I was perusing the M-Live web site and I decided to grit my teeth and read Mr. Peter Luke’s latest column whining that Michigan taxpayers aren’t willing to pay, and politicians are (rightfully) afraid to impose, additional gas taxes.
Via the aforementioned M-Live.com:
Lawmakers could actually try and explain to their constituents the economic value of raising the gas tax by 4 cents now and another 4 cents in 2013, and phasing in a near-doubling of registration fees over the next five years. That’s the current proposal and it’s the minimum required for a decent system of roads and transit going forward.
If you think that is bad, Mr. Luke doubles down a few paragraphs later in his column:
Slash transportation spending next year and there will be even less employment and fewer construction employers. All because the only jobs that appear to matter are in the Legislature. While there is some expectation that lawmakers will act in the next lame-duck session at the end of the year, recent history suggests that’s no more realistic than it was in 2008.
So the good news, Michigan motorists, is that the timing is never right to ask you to pay more for the roads you drive on. If you find that preferable to expanded economic activity and job creation, be sure to thank your legislator with your vote in November.
I would like to point out that the worst Governor in America, Jennifer Granholm has been passing out tax breaks to every solar panel manufacturer, wind mill fabricator and film maker that will meet with her. She even gave a $3.5 million clean energy grant plus $27 million in state tax breaks to the S2 Yacht company’s new wind energy subsidiary, Energetx Composites LLC.
Even in China, they are figuring out that wind power is an economic loser. The Mackinac Center has found that fewer than one third of the jobs the state and MEDC claim that will be created ever come to fruition.
The State of Michigan should not be in the business of subsidizing technologies that the Governor particularity fond of to the tune of billions of dollars while ignoring the states primary obligations.
Frickin’ genius!
Yes it is.
I’m ashamed. I may have to erase all references of me being a lifetime resident of Michigan. Love the land, love the people, but the government … a bunch of crack-heads!
I think they should hire Man-Bear-Pig to tout the great profits that wind power would bring.
It’s easy to call for more taxes. What takes real fortitude and honest effort is to fix the root causes with a 21st century perspective. Unfortunately, like theCL said, Michigan’s politicians are spineless imbeciles. Thank goodness term limits keeps lemming voters from reelecting them forever.