In Michigan, Deficits Defy Years of Cutting

NYTimes ^ | July 1ith 2009

[immadashell]

I don't recall seeing anything here or hearing about reform to the state employee pension funds. Have they extended the minimum service requirement? Have they looked at ways to (!horrors!) privatize the funding process? Have they looked at severe fines to crooked elected officials (Conyers and the ex-mayor of Detroit and his dolly)? The statement, “We have already cut all the fat” is just another way to say, “You're getting too close to my neighborhood.” The states are all in the same fix and the reason is identical in every case — too many entitlements. Citizens need to take responsibility for their own circumstances because the gravy train is running on empty.

[ElayneJ]

“Berkley educated Granholm”

Berkley and Harvard, right? Fortunately she had the proper liberal education. Otherwise, she might be evaluated on how well she does her job. :)

[cripplecreek]

At this point its a little hard to believe that her stupidity isn’t intentional.

[WeatherGuy]

“See? The budget has been cut to the bone,” says the New York Times liberal Democrat scumbag columnist, “So raising taxes is the only option left.”

..and it's not even a column, (i.e., the usual NYT leftard columnists Rich, Kristof, Herbert, Collins, Krugman, Dowd), it's a "supposed" actual straight "news story.".

[wiggen]

took the city council to over ride the will of the people here cause you know,they know better. Just saying,she might decide to pull a Zelaya.

[Clintonfatigued]

Michigan ping

[ElayneJ]

I agree. It can’t be easy to do this much damage.

[combat_boots]

Well, $1 houses also come to mind....

[MAD-AS-HELL]

at least Michigan will be back with a vengeance this year!

[razorback-bert]

Then came cuts to ...operas in 2004.

I am an opera buff and I have never heard of a Michigan opera company.

[businessprofessor]

Michigan to its credit made a major reform to public employee pensions (except teacher pensions) in the late 90s. I believe Republicans were mostly responsible for the reform.

[MarkBsnr]

***My estimates are that MI lost 600,000-800,000 productive citizens. ***

I went to Michigan in 1991 and left in 1999, after having found a trophy wife. We lived six years in Indiana, before moving to Iowa. Best move that we ever made, leaving there. My wife’s family is there, mostly dependent (current and retired) on the auto industry.

They’re screwed.

[Red Dog #1]

I like your list, expect I would change point #2 to require a two thirds "super majority" of congress for all spending, tax and debt authorizations. Sometimes debt is appropriate, but there should be a one heck of a high bar for it. Sometimes even California has a good idea.

[sergeantdave]

Granholm’s doctorial thesis from Berkeley was titled “Why I love French communists.”

[traditional1]

"Michigan can’t keep up because nobody is left who pays taxes, regardless of how deep one cuts spending."

Sounds like what America will look like when The Messiah and the Queen Bee get done!

[sergeantdave]

“I don’t recall seeing anything here or hearing about reform to the state employee pension funds. Have they extended the minimum service requirement? Have they looked at ways to (!horrors!) privatize the funding process?”

Please, you’re making sense. Common sense to dumbocrats are like a crucifix and holy water to vampires.

If you voiced such opinions in a Michigan bar, you’d be laughed at, followed by pants-wetting and crying that higher taxes are the solution to Michigan’s problems. I won’t mention that most of the fat slobs on the bar stools are collecting workmen’s comp, SS disability and welfare.

[Darren McCarty]

What Noo Yawk Times doesn't state is that most of this was gimmicky and accounting tricks that would get me in big trouble. Fee increases and tax increases were passed and the result was the same as it ever was.

Add the regulations and high costs, along with the decline of the auto industry/manufacturing, and the war on this state by Washington, and you get this.

I've been here five generations. I'd like to stay. We'll see. That depends if I still have work.

[Darren McCarty]

“So raising taxes is the only option left.”

Which we did in 2007......and it didn't work.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The NYT has just proved that it is ludicrous to expect government to cut its costs.

Why, if Michigan had just doubled the tax rate they would probably be solvent right now!

[dfwgator]

Remember folks, “cuts” don’t mean cuts in actual spending, but only cuts in the spending increase amounts.