I need a good rundown of the budget crisis (talking points)

[LisaM]

My friend (who's from Michigan) and I live in Seattle - she's currently seeing a guy from Michigan who is a conservative (I know - how can she?), but she called me on Saturday to get my input on the threatened state shut down. I told her what I knew - budget being obstructed by Republicans, they've been stalling for 8 months, deficits and state income completely decimated by Engler, etc., etc. But I could use some better information.

[SharonRB]

1. A good source

Check out www.michiganliberal.com

It's our statewide progressive blog (one of several) and there's a lot about the budget crisis there, including liveblogging of the sessions of the legislature. You might be able to find some talking points in people's comments.

Good luck! Thank goodness we finally got an agreement, but it should have happened months ago. The Republicans' goal in life from the beginning has been to obstruct anything Jennifer Granholm wants to accomplish. She pretty much got what she wanted in the end, but this could have been done months ago with much less friction. These people only care about themselves -- not the people of Michigan and the future of our state.

[LisaM]

2. Yes, I like Granholm

Polite language will not allow me to say what I think about Engler.

[SharonRB]

3. I like her a lot, too

I think maybe she could have gotten out to the public a little better about this to educate them on why we need a tax increase, but other than that, I don't know what else she could have done. These Repubs are so pig-headed! People need to realize that Engler lowered taxes, and this was what helped kill us. The increase was only to get us back to where we were and the final deal was somewhat less than that on the income tax side. They are also extending the sales tax to certain services that have never been taxed. Jen wanted this ages ago, and they said absolutely not. Again, in the end, she got her way.

[maddogesq]

4. Exactly. Those eyes only go so far.

Jenny Jenny, who can I turn to? She came through, but dammit she still plays that rope-a-dope stuff that just drives me nuts. Damn you eyes governor, but please, come out swingomg on the upcoming cuts to get rid of Chief Big Turd's payouts to his fat-dad friends.

I find the taxation on certain services humorous. Look at it this way: The goopers have to pay more for their Nancy Reagar charts, or a quick night out by way of the Metro Times. Now, if they would jsut legalize weed, and we could have some revenue there too.

BWAHAHAHAHA!

Gosh, the MSM in this state is soooooo stupid. They make Jenny out to be the bad guy, and lead the sheep that don't read into thinking the last 2 decades didn't lead up to this mess.

[Festivito]

5. Please, Engler DID NOT lower taxes, he set taxes TO BE lowered.

During someone else's administration.

He deserves NO CREDIT for lowering taxes after leaving a deficit, especially considering he only would have left no deficit had he sold holdings fast enough, after holding office through the longest boom in America while he reduced services without reducing taxes as the boom brought us a boom's commensurate revenues.

(Sorry Sharon, my anger pents too much. I jumped somewhere to answering the OP.)

I like Jen. Many do. The press pushes publiCON talking points to make us think she's not liked and not doing right -- she is. She went to the people and we liked what she taught us and what she decided. If I'd fault her it's for NOT going to the people again and OUTING Bishop for hiding the votes of representatives, and of course not for national nor state security reasons.

Engler had the boom period and we received fewer services while the tax base increased. The only thing he did with all that prosperity was to SAY that Michigan was prepared better for the future. WHILE HE WAS STILL IN OFFICE times soured and our dependence on auto companies was nothing less than obvious, and now all we seem to have is his stupid statement, while he wiles away at some curious job that looks too much like a delayed payoff.

Republican supporters who do not yet see that their party simply USES issues such as abortion, gays, "conservative", "LEE-BRULS", et. al. as smoke screens to hide their thievery are simpleton poster boys for democracy being the worst form of government, despite it being the best form we know.

(/End of rant)

[1gobluedem]

6. Sadly, people no longer even realize what taxes pay for

The MSM has so skewed the rhetoric that now TAX is automatically a nasty word. They have no idea that the roads, police, restaurant health inspections, even regulation and oversight of their precious casinos are all paid with taxpayer money. Same with the state parks, the clean restrooms at rest areas, the open SOS offices, all the stuff that they scream bloody murder about if it's NOT available is paid for with tax revenue.

I wish the Dems had been more forceful in saying that this is not an income tax increase; it's merely restoring the tax to its former, more realistic level before Engler got his hands on it. I only heard one rep -- George Cushinberry -- even bring that up.

My income tax 'increase' is roughly $25/month. A small price to pay, in my opinion. And the tax on services was long overdue; there is something wrong when a warm coat for a child is taxed and a day at the spa is not.

[maddogesq]

7. The Real Solution: Graduated Income Tax

Of course, folks like Nolan Finley and the rest of the ring-wing rag media would all bash it heavily, but I have yet to see anyone talk about a graduated income tax. The more progressive states have that, and don't have the budget mess we do. We still cling to the same old arguments, and same old crap.

I think I will go get my palm read (fee plus 6 percent) and find out when people will ever wise up.