tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post2727186049199700528..comments2024-01-09T04:20:39.453-05:00Comments on Around the Keg: Allow Me To VentNoahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-10767694856339323822007-10-01T06:59:00.000-05:002007-10-01T06:59:00.000-05:00hmm, I still sound pretty mad there... I'm EXTREME...hmm, I still sound pretty mad there... I'm EXTREMELY relieved that our Legislators were able to come to an agreement! I'm ok with whatever changes they had to make to avoid shutting down (as that's bad for everyone). I just hope we can use this as a springboard for some serious reform!Soporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647578353963214035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-13012631292873330582007-10-01T06:30:00.000-05:002007-10-01T06:30:00.000-05:00Well they did it. It's about time. The real questi...Well they did it. It's about time. The real question is then, can they keep it up? After income tax drops back by 2015, will we run into the same problem? Or can we now seriously discuss some Government Reform?<BR/><BR/>This early on, it's a bit tricky to get some solid news on what they decided (it was only three hours ago!*) but this is what I see so far:<BR/><BR/>-increase Income Tax to 4.35% with a dectrease back to 3.9 from 2011-2015<BR/><BR/>-Sales tax expanded to include many services<BR/><BR/>-Gov't "structural" changes incl. mgmt of teacher and other state employee benefits (anybody got more detail on this?)<BR/><BR/>I'm OK with the income tax increase. My libertarian side is screaming but it's nowhere NEAR as mad as if this was a Federal Income Tax rise.<BR/><BR/>I'm not too happy about the sales tax expansion. Cost of business increases never do anything except translate to higher prices for end consumers. That's just what this economy needs right now!<BR/><BR/>On a minor note, I though Granholm said she would veto a continuation budget unless they had already passed some tax increases or spending cuts? Perhaps they were close enough that she felt OK rolling the dice of Michigan's Budget?<BR/><BR/>* Gotta love this day and age. It's not even three hours ago now and I have almost the entire scoop on what went down!Soporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647578353963214035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-80970884595439577882007-09-30T16:23:00.000-05:002007-09-30T16:23:00.000-05:00I have lots to say but, like Smitty, am taking eve...I have lots to say but, like Smitty, am taking every free second to spend with my family because otherwise I am at the capitol or my office.<BR/><BR/>My take - they need to put up or go home. <BR/><BR/>Forget party. Vote what you think is best. It is time. If you are against a tax increase and for service cuts, fine. Vote No on tax increase and tell me what $2 billion you want to cut and how it will affect the people and this state. <BR/><BR/>If you are supportive of a tax increase, vote YES. No more recall talk. No more politics. Do what you were elected to do. I know for a fact that 6 of the 8 Dem marginals want to vote yes but are being told not to. Well, it is time for them to do what is right for the state.<BR/><BR/>I got lots more to say, and will soon. But I am gonna make dinner for my family.<BR/><BR/>T-Minus 6.5 hours to gov't shutdown and my wife being laid off...Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13410628045985150441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-37306193614795550952007-09-28T15:46:00.000-05:002007-09-28T15:46:00.000-05:00let's try that link again:http://noise.typepad.com...let's try that link again:<BR/><BR/>http://noise.typepad.com/derek_melot/<BR/>2007/09/fraud-is-a-crim.html<BR/><BR/>Split on two lines, maybe blogger won't screw it up that way...Soporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647578353963214035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-46200339060841255922007-09-28T15:40:00.000-05:002007-09-28T15:40:00.000-05:00Now most of the time I very fervently ignore anyth...Now most of the time I very fervently ignore anything produced by the Lansing State Journal.<BR/><BR/>However, Derek Melot has an interesting point here:<BR/><BR/>http://noise.typepad.com/derek_melot/2007/09/fraud-is-a-crim.html<BR/><BR/>Our Governor and our Legislators are on the verge of committing FRAUD. They HAVE NOT performed the job they were hired to do.<BR/><BR/>So what should we do? I'm with Derek, let's send a State Police Trooper and a Tow Truck to every Legislators house, and Ms. Granholm's. They won't question how serious we are after that.<BR/><BR/>And while I'm on the topic of Granholm... What about the whole f'in State Police development project that the MSP Colonel claims he never asked for? Where the F*&% IS THAT MONEY COMING FROM!! How can they afford to quit paying MSU, what is it, $1 a month in rent on their frickin' Headquarters on Harrison? Am I missing something?Soporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647578353963214035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-70789303973607756392007-09-28T15:14:00.000-05:002007-09-28T15:14:00.000-05:00I'm pretty much embarassed at this point.I'm pretty much embarassed at this point.B Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01874975455332269325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-55099879238202915442007-09-28T14:17:00.000-05:002007-09-28T14:17:00.000-05:00Well, Joel, there might be more and more for you h...Well, Joel, there might be more and more for you here. I hear that the Kreiner "fix" legislation has somehow inexplicably become a part of the "deal" that will solve this state crisis.<BR/><BR/>At most, steves, your income tax will go from 3.9% to 4.6%. I am hearing, though, that they are settling more towards 4.3 or 4.4% as a final figure. But we'll see. Every god damned time there is a deal, it falls apart within an hour of the beginning of negotiations.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-20661886308285250012007-09-28T13:28:00.000-05:002007-09-28T13:28:00.000-05:00Welcome back Smitty. Rickey missed you mightilyWelcome back Smitty. Rickey missed you mightilyRickeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05773465359487671887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-72912713550681391572007-09-28T11:39:00.000-05:002007-09-28T11:39:00.000-05:00Good point about the funds. It is kind of like sa...Good point about the funds. It is kind of like saying, "we really mean it." I'd like to drop parties or at least have some viable third party candidates. <BR/><BR/>There was a editorial in the LSJ the other day about the liquor control commission spending money to keep an unconstitutional law banning total nudity in strip clubs that serve alcohol. Give me a break. I don't go to strip clubs, but if that is your thing, go for it. This just seems to be a big waste of money. It is like they are saying that if drinking is naughty and strippers are naughty, then drinking while watching strippers must be super-naughty.steveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862590608695420004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-80809786300691383592007-09-28T10:03:00.000-05:002007-09-28T10:03:00.000-05:00"I am glad that DNR funds are protected"I'm with y..."I am glad that DNR funds are protected"<BR/><BR/>I'm with ya 100% Steves. I just think it's ridiculous that we had to amend the constitution to protect money that should have been left alone in the first plac. If they had asked the public before taking that money, it's obvious (by the '06 ballot results) that we (as a sportsman state) would've told them (as our government) to shove their money grubbing hands up their arses!<BR/><BR/>I'm willing to deal with a tax increase too. I won't be happy about it, but we gotta have a gov't no matter how crappy it is. And I'm always more congenial towards tax increases the more "local" they get. The City I live in has an income tax. I don't mind paying it one bit!<BR/><BR/>What about dropping parties from our state gov't altogether (yea right, I know...)Soporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647578353963214035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-29806372986701671742007-09-28T09:53:00.000-05:002007-09-28T09:53:00.000-05:00Oops, I forget to log in. Here is the dancer.Oops, I forget to log in. Here is the dancer.steveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862590608695420004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-81290816363874089752007-09-28T09:52:00.000-05:002007-09-28T09:52:00.000-05:00Thanks for posting this. I have my own opinions, ...Thanks for posting this. I have my own opinions, but I was hoping you'd give us your take, because you definitely have a better grasp as to what is happening.<BR/><BR/>I don't believe I am saying this, but there needs to be a tax increase. Anyone that knows me at all knows that I am generally for lowering taxes, but there are some services that are just necessary. Don't get me wrong, the state wastes money on all sorts of dumb shit and they should continue to look at cuts, but this is just insane.<BR/><BR/>Initially I had supported term limits. With career politicians like John Engler, that isn't all that surprising. It is clear that, while they may look good on paper, they are a bad idea. <BR/><BR/>BTW, I am glad that DNR funds are protected. I got tired of money that I was paying for a hunting license going to something other than the DNR. IIRC, there were also instances when federal money for natural resources was diverted into other things. I know plenty of people that work for the DNR. It isn't as if they are overfunded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-40019677228208382362007-09-28T09:31:00.000-05:002007-09-28T09:31:00.000-05:00This truly is a load of steaming BS. There's no qu...This truly is a load of steaming BS. There's no questions about that. I'm frankly sick and fucking tired of bi-partisan politics, but the general populous seems totally brainwashed still...<BR/><BR/>A co-worker of mine and I had a great idea, based on some good stuff going on in New Zealand:<BR/><BR/>http://slashdot.org/articles/07/09/27/0334220.shtml<BR/><BR/>Why can't our State try something like this? It's pretty damned obvious that our legislature has their heads too far up their asses to get over ideal and partisanship and actually make a decision that works. So lets get some input from the people! Let the people decide what can be cut and what we need to keep working!<BR/><BR/>And if the public decides that the State DNR and State Parks funds etc are what need to be cut, and divert income from those services to help pay for others? so fucking be it! I can deal with it if I get a little more input than last time! (oh wait, those funds are constitutionally protected now aren't they?)<BR/><BR/>Recalls are a start, My vote is for voting from rooftops in '08.<BR/><BR/>Joel, there's less and less for me here every day too. How in sam fucking hell am I supposed to start a craft brewery in a state with an economy and beer tax like this?<BR/><BR/>I'm with ya Smitty, I'm a bit bitter.<BR/><BR/>Btw, your wife works for the State? Good luck bro!Soporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647578353963214035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-57869101834228854302007-09-28T09:18:00.000-05:002007-09-28T09:18:00.000-05:00I am once again considering a move to Texas. As m...I am once again considering a move to Texas. As much as I loath the place, they have an economy and they have leadership. I really feel that there is nothing for me here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com