Comments on: Time to Get Past No

By: Jim Zielske

Jim Zielske — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:28:25 +0000

The lotery fiasco is nothing more than a shell game, yes the money goes to schools but what isn’t stated is the money that was already going to schools is cut so the end game is no net gain. As stated most taxpayers would agree to more taxes if true reform was included. Presently, increases in foundation allowances for k-12 schools just gets eaten up by benefits,retirement,insurance and yearly step increases no increase into the actual classroom. Sad situation….

By: Judy

Judy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:18:09 +0000

I still do not understand why we do not simply begin taxing food- 6% like everything else. It is equitable- everyone eats, so everyone pays. Our lowest income citizens are getting food stamps, so would not be affected. Your income range determines the kinds of food you buy- macaroni and cheese costs less than filet mignon, so higher income folks will pay more. And it is easier on businesses, as they no longer have to separate non taxable and taxable items! Seems like a no brainer to me!

By: Frank Saad

Frank Saad — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:26:09 +0000

Phil – you state “this is the legislature…where trade-offs and compromise are the stuff of political life!” True. SO WHERE IS THE TRADE-OFF AND COMPROMISE FROM THE OTHER SIDE? Kudos to Bishop for his steadfast adherence to principle. Giving in to any tax “additions” at this point does nothing for necessary structural reform.

By: T. Allen Blackburn

T. Allen Blackburn — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:50:44 +0000

The party of; “Just Say No” has killed our State long enough. Vote them out next year. A party that will not compromise just to stick to their warped sense of how things should be is not one that we need running this state. Bishop will never get an ounce of my support as he has already shown that he does not understand the word compromise.

By: Roderick

Roderick — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:49:14 +0000

The points you made about salaries and benifits of teachers is interesting. This is part of the funding solution. There needs to be some cuts to some of the other non-essencial programs. If this happened I would gladly pay more taxes to help our children. The cut’s in every other public sector agency has been done already.
I also find it hard to believe that there was not a plan for cuts in the schools budgets three yrs ago when this really started to happen. Sounds like no one had a financial forecast set. There is lot’s of blame to go around, but it will take leaders to fix it.

By: Elaine Endahl

Elaine Endahl — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:22:45 +0000

I, too, have been wondering what is up with the lottery money? Back when Michigan citizens first voted to institute the lottery, it was “sold” to us as an additional source of revenue for the schools.
These days, the lottery seems to be doing just fine. Has everyone in the state legislature forgotten what the original intention was?

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:30:41 +0000

What reforms? From the K-12 Public School, system, I mean.

All I’ve heard is “give us the money.” Sure we can talk about the tax system, but without reforms on the public school side, any additional tax revenue will drain out where the current money has gone: bargained away into labor costs and legacy overhead.

And while we’re asking, what other reforms can our K-12 public schools offer? What innovations can they bring…not just nibbles or layoff/program cutting quality killers, but game changers?

Everybody else, cities, counties, law enforcement, roads, infrastructure, corrections, public health…has had to find efficiencies and become, in the words of a recent Pew Center report: “smaller, more efficient, and less expensive.”

Show us some real K-12 reforms to go along with the tax revenue hikes, and maybe we’ll have something to talk about.

Your “no, no, no” granddaughter may have been irritating, but it beats being “A Girl Who Can’t Say No.”

By: Jim Wellman

Jim Wellman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:07:21 +0000

I wonder why nobody is willing to look at, much less discuss the cozy deal the State has with the Lottery? About 86% of my property taxes are supposed to go to the general fund and then paid to the schools.
But every dollar the Lotto gives to the schools is a dollar the State does not have to give out of the money I pay in taxes to support schools! Where is the money I give to schools? Why doesn’t the Lotto and Property Taxes together go to schools? Why is this not openly talked about? I welcome you to share any of this posting with anybody.