Comments on: More momentum toward a "Grand Bargain" http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/more-momentum-toward-a-grand-bargain/ Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:31:23 +0000 hourly 1 By: Frank Kalinski http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/more-momentum-toward-a-grand-bargain/comment-page-1/#comment-4673 Frank Kalinski Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:56:30 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=2754#comment-4673 For the last 70 maybe 80 years politics were dominated by Detroit and Auto Labor. The UAW is shadow of its former self (look at what happened in Washington lately) one-party Detroit politics finally deystroyed itself via the Mayor. The new Detroit City Council elected by wards instead of unconstitutional "at large" is the first step in new political day in Michigan. The Democratic Party was dominated by these two factions and I look for big changes where "out-state" (moderate to conservative) Republicans and Democrats will start down a long road to recovery For the last 70 maybe 80 years politics were dominated by Detroit and Auto Labor. The UAW is shadow of its former self (look at what happened in Washington lately) one-party Detroit politics finally deystroyed itself via the Mayor.

The new Detroit City Council elected by wards instead of unconstitutional “at large” is the first step in new political day in Michigan.

The Democratic Party was dominated by these two factions and I look for big changes where “out-state” (moderate to conservative) Republicans and Democrats will start down a long road to recovery

]]> By: Neil Karl http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/more-momentum-toward-a-grand-bargain/comment-page-1/#comment-4672 Neil Karl Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:36:54 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=2754#comment-4672 Michigan is a non-competitive state for business taxes. After the tax changes of the Grand Bargain will Michigan remain non-competitive? Business tax cuts just will not do it! Some business taxes must be eliminated to be competitive with Ohio, NAFTA, and the global economy. A result of this is that tax abatements and Renaissance Zones would no longer be needed to attract business. Picking winners and losers would no longer be needed. Every business would have an equal chance to be a winner. Government can get out of the activity of economic planning, which it does not do well. No longer use business taxes to balance the state budget. It is just possible that the Michigan Recession would end. Michigan is a non-competitive state for business taxes. After the tax changes of the Grand Bargain will Michigan remain non-competitive? Business tax cuts just will not do it! Some business taxes must be eliminated to be competitive with Ohio, NAFTA, and the global economy.

A result of this is that tax abatements and Renaissance Zones would no longer be needed to attract business. Picking winners and losers would no longer be needed. Every business would have an equal chance to be a winner. Government can get out of the activity of economic planning, which it does not do well. No longer use business taxes to balance the state budget. It is just possible that the Michigan Recession would end.

]]> By: David Waymire http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/more-momentum-toward-a-grand-bargain/comment-page-1/#comment-4671 David Waymire Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:21:16 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=2754#comment-4671 Gary Olson of the Senate Fiscal Agency noted a little discussed fact about state taxes during the recent Revenue Estimating Conference. In 2000 state taxes took up 9.49 percent of the state's personal income. Now it's 6.9 percent -- a 25 percent decrease in Michigan's tax burden this decade. Question: Why doesn't anybody know this? Question: If cutting taxes is the best way to spur economic growth, why do we have the highest unemployment in the nation? Gary Olson of the Senate Fiscal Agency noted a little discussed fact about state taxes during the recent Revenue Estimating Conference. In 2000 state taxes took up 9.49 percent of the state’s personal income. Now it’s 6.9 percent — a 25 percent decrease in Michigan’s tax burden this decade.
Question: Why doesn’t anybody know this?
Question: If cutting taxes is the best way to spur economic growth, why do we have the highest unemployment in the nation?

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