[from occupied ga]

It will force Gov. Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers to cut the budget more, agree on tax increases or use more of the federal economic stimulus money to balance the state's books.

OMG!! REDUCE SPENDING!!! Not a chance that will be the first option. Raise taxes on the "wealthy" - that is always a good vote getter

[JSDude1]

cut the budget more, agree on tax increases or use more of the federal economic stimulus money to balance the state’s books..Once out of 3 ain’t bad..just kidding/sarc.

[jellybean]

STARVE THE BEAST!

Atlas is beginning to shrug...

[Moonman62]

While the focus of the state's economic woe is the auto sector, sales tax receipts from car sales actually climbed 15 percent last month.

Mostly Hondas and Toyotas.

[AirForceMom]

Here’s hoping NY is next.
Stopped buying lottery tickets a long time ago, hitting the casino is a rarity and we buy smokes on the reservation for 9.50 a carton.
NY isn’t getting an extra dime in taxes out of us if we can help it.

[Springman]

Ping.

[Red Badger]

It will force Gov. Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers to cut the budget more, agree on tax increases or use more of the federal economic stimulus money to balance the state's books.

Somehow, I know which of the three choices will be taken.....

[alarm rider]

Well, there are fewer Michigan residents, right?

[Secret Agent Man]

She’s clearly an idiot.

[Rightwingacademic]

One thing Michigan could do is eliminate early retirement for teachers. My college room-mate, who is now 63 years old, has been retired since she was 47! Ever since, she’s been living in Arizona, drawing a nice pension and full health benefits from the State of Michigan. Why do teachers get to retire early? They already have summers off, two weeks at Christmas, a week in the Spring, and various other days throughout the academic year — and their work day usually ends by 3:00 p.m. Then they retire by the age of 50 and the poor suckers still working in the State of Michigan take care of them for the rest of their lives. There’s something seriously wrong here. Ditto with early retirement for auto workers — that’s what helped kill the auto industry.

[NonValueAdded]

So naturally the taxes they increase will be the sin taxes to make up for the shortfall in ... sin taxes. Am I getting this right?

[polymuser]

Michigan is losing residents in droves. School enrollment is back to 80’s levels. Housing is flaaaaat. Automotive and their suppliers are withering. Unemployment is skyrocketing. I-75 corridor cities are falling apart. They got everything their lefties wanted. In spades.

[Darren McCarty]

If I have $20 to spend, should I use it on food, smokes, or a lottery ticket?

[grellis]

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

[MaxMax]

Yea, Tax increases! That’ll teach those damn Tax payers who didn’t spend.

[arealconservativeforachange]

I have been rolling my own cigs. for over 4 years to beat the high taxes. Now Lansing and DC are imposing a horrendous tax on loose tobacco.

I’ve decided the only way I can hurt these socialist pukes is to quit. Once my tobacco stock is gone I’m done.

Let these f’ing idiots extort someone else!

[SunkenCiv]

"Gosh, I never saw that coming!" dep't.

[GOPsterinMA]

Smoking kills you and is expensive.
You’re odds of winning the lottery are what, the same as the Titanic finally docking in NY?
Eating out costs too much. Cook at home, eat leftovers.
Why buy new clothes? Use what you have or shop at thrift stores.

So, the system is so f*c**d up that when people cut back, even in the small ways, the pols scream.

[dforest]

I thought the simulus was to create jobs, not to balance a states overspending and irresponsible management of affairs.