Snyder’s Road Tax Reforms is a Bad Path for Michigan

Townhall.com ^ | January 30,2015 | Gannon LeBlanc

[Kaslin]

After the 2014 midterm elections, a lame-duck session of lawmakers got together to strike one final blow against the citizens of Michigan who voted them out. They are pushing for a new tax reform that would tie Michigan for having the second-highest state sales tax in the country at 7 percent. The lawmakers claim that the revenue is needed to fund government services like and local schools and roads despite the fact that it would also double Michigan’s fuel tax, making it the highest in the country. For the sake of the Great Lake State’s economy, Michiganders should reject such a dangerous reform when it goes to the ballot in May of 2015.

Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders from both parties backed a complex plan that included a gas tax hike that will earn the state $1.2 billion in revenue by charging Michigan drivers twenty three more cents per gallon. As if that isn’t enough for the tax-and-spend state government, the plan will generate an additional $1.34 billion by increasing the sales tax to 7 percent and by enforcing it on online retailers like Amazon.com, making it more expensive for Michigan citizens to purchase more goods to make their lives better. Lastly, the plan will generate $95 million in additional revenue by raising various registration fees. Over the long term, these fees are expected to take $210 million out of the pockets of Michiganders. The plan also provides $260 million in tax relief to low-income residents, which means the middle class will be hit the hardest. It’s no wonder that Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison) described the Governor’s 11th-hour plan as “complicated and convoluted.”

Under the Governor’s plan, the sales tax on gasoline and existing fuel taxes would be ditched for a new motor fuels tax that is dedicated strictly for the use of repairing Michigan roads. Such a reform, would double the state’s fuel tax, launching Michigan from number six to number one for highest fuel tax amongst all other fifty states. According to the data of the 2014 American Petroleum Institute, Michigan citizens pay 48.66 cents per gallon of gasoline towards taxes and 58.38 cents per gallon of diesel towards taxes. Yet the state government only spends $11.70 per lane mile on roads, sticking Michigan citizens with some of the highest costs and lowest gains in the country.

There is an alternative plan being introduced by House Speaker Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) that would gradually allocate sales taxes on gasoline to the transportation budget, shifting the funds from schools and local governments. This plan would also create $1.2 billion dollars for road funding like Synder’s plan but not punish taxpayers. Bolger believes that because the state’s economy is recovering and tax revenue is increasing, his proposal would not require any budget cuts and would instead just mitigate growth of future revenue.In a statement Bolger said “Simply put, this plan dedicates the taxes drivers pay at the pump to fixing their roads.”

Michigan is starting its fifth year of an economic expansion and recovery. After suffering one of the greatest population loses from the 2008 crash, why are lawmakers punishing those of us who remain in the state and giving others more reason to not move back to Michigan? According to Americans for Prosperity - Michigan’s State Director Scott Hagerstrom, “Lawmakers who support putting a massive tax hike on the ballot are just passing the ball so special interests can score a touchdown.”

Enough is enough. If Michigan wants to end the hemorrhaging amount of citizens leaving the state, wants to stop the slow economic recovery and enter the fast lane, then it needs to stop taking more money out of its residents’ wallets. Instead, the state government should let Michiganders decide how and where their money should be spent to afford more goods and services that they can spend on Michigan businesses. Ultimately, The final decision will be in the hands of Michigan voters, as the tax proposal will be on the ballot in May of 2015.

[PGalt]

http://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-alabama-debt-clock.html

Rules for Radicals? No…

Rules for Changing a Limited Republican Government into an Unlimited Hereditary One - 1784-1786 - Philip Freneau

6. But the grand nostrum will be a public debt…

7. It must not be forgotten that the members of the legislative body are to have a deep stake in the game. This is an essential point, and happily is attended with no difficulty. A sufficient number, properly disposed, can alternately legislate and speculate, and speculate and legislate, and buy and sell, and sell and buy, until a due portion of the property of their constituents has passed into their hands to give them an interest against their constituents, and to ensure the part they are to act.

http://www.constitution.org/cmt/freneau/republic2monarchy.htm

Socialism Is Legal Plunder

It is impossible to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this: the conversion of the law into an instrument of plunder.

The Law - Frederic Bastiat 1801-1850

http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html#SECTION_G021

http://www.usdebtclock.org

The “laboratories of democracy” have become the stomping grounds of socialists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrefKCaV8m4

The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and “sabotaging” its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.

BIG GOVERNMENT IS CRONY SOCIALISM/TOTALITARIANISM

Witness history. Witness current events.

11. As soon as sufficient progress in the intended change shall have been made, and the public mind duly prepared according to the rules already laid down, it will be proper to venture on another and a bolder step toward a removal of the constitutional landmarks...

- “Rules for Changing a Limited Republican Government into an Unlimited Hereditary One”

[SunkenCiv]

...a lame-duck session of lawmakers... are pushing for a new tax reform that would tie Michigan for having the second-highest state sales tax in the country at 7 percent... would also double Michigan's fuel tax, making it the highest in the country... a gas tax hike that will earn the state $1.2 billion in revenue by charging Michigan drivers twenty three more cents per gallon... increasing the sales tax to 7 percent and by enforcing it on online retailers like Amazon.com, making it more expensive for Michigan citizens to purchase more goods to make their lives better.

Or, we could buy things locally, other than crack I mean.

This is a consequence of Obamacare, and not being zealous enough about cutting the budget (those of use living here know the steady drumbeat of campaign lies from the Demagogic Party regarding "cutting education" and "giving huge tax breaks"). Snyder et al managed to shed the Michigan Business Tax (replaced the hated Single Business Tax, which was a longterm backalley tireiron to employment growth, even during the heyday of the auto industry), implementing a 6% Corporate Income Tax.

I know! Instead of consumption taxes, we need a *progressive income tax*. /s

Detroit should be spun off as the 51st state. Or just sold outright. :') Eventually Detroit will be filled with hard-working Chinese immigrants, basically exiles from China.

[hondact200]

Living in Michigan the roads are hell already Tax revenue is split like this for Michigan Roads
39% County Road Commissions
39% Michigan department of Transportation
22% for local municipalities

The roads are so bad in this area that I have a sticker on the SUV - Not Drunk Avoiding Potholes. With the winter snow at least the potholes are filled for the time being with snow and slush, come spring the roads will be worse again. Snow removal is hideous - garages are recommending snow tires for vehicles. If you survive a slid into the ditch or snowbanks bumpers have to be replaced or worse major repairs to vehicles ensues. Have seen to many spinouts and cars disabled by the roadside after car has gone into the ditch or snowbank..