Think "They" Won't Raise Your Taxes? Think Again!

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Two Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday proposed raising Michigan's income tax rate to pay university tuition for students and fund preschool programs for 4-year-olds. The plan would raise about $2 billion through a higher state income tax, with the rate increasing from the current 4.35 percent to 5.5 percent.  

Read the full press report here.

So they want to raise your income tax by 21%, yes, that's right. A TWENTY-ONE PERCENT INCREASE IN YOUR INCOME TAXES!

And what should you do about it? I suggest you come to the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 15th at high noon, and let lawmakers know what you think. Visit their offices and tell them, respectfully, that you think a whopping 21% tax increase is not a good idea for Michigan right now.

Join "Joe the Plumber" Wednesday, April 15, 12:00 noon, on the steps of the Capitol in Lansing. More details will follow. See you there!

Think "They" Won't Raise Your Taxes? Think Again!

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Two Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday proposed raising Michigan's income tax rate to pay university tuition for students and fund preschool programs for 4-year-olds. The plan would raise about $2 billion through a higher state income tax, with the rate increasing from the current 4.35 percent to 5.5 percent.  

Read the full press report here.

So they want to raise your income tax by 21%, yes, that's right. A TWENTY-ONE PERCENT INCREASE IN YOUR INCOME TAXES!

And what should you do about it? I suggest you come to the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 15th at high noon, and let lawmakers know what you think. Visit their offices and tell them, respectfully, that you think a whopping 21% tax increase is not a good idea for Michigan right now.

Join "Joe the Plumber" Wednesday, April 15, 12:00 noon, on the steps of the Capitol in Lansing. More details will follow. See you there!

GM will cover your car payment if you lose your job.

Well, at least Mr. Wagoner won't lose his car!

GM will cover your car payment if you lose your job.

Well, at least Mr. Wagoner won't lose his car!

GM CEO: Accountable to the President. UAW President: Accountable to NOBODY

After reading this report, ask yourself just one question: If the President found it necessary to fire Rick Wagoner as CEO of General Motors, why is there no similar accountability on the part of UAW President Ron Gettlefinger?

http://laborpains.org/index.php/2009/03/31/uaw-financial-reports-shows-lavish-resorts-and-big-salaries-during-2008-turmoil/

UAW Financial Reports Shows Lavish Resorts and Big Salaries During 2008 Turmoil

Today, amidst further negotiations between General Motors (GM), the United Auto Workers (UAW), and the federal government, the UAW filed its yearly financial report which shows hard times for auto workers did not translate to the UAW’s lavish expense accounts and salaries.

Every UAW officer made in excess of $141,000 in total compensation in 2008. More than 550 employees (over half of the staff making above $10,000 annually) made more than $100,000 in total compensation. Over the course of the year, the union expensed $98,775 on golf courses, another $75,492 at casinos, and over $150,000 at resort conference centers.

The $33 million UAW-owned Black Lake Golf Course came with its own costs. The union spent $23,488 in member dues in a tax assessment dispute regarding property taxes for the course, and $28,000 transporting people to the resort. Unlike years past, the union did not file an auditor’s report revealing how much the course lost in operations.

The excessive spending doesn’t end there. Towels ($7,842), puzzles ($7,617), ponchos ($9,015), 35 “handcrafted computer bags” ($5,394), and bowling tournaments ($29,867) were all paid for with money from union members’ salaries. They also spent $172,641 on what must have been extremely luxurious briefcases and another $149,592 on t-shirts!

You might expect that the UAW spent 2008 getting its financial priorities in tune with the the dismal state of the domestic automotive industry, but you’d be wrong. At a time when the entire automotive industry is making deep cuts, the UAW continues to spend members hard-earned dues on frivolous expenses. With leadership like that, it is not surprising that the UAW’s membership fell to a record low not seen since before World War II.

Click here to read the UAW’s complete LM-2 report filed with the Department of Labor.

GM CEO: Accountable to the President. UAW President: Accountable to NOBODY

After reading this report, ask yourself just one question: If the President found it necessary to fire Rick Wagoner as CEO of General Motors, why is there no similar accountability on the part of UAW President Ron Gettlefinger?

http://laborpains.org/index.php/2009/03/31/uaw-financial-reports-shows-lavish-resorts-and-big-salaries-during-2008-turmoil/

UAW Financial Reports Shows Lavish Resorts and Big Salaries During 2008 Turmoil

Today, amidst further negotiations between General Motors (GM), the United Auto Workers (UAW), and the federal government, the UAW filed its yearly financial report which shows hard times for auto workers did not translate to the UAW’s lavish expense accounts and salaries.

Every UAW officer made in excess of $141,000 in total compensation in 2008. More than 550 employees (over half of the staff making above $10,000 annually) made more than $100,000 in total compensation. Over the course of the year, the union expensed $98,775 on golf courses, another $75,492 at casinos, and over $150,000 at resort conference centers.

The $33 million UAW-owned Black Lake Golf Course came with its own costs. The union spent $23,488 in member dues in a tax assessment dispute regarding property taxes for the course, and $28,000 transporting people to the resort. Unlike years past, the union did not file an auditor’s report revealing how much the course lost in operations.

The excessive spending doesn’t end there. Towels ($7,842), puzzles ($7,617), ponchos ($9,015), 35 “handcrafted computer bags” ($5,394), and bowling tournaments ($29,867) were all paid for with money from union members’ salaries. They also spent $172,641 on what must have been extremely luxurious briefcases and another $149,592 on t-shirts!

You might expect that the UAW spent 2008 getting its financial priorities in tune with the the dismal state of the domestic automotive industry, but you’d be wrong. At a time when the entire automotive industry is making deep cuts, the UAW continues to spend members hard-earned dues on frivolous expenses. With leadership like that, it is not surprising that the UAW’s membership fell to a record low not seen since before World War II.

Click here to read the UAW’s complete LM-2 report filed with the Department of Labor.

"Transparency Update"

House Bill 4722, a bill introduced by Representative Dan Scripps (D) 101st District, calls for "transparency" in government. The good news is, his bill was reported out of the Government Operations Committee today. This is the first transparency legislation to make it to the House floor. The bad news is, it does not go as far as it could.

HB 4722 calls for mandated reporting of expenditures, number of employees, list of state contracts, department budgets, the annual financial reports, job specifications and wage rates. The problem is, all of this information is already available on the State of Michigan web site.

What the bill does not mandate is a free, searchable database containing the details of every expenditure by each state department and agency, including the name of the entity receiving the funds, the amount, the type of transaction, the budget source of the funds, and a description of the purpose expenditure as spelled out in HB 4121, introduced by Representative Tom McMillin. His bill defines "expenditure of state funds" as the expenditure of all appropriated or non-appropriated funds including purchases, contracts and subcontracts, and grants. Essentially, the bill requires the state to make public its "check register" in an accessible form.

Unfortunately, 4121 is trapped in committee with no hearing scheduled. While I applaud Rep. Scripps for putting this bill out there, I am hopeful that the House, or the Senate - if they get the chance - can amend this legislation to provide the same kind of information that is easily obtained in at least 20 other states already. After all, the legislature owes it to you taxpayers to let you know how state government is spending your money.

Transparency: Too Expensive to Implement? Not Necessary?

The Michigan Department of Information Technology has claimed it would cost $150 million to implement transparency. And yet, South Carolina accomplished it for under $100,000 with the same software systems Michigan uses!

Another claim by the administration is that information is already available on the Michigan.gov website. I disagree. But rather than take my word for it, try it for yourself. Here are three state web sites. You decide: Is information easy to find in Missouri and South Carolina? How about Michigan?

Michigan   South Carolina   Missouri

Once you have completed your experiment, feel free to find your lawmaker and encourage them to show you the money and pass HB 4121. Don't forget, it's your money they are spending.  Find your legislator here.

 

Is Your School Bus Driver on the Phone?

If you were the superintendent of a school district and you found out that your school bus drivers were on their cell phones while driving the bus, what would you do? Would you discipline the driver? Perhaps you would enact a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving the bus.

Is it safe to assume that the district board and superintendent have enough common sense and personal responsibility to address the situation? Fear not, the legislature is coming to the rescue! House Bill 4362 has been introduced to stop this foolish activity. The bill says:

"(1) The driver of a school bus shall not utilize a cellular telephone while the school bus is in motion or at any time when pupils are boarding or exiting the school bus. (2) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $100.00. A civil infraction under this subsection shall be processed in the same manner as a civil infraction under the Michigan vehicle code."

Thank goodness, we have someone looking out for us in Lansing!

Is Your School Bus Driver on the Phone?

If you were the superintendent of a school district and you found out that your school bus drivers were on their cell phones while driving the bus, what would you do? Would you discipline the driver? Perhaps you would enact a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving the bus.

Is it safe to assume that the district board and superintendent have enough common sense and personal responsibility to address the situation? Fear not, the legislature is coming to the rescue! House Bill 4362 has been introduced to stop this foolish activity. The bill says:

"(1) The driver of a school bus shall not utilize a cellular telephone while the school bus is in motion or at any time when pupils are boarding or exiting the school bus. (2) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $100.00. A civil infraction under this subsection shall be processed in the same manner as a civil infraction under the Michigan vehicle code."

Thank goodness, we have someone looking out for us in Lansing!