted on 03/12/2009 12:30:26 PM PDT by MrB (The 0bamanation: Marxism, Infanticide, Appeasement, Depression, Thuggery, and Censorship)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Springman; sergeantdave; cyclotic; netmilsmom; RatsDawg; PGalt; FreedomHammer; queenkathy; ...
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

65 posted on 03/12/2009 12:36:47 PM PDT by grellis (I am Jill's overwhelming sense of disgust.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mombyprofession

Yea, Tax increases! That’ll teach those damn Tax payers who didn’t spend.


66 posted on 03/12/2009 12:41:03 PM PDT by MaxMax (RINO=RAT!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MrB

if they were smart, they offer immunity to arsonists next devil’s night.


67 posted on 03/12/2009 12:42:57 PM PDT by absolootezer0 (thank God for Chicago: makes Detroit look wholesome by comparison.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: EQAndyBuzz
Wait a second. I thought that stimulus money could not be used as an operating expense.

Only in blue states under the current socialist regime.

68 posted on 03/12/2009 12:44:38 PM PDT by MaxMax (RINO=RAT!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: absolootezer0
if they were smart, they offer immunity to arsonists next devil’s night

LOL! Now that's what I call creative thinking. Obama should hold an urban arson summit.

69 posted on 03/12/2009 12:49:40 PM PDT by RckyRaCoCo (I hear the words of Jefferson louder and louder as each day passes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Para-Ord.45
Uhhh .... excuse me. Michigan is not ... ah, never mind. I'm tired of defending this state. We voted in Granholm (again) so we must not be that bright. If it wasn't for the fact we'd lose mega $$$ by selling our house I'd move to Texas in a minute.

Sorry for the interruption, carry on.

70 posted on 03/12/2009 12:53:17 PM PDT by softwarecreator (Definition of a sucker: Pay your bills like a responsible adult to compensate for those who didn't!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: RckyRaCoCo

or maybe they could invite various SWAT teams, special forces units, BATFEces, FBI, etc to come pratice in detroit. rent out a city block for a couple thousand a day and let them wreak as much havok as they wanted to.

double win :)


71 posted on 03/12/2009 12:56:22 PM PDT by absolootezer0 (thank God for Chicago: makes Detroit look wholesome by comparison.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio

Hey some Socialist slug in NY just proposed a tax to go to strip clubs!


72 posted on 03/12/2009 1:09:51 PM PDT by marlon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: AirForceMom

I like the idea of voluntary taxes rather that confiscatory.


73 posted on 03/12/2009 1:13:19 PM PDT by nufsed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Rightwingacademic
.............and their work day usually ends by 3:00 p.m.

Which part of the twilight zone do you live in?

74 posted on 03/12/2009 1:14:59 PM PDT by nufsed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: GUNGAGALUNGA
They could start taxing sex. Every male will be mailed a STOKE O METER. .10 cents per stroke.

That'll just push people toward Tantric sex.

75 posted on 03/12/2009 1:42:22 PM PDT by Stentor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: AirForceMom
Raise your own tobacco, smoke a pipe, stop rolling them. it is very easy to do. 45 day growing period. They raise it in Alaska too.
76 posted on 03/12/2009 1:52:35 PM PDT by paratrooper82 (We are kicking Ass in Afghanistan, soon we will be home to kick some more Asses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: mombyprofession

I have been rolling my own cigs. for over 4 years to beat the high taxes. Now Lansing and DC are imposing a horrendous tax on loose tobacco.

I’ve decided the only way I can hurt these socialist pukes is to quit. Once my tobacco stock is gone I’m done.

Let these f’ing idiots extort someone else!


77 posted on 03/12/2009 4:44:22 PM PDT by arealconservativeforachange (Tell JD Hayworth to run for McCain's seat! http://www.jdhayworth.com/contact.php)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Para-Ord.45

It’s sh!thole.

Once my child is out of High School in about 7 years I’m outta here.

I’ll be giving the finger as I cross the nearest border and I will never be back unless my kid decides to live here (He’s smarter than that).


78 posted on 03/12/2009 4:46:42 PM PDT by arealconservativeforachange (Tell JD Hayworth to run for McCain's seat! http://www.jdhayworth.com/contact.php)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: absolootezer0
maybe they could invite various SWAT teams, special forces units, BATFEces, FBI, etc to come pratice in detroit

are you kidding? waaaay too dangerous...Afghanistan would be safer

79 posted on 03/12/2009 5:01:23 PM PDT by nascarnation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: grellis; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...
"Gosh, I never saw that coming!" dep't.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

80 posted on 03/12/2009 6:10:49 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson