WayneCountyTaxpayers Inc

Petulant Elected Officials

2012-01-23T17:49:00.027-05:00

How can we have representative government if our Representatives refuse to show up to represent us. When they were elected they knew how the system was supposed to work. The idea was not to go home, if the majority did not agree with you, but to discuss the matter and try to convince the majority to your way of thinking. Eventually, you must table or bring the proposition to a vote.

The lack of respect for their constituents and for the system that they swore to uphold through the Constitution can only be surpassed by the narcissistic, egotistical and childish behavior of those who would bring government to a halt because they did not get their way. The American people deserve better than this.

I would defend anyone's right to protest within the law. But, protests at the expense of the rights of others is unacceptable. It is not just our elected officials that suffer from these maladies but society as a whole. The me first generation has had it the best of any generation and has passed it down. Now the tide is reversing and the frustration expresses itself in violence.

If we are to save our country, we have to undo what we have taught and reeducate ourselves and our children that others have rights as well. We must respect others and realize that what belongs to them is theirs.

Recalling Recall and Senate Joint Resolution S

2012-01-02T17:59:00.001-05:00

Senate Joint Resolution S is about restricting your right to recall to criminal offenses and misconduct. Recall is more than that. The State Constitution provides a tool to the electorate when your representative refuses to represent you or does something illegal and that is recall. Recall requires that you collect the valid signatures of 25% of the number who voted in the last election for governor in the district. This is not an easy task. After the signatures are gathered and certified, the person to be recalled gets to put a rebuttal on the ballot.

In the early 80's two recalls occurred. Senators Mastin and Sarotkin were successfully recalled from office from Michigan's state legislature for voting for a 38% increase in income taxes. Having decided that it had to be stopped, the third senator, Patrick McCollough was prevented from being recalled.

As one of the instigators of that recall, I can accurately describe what happened. There certainly has been enough misinformation to go around. This was truly a grass roots movement. We had next to no money and we only had our anger to keep us warm in one of the coldest winters I can remember. The ability for politicians to curb their spending was not even a consideration. Why should they when the taxpayer could pick up the tab?

So how did they end it? Of course they made us look like the bad guys. We were all volunteers. They harassed us as we stood out in the cold collecting signatures. They followed us door to door. They signed false names and addresses on our petitions. They held cameras close to our faces and took pictures. They signed our petitions more than once, knowing that both signatures would be discarded based on a previous court decision disenfranchising even those who may have accidentally signed twice over the three month signature collection period. They tried to block access to the tables we set up to collect signatures. They became so disruptive that we had to call the police numerous times to stop them.

So who were these people? Well some of them were Sen. McCollough's relatives or so they said. There was also MEA union members who were also the largest contributors to his committee. His mother was head of the House Education Committee and had a great deal of influence. There were others union and non union members involved in the disruption. The Democratic Party was deeply involved because they pushed for the tax increase. Many of the rank and file union members were on our side.

Years later in 2007, the propaganda continued with a program sponsored by MGTV Michigan Political History Soc. with plenty of representation by those who are not supportive of recalls including McCollough himself who continued to call us names and tell lies about us.

Apparently, I'm a slow learner and a true believer. In 2007 I again attempted a recall with the help of others. Rep. Andy Dillon voted to increased our income tax by 12% and enacted a surtax of 22% on business that was passed down to us. He voted to increased General Fund Spending more than 8% and called it a cut. He voted to increased their legislative budget by over 7%. He did all this at a time when Michigan families are struggling to pay their mortgages and keep their homes.

Again the same suspects tried to disrupt the efforts with their money and influence. That effort failed as well. But in both instances, it slowed them down by causing them lots of money and personal effort that they could have used for mischief elsewhere. It also makes them think twice about their decisions and their consequences.

So why go through all the trouble? Because good government doesn't just happen. Because it is your obligation to pay attention. The less you pay attention the weaker you become and the more intrusive government becomes. I believe that the tax increases have hurt the people and the business climate of this state. So take a position, whatever it is, and get involved.

I am frequently asked why recall is necessary when our elected state officials are term limited and will be up for re-election or moving on. The most important thing I could say is that a lot can happen in six months. It did not take them six months to raise our income tax 12%. It did not take them six months to enact a 22% surtax on business. ( May I remind you that the tax gets passed on to the consumer.) It took them less than six months to increase General Fund spending more than 8% for 2008. They succeeded in increasing the legislative budget by over 7% for 2008 in less than six months. Now add to that the cost of borrowing money at 40 cents on the dollar for the failed 20th Century Jobs Fund in 2005, which was a flop, and will take a long time to pay back with future revenue.

The next question is always ," What about the cost of the election?" It is minor compared to the damage they can do.

Please contact Senators Meekoff and Richardville and tell them you do not support the proposed change. Then contact the Committee on Government Operations with the same message. Don't Forget your legislators as well.

Please Help

2011-09-14T21:59:00.000-05:00

Just click on this link to locate your legislators. You can also copy and paste this to your browser.
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28ufs3fxz5g22iryuvf0icrneo%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=home

We can stop this legislation. Right now many cities and townships share services and procurements without creating authorities. That is why we elect individuals to make decisions for us. Please call, email or visit your legislators.

Please pass this information on.

Live Free or Choke On It

2011-07-15T14:54:00.000-05:00

I have been remiss in my writing because I was almost catatonic. It seems like it is all to much. The world as I know it is crashing. I have been feeling powerless. My country, the greatest on earth, is slipping both in influence and financially. My state, county and local governments are controlled by the unions and spending is out of control. I get so many requests for donations and phone sales in a days time that I am hanging up on them an refusing to donate to anyone. What was happening to me?

Then I thought, when have you ever been a quitter? So here I am with renewed vigor. Asking your help and your strength to work with me. They want us to get worn out. They want us to give up. We can't let them win. This is a great country! We just can't let them change it to something else or convince us it is not.

When your tempted to sit back, step forward. There won't be immediate financial benefit like there is most of the time on the other side, but you are still doing it for yourself, your children, grandchildren and (almost as important) me. Make a phone call, write a letter or go to a political meeting. Unfortunately, you may not have someone to tell you what to do but you know what is right. If you need direction, join an organization that will notify you when to act. Don't leave it to someone else to do. We have to keep the pressure on. It is very important. If you think you don't care, you will.

Not Binding but Strangling

2011-05-28T12:21:00.002-05:00

The above flyer was distributed in Senator Randy Richardville's district. But this legislation will effect all of us. It is for this reason I felt obligated, with AFP's permission, to cut and paste its content. Make sure you contact your senator and representative as well. Tell them to tell Richardville how you feel.

Randy Richardville has sponsored Senate Bill 397 that expands binding arbitration. Binding arbitration means that unelected bureaucrats have the final say in contracts with government unions. Even the representatives we elect cannot change these contracts, no matter how costly they are or how much they will hurt our community. These types of contracts can cost our state millions. Binding arbitration can raise costs to municipalities by 3 to 5 percent. It can result in unsustainably high wages and benefits or burdensome work rules that are not in the public’s best interest.

The Facts:
SB 397 expands Public Act 312, which was passed in 1969 and requires binding arbitration for local police and fire fighters.

Even former Governor Jennifer Granholm’s own task force reported that PA 312 raises the cost to local government operations by 3 – 5%.

Besides Card Check, binding arbitration was one of the key provisions in the horribly misnamed Employee Free Choice Act. Like eliminating the secret ballot, binding arbitration is a
provision that only benefits unions.

Some politicians don’t get it. Some politicians want to increase the cost of government
and put unions in charge. Senator Richardville is one of those politicians that wants to increase the cost of government and take away our say in how government is run. As a Michigan taxpayer, we only get to pay more. It is unelected bureaucrats vs. citizens. It is taxpayers vs. government sector unions.
Senator Richardville it is time to put taxpayers first!

So lets review:
 Michigan workers are making less. Senator Richardville introduces legislation to increase the cost
of government.
 If Senator Randy Richardville has his way taxpayers lose and government sector unions win.
Call Senator Randy Richardville at (517) 373-3543 and tell him to cut government, reform government and stop sponsoring legislation that raises the cost of government and harms our democracy.

www.michiganafp.com • 517-853-9073

Wayne County the Armpit of Michigan and It Stinks

2011-05-05T19:13:00.002-05:00

How is it that everything in Wayne County government costs so much more? Accountability has been the missing ingredient as far back as I can remember. No one, not governors, Mayors, the commission, or anyone has challenged them effectively. Those that have challenged come out far less than successful. A temporary, partial victory with unjustified concessions has seemed to suffice in most cases. Then, it is back to business as usual.

Why is everyone afraid of Wayne County. Why are they held to a different standard? Are they afraid they will offend a person of color? That's the most insulting thing I ever heard. Do they think the taxpayers of any color in Wayne County would not be better off with good government and that the handful of loud spoken individuals actually represent the majority of the people who expect and deserve good government? Loud does not make it right.

I for one have had it. I accept everyone on the same terms. I will not tolerate excuses any longer. I will feel no guilt. Please stand with me! Make Wayne County accountable. Insist that Wayne County is transparent. Insist on prosecution for individuals who break the law. And, for goodness sake get them to fix those darn potholes.

Not Negotiable

2011-05-03T12:26:00.003-05:00

The video above is just a sample of the disrespect some in government have for their constituents. They act like we are fools and to stupid to understand and don't understand it is their job to make sure we do.

This past week I was sent an article from the Grosse Pointe News . I was dismayed to hear the report of John Lizza, who chairs the Board of Review for Grosse Pointe Shores. He indicated that he doesn't like public watchdogs nosing around his board of review. To that I say, too bad. Brian Vick the city manager says, "In an unofficial survey, 27 municipalities were asked about it," said Brian Vick, Shores city manager. "Only two took a position that every aspect, from start to finish, had to be done in an open setting. The other ones had variations of it. So, it is one of things where there's gray area." To that I say too bad as well.

The law is the law and what they think is irrelevant. If I hear of such a thing again, they will be reported to the state and I personally will press charges. I am sending copies of the article to all cities in Wayne County. I am also attaching a copy of the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act for any community that is in doubt.

Just like the citizens who elect them and the elected officials that appoint them, those in government do not get to choose which laws they enforce or obey. Your response is appreciated.

MICHIGAN LEGISLATIVE LOBBY DAY & TAXPAYER TEA PARTY RALLY

2011-04-07T21:09:00.000-05:00

It's almost here. Thursday April 14, is our chance to recommit to our desire for fiscal intergrity by our state and federal governments. We need you to join us in Lansing. Americans for Prosperity and 40 Tea Party , 9-12 and taxpayers groups are sponsoring this event. It is difficult for many to get time off from their jobs and for some to give up income to join us, but for those who can, we appreciate your support.

You can find the agenda for the day and a list of the great speakers by clicking here. Now is not the time to leave it to someone else. Everyone is needed and the legislators need to know they have your support when they stand up for you. Don't let them down. Help those who are on the fence to make a decision for taxpayers and not special interests.

The decision to make the event on the 14th instead of the 15th was made because the legislature will be in session. It will also give those who want to have a taxday rally the oportunity. Make sure they know we will not go away.

Wasting Our Money

2011-03-30T00:51:00.001-05:00

What is the matter with government? What part of we are all tapped out do they not understand? Their fixation with useless transportation projects that we can not afford has me stumped.

Traffic has dropped off dramatically between Canada and the United States due to the economy and the loss of population in Michigan. You now need a Passport to cross over into Canada. Only government would want to build another bridge to hold less traffic and lose money, when we already have three ways to access Canada from Michigan. They expanded the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron just a few years ago.

The proposed train down Woodward Ave.,it's use would be for what? Who would be riding it and where would they be going?

These are not little projects. We neither need them nor can we afford them. Millions and millions of dollars would be spent on these projects guaranteed to operate at a loss and be subsidized by the taxpayer year after year. Let the governor and your representatives know this is nonsense.

Now Is The Time to Tweek

2011-03-13T21:40:00.002-05:00

This is the first time since 1994 that the Taxable Value of property has been so near the State Equalized Value of Property. While there are laws prohibiting the increase of taxes without a vote of the people there is no law prohibiting the reductions of taxes. It is time to restore justice and uniformity. In 1994 Proposal A passed. It was concerned with the taxable value of individual property and the way we finance schools. It capped annual increases in your taxable value at the CPI (inflation) or 5% whichever is less. Millages are applied against the taxable value.

The red line in the graph is the State Equalized Value (SEV) and the Blue is the Taxable Value. For years, they have been talking about tweaking Proposal A. The problem is that suggestions were not always in the interest of the taxpayer. The suggestion that I have found to have the most value is the elimination of the "pop up". Under Proposal A, whenever property changes hands the new owner's taxes "pop up" because he now must pay on the SEV. If you notice in the graph there was quite a difference between the SEV and Taxable Value when property was increasing in value. As a result, two identical houses in the same subdivision could be paying dramatically different taxes because one person had been living in the house since 1994 when Proposal A Passed and another bought a house at the height of housing values. What that means is that there could have been almost a 50% difference in the amount of taxes paid for the same services.

The legislature should act now to eliminate the "pop up". and bring everyone down to 50% of their true cash value which is what the SEV should be and which is also in most cases the present Taxable Value. We need to bring some sanity back to the system. The Constitutional limitation that prohibits increases in taxable value to inflation or 5% which ever is less would remain in effect. Revenue for government units woulds be regulated by the Constitution (Headlee Amendment) and voted millages by the people.

American Insanity

2011-03-10T17:40:00.008-05:00

How can the American public expect to cut the budget on any level of government if they are unwilling to give their elected officials the tools they need to do the job? Even if you are sympathetic to the unions and collective bargaining, you have to realize that the only area where you can cut a significant amount of dollars is in a service business, and that is what government is supposed to do, union wages and benefits are where the largest costs are. You have to understand the conflict between unions, who contribute to the election of a candidate, and the benefits that they are able to have awarded in contracts. You should also be able to understand that they can not be allowed to strike, because, of the damage that causes to the common good of the taxpayers.

Public unions have managed to negotiate salaries and benefits that are 47% higher on average, than the private sector. To those people who are working for far less than unionized employee's and also to the unemployed, the suggestion of a tax increase or the refusal of unionized public employees to take a cut is overwhelming. To the unions taking less pay and benefits does not sit well, but the lines need to be drawn that are equitable for both the unions and the taxpayers. It is not that we do not appreciate the work they do, when they do it, but rather that it is unfair for the taxpayer to be overburdened supporting such unfair advantages.
The American people have to wake up. The recent attempt by states to deal with these problems has met stiff opposition with resistance by some who profess to want budgets and deficits cut. This "anyone except me" attitude will surely drive us over the edge into certain bankruptcy. What can you say about a society that seemingly is willing to steal from their children and grandchildren? This is an immoral and selfish position that shows in and of itself the manner those involved wish to engage in in order to maintain their greedy unfair conduct.

The success of the vote in Wisconsin I hope will give courage to other states to follow through.

A Special Invitation

2011-02-11T16:08:00.003-05:00

We have been finding it difficult to find a location near Detroit. Leon's Family Dining, where we have our membership meetings, has agreed to lend us his banquet room. I had indicated that I would ask everyone to purchase something. You can have dinner, desert or just a cup of coffee. The meeting is at 7:00 pm on February 22 at 23830 Michigan Ave. We have reduced our $2.00 donation to $1.00 on this occasion.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call 313-278-8383. If you are unable to attend look on our website for our other scheduled seminars. http://www.wctaxpayers.org/.

Don't Miss the Boat

2011-02-05T17:34:00.007-05:00

The time is now to learn how to appeal your assessment. The Comsumer price Index has increased 1.7% (inflation) but your home value has continued to decline. Many people can not afford to hire someone to appeal for them and that is why we have designed a seminar that teaches how to do it yourself.
If nothing else, it will give you the tools to find out if it is worth your while to hire someone else to do it.

You will have to be on the defensive for several years to come, when it comes to your financial security. Take the time to secure what is the biggest investment for most people - your home.

Go to our website for a location nearest you. We will be adding additional locations through the end of the month.

While your at it, stock up on some food and paper products. Inflation is expected to increase. Anything you can buy and keep now will save you money in the future.

It Is Time to Prepare to Appeal Your Assessment

2010-12-29T22:56:00.000-05:00

Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and the Wayne County Taxpayers Association are about to start scheduling our state tour on How to Appeal Your Property Assessment. The housing market across the state is tanking. Foreclosuresare up for nonpayment of mortgages.They are also up for non payment of taxes. Since the State

has changed the rules to allow foreclosure after two years of nonpayment of taxes, many people have lost
their lifetime investment due to job loss or wage cuts. This is a buyer’s market if you can find someone to finance you. Home prices are dropping so they can be sold and be affordable. Tax increases are expected to
be requested at all levels of government.

Many people chose to ignore their right to appeal their SEV (State Equalized Value), which should be half of the true cash value,because they are being taxed at the Taxable Value which was capped with the passage of Proposal A in 1994. This limited the taxable value increases to the rate of inflation or 5% which ever is less. Property Values have dropped so much that it is almost advantageous for everyone to appeal their assessment.

Remember, the assessment cap is removed when the property changes ownership. New owners are
stuck paying taxes based on the State Equalized Value.

Don’t forget, if you live in the City of Detroit, you must first appeal to the Board of Assessors before mid February to appeal to the Board of Review in March. Everyone else should call their city or township and inquire when their Board of Review will be meeting. Make sure you do the work necessary to make a successful appeal. You should be able to get sales that have occurred in your area from a local real estate office or the city assessor. You should also be able to see the SEV of other houses in your area and the worksheet they keep on your home to insure accuracy of information.

Please check our website in January for a list of the locations at which we will be presenting the seminars. For more information call 313-278-8383. If you wish to sponsor a seminar please contact us.

Putting Things In Prospective

2010-12-06T22:26:00.001-05:00

I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself. For a week and a half I have been coughing, wheezing, pulling every muscle in my body and feeling all around miserable. Then reality hit. Was I doing this with no roof over my head? Did I have food to build up my strength? Where the antibiotics that I took working? Did I need to worry about my family? Did I have to worry about these things next week? Did I have small children looking forward to Christmas?

It sure is easy to close off things going on around you and become self involved. There is no questions that others do not have the benefits that I have. Our soldiers give up much for us. They endure many hardships so that I can have the life that I have. They are away from their families at the time of year I am closest to mine.

Then, there are the citizens who have given up their time and money to come together as a group to show their support for our country, and way of life, through rallies, tea parties and demonstrations with patriotic fervor dedicated to preserve our history and greatness as a country.

We can not forget those who are elected to office. Those who stick to their principles and dedication to good government. Those that defy the urge to go along to get along.

I hope you will celebrate these things with us at the 2nd Annual MI taxpayers Alliance and WC Taxpayers Association Awards Banquet. For more information, click below.

Buy tickets online here

or mail a check to:

MI Taxpayers Alliance

46116 Lookout Drive

Macomb, MI 48044

(Please make notation “banquet” on your check)

Awarding Those Who Do a Good Job

2010-12-01T00:05:00.005-05:00

It is really important to award people who do a good job. The four people we have decided to award at the 2nd Annual Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and Wayne County Taxpayers Association Award Banquet have several thing in common. They are intelligent, well versed and, most of all, trustworthy. We will have a Post Mortem award for Chet Zarko. Chet was known as the original Michigan conservative blogger. Zarko Research and Consulting was a Michigan-based political, marketing, and design service run by freelance investigative writer Chetly Zarko. In mid July Chet passed away at the young age of 39 and it was a huge loss to to everyone. Those on the right and the left respected him and trusted him.
He pulled the original FOIAs that led to the discovery of the False Tea Party Group.

Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) is a standard bearer for fiscal conservatism in the state House. He is also widely recognized as the de facto minority leader opposing House Democrats’ plans to increase the cost and power of government for the past two years in Lansing. Rep. McMillin stood up to help lead battles against Obamacare, against corporate welfare, against excessive spending, and for transparency in government spending.

Joe Lehman, President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, for the Center’s new e-newsletter, Capitol Confidential.Have you heard of Capitol Confidential? The Mackinac Center created ‘Cap Con’ to fill the void left by lazy and/or biased news media and, boy, have they! A rapidly growing number of citizens turn to this online news source every day for updates on government policy and investigative journalism that exposes government corruption. Cap Con isn’t a blog. It isn’t opinion. It is real, hard-hitting investigative journalism on behalf of taxpaying citizens.

Jason Gillman was the epitome of the ‘tea party activist’ in 2010. He blogs for Right Michigan website where he helped expose the fraudulent “Tea Party” political trick that was attempted by the MI Democratic Party. Gillman’s was instrumental in keeping the fake Democrat Party Tea Party off the ballot this past November. In addition, Jason Gillman was a leader organizing tea party rallies and protests in Traverse City that played a key role in pushing Congressman Bart Stupak toward retirement.

Please join us. These men have done so much more for us and if you checked there work they were always right on. If we fail to recognize people like this, they and their families will never know how much we appreciate them.

Buy tickets online here

or mail a check to:

MI Taxpayers Alliance

46116 Lookout Drive

Macomb, MI 48044

(Please make notation “banquet” on your check)

2nd Annual MTA and WCTA Awards Banquet

2010-11-19T18:27:00.004-05:00

2nd Annual

Michigan Taxpayers Alliance

and

Wayne County Taxpayers Association
Awards Banquet

What a year! We witnessed a genuine citizen uprising that involved many new activists who stepped up to protest and volunteer for campaigns. Time to celebrate a new beginning for taxpayers and recognize some inspiring individuals for their terrific work on behalf of taxpayers. You are invited to attend the 2nd annual Michigan Taxpayers Alliance Awards Banquet and join with taxpayers from across Michigan on Friday, December 17th in Troy.

Kick off the holiday season with a celebration of hope and renewal by attending this year’s banquet. Over 200 activists attended last year’s Banquet, and this year we have more to celebrate and hope for.

Tickets are $40 per person, $75 per couple and include dinner, beer and wine, and the opportunity to meet our special guests. A private reception ($100, which includes the dinner) precedes the banquet.

Who: You!

What: The 2nd Annual MTA and WCTA Awards Banquet

Where: American-Polish Cultural Center (click for map) at 2975 E. Maple Road (15 Mile Rd. in Troy located at the N.W. corner of Maple Road and Dequindere.

When: Friday, December 17th at 6:30PM for Banquet guests. Private reception begins at 5:30.

See you at the Banquet!
Leon Drolet
MI Taxpayers Alliance

Buy tickets online here

or mail a check to:

MI Taxpayers Alliance

46116 Lookout Drive

Macomb, MI 48044

(Please make notation “banquet” on your check)

Meet this year’s award winners:

Taxpayer Hero of the Year: State Representative Tom McMillin

Rep. Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills) is a standard bearer for fiscal conservatism in the state House. He is also widely recognized as the de facto minority leader opposing House Democrats’ plans to increase the cost and power of government for the past two years in Lansing. Rep. McMillin stood up to help lead battles against Obamacare, against corporate welfare, against excessive spending, and for transparency in government spending.

Voice of the Taxpayer: Joe Lehman, President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, for the Center’s new e-newsletter, Capitol Confidential

Have you heard of Capitol Confidential? The Mackinac Center created ‘Cap Con’ to fill the void left by lazy and/or biased news media and, boy, have they! A rapidly growing number of citizens turn to this online news source every day for updates on government policy and investigative journalism that exposes government corruption. Cap Con isn’t a blog. It isn’t opinion. It is real, hard-hitting investigative journalism on behalf of taxpaying citizens.

Taxpayer Activist of the Year: Jason Gillman

Jason Gillman was the epitome of the ‘tea party activist’ in 2010. He blogs for Right Michigan website where he helped expose the fraudulent “Tea Party” political trick that was attempted by the MI Democratic Party. Gillman’s research was instrumental in keeping the fake Democrat Party Tea Party off the ballot this past November. In addition, Jason Gillman was a leader organizing tea party rallies and protests in Traverse City that played a key role in pushing Congressman Bart Stupak toward retirement.

"Liberty is to precious a thing to be burried in books"

2010-10-30T20:02:00.004-05:00

The election is almost upon us. No matter what the results, we can not give up. Just like in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, we need to realise how important and wonderful this American experiment has been. It is something we all should be willing to fight for and preserve.

Today, we have tools on hand to make it easier to get support and communicate with others. The Mackinac Center put together a video from a conference on new media that is very interesting to watch. It is also available on our web page. Those of us who have been around for a while defending our way of life, can testify that getting things organized now and communicating with like minded individuals is a lot easier with modern technology.

What is the same is our need to affirm the correctness of freedom, liberty, and choice. As government has gradually become more and more intrusive in our life, we sometimes fail to recognize that we are losing our ability to exercise those inalienable rights, which were endowed by our Creator and not the government. We need to keep reminding those we elect to represent us, that their job is to represent us and not to make laws for their convenience or personal gain.

People have poured into this country to experience the opportunities this country allows. Slowly we are letting these opportunities slip away. The recent wake up call of the Tea Party, I hope, has reversed our decline. We can not forget what a blessing we have in this country and the need to defend her with everything in our power. Freedom is not free. It requires our constant vigilance. I count on you to help me keep watch.

S O S (Save Our State)

2010-10-11T20:39:00.006-05:00

It is getting close. The first of the two most important elections of the century are coming. It is our responsibility to save our state and our country. Please join us on Saturday, October 16, from 4-6 pm at the Schoolcraft Community College gym in Livonia to show your support of candidates that will help us make a difference. Electing the right candidate may effect apportionment, control in the house and senate and the intention to go back to the principles of the founding fathers.

Controlling spending and reducing the deficit are imperative to the future of this country and the future of our children. We are happy that conservatives are now allowed to come out of the closet and into the light. Creeping socialism is destroying the opportunity of our country to compete. The uncertainty in our economy is reducing the opportunity for our children to succeed and, for the the first time, a life that is better than their parents.

There will also be to conservative candidates running for the Michigan Supreme Court, Justice Young and Judge Kelly. If elected we can count on them to interpret the Constitution and not legislate from the bench.

Come and say hello at our table.

United Nations Nonsense

2010-09-30T14:48:00.007-05:00

What an oxymoron. The United Nations is anything but united. Every time we get involved with them we get the short end of the stick. It is not bad enough that we pay most of the freight, we now have less and less influence. I don't know about you but I am getting sick and tired of getting taken advantage of and having to stand there and take it.

That is why I have placed a link to the National Association for Gun Rights petition on the Wayne County Taxpayers Association website. I know that in these hard times you may not choose to make a contribution, but please sign the petition.

I used to laugh at people who talked about one world government. No more. The crashing of the money supply around the world due to debt and greed has me convinced that at least some people are working together and not for our benefit. Control should come from the people not the other way around.

Never Give Up

2010-09-23T00:52:00.011-05:00

November is fast approaching and while we think we might know what will happen, we can not be sure. The one thing we can be sure of is that if we do not make changes we will be in worse trouble than we are in already.

I keep hearing people ask if the Tea Parties can make it all the way to November. I have news for those people. We have to be committed to be there long after the election.

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
--Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4,1777

Throughout history, you will find similar comments made by people who others have labeled great minds. It is not coinsidence that they have come to the same conclusion. Their analysis is based on common sense and observation.

The Tea Parties may seem ragtag at times but that is because they are not made up of polished politicians. They are made up of people who love their county and their way of life and are afraid they are losing it. While I am not one to trust the mainstream media for their acuracy, there was a survey done by CBS that was pretty extensive. The Tea Party members are not made up of the faint of heart. For that, I thank God.

An American Model

2010-09-08T20:33:00.003-05:00

Emery McClendon at RightOnline 2010 from AFPhq on Vimeo.

The first time I met Emery McClendon I thought he was sort of a quiet guy. Boy was I wrong. I met him three years ago at the Americans For Prosperity, Defending the American Dream Conference. We shared ideas and at the end of the conference, because there were few from Indiana attending, he came with the Michigan delegation to a revolving restaurant on top of a hotel for dinner. We shared more thoughts and exchanged email addresses and have been communicating since.

This man has impressed me greatly. His dedication to this country through his service, his willingness to speak out, his sincerity and determination have impressed me permanently.

He does what we should all be doing in these difficult times. We need to be fighting to hold on to the thing hat have made America Great.

Americans For Properity Dreams Again

2010-08-27T21:59:00.005-05:00

I am blogging to you from AFP's "Defending the American Dream Conference" in Washington D C. Great speakers and breakout sessions today. This morning we heard from, among others, Dick Morris, author and Fox News Contributer and Herman Cain, radio host and commentator.

Before and after the speakers were breakout sessions covering everything from soup to nuts. Six sessions with four choices to choose from in each session. Things like economics, media, repealing Obamacare, free speech, global warming, and on and on.

During the "Tribute to Ronald Reagan Dinner", we heard from, among others, George Will conservative columnist and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

I also got to see old friends who have moved on and out of Michigan. All and all a good event with over 2500 people attending.

Tomorrow is the "Restoring Honor Rally" at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial which was called by Glen Beck of Fox News. It should be interesting.

The DROP Shell Game

2010-08-08T21:11:00.007-05:00

Which nut has your money?

Please pass this on to those you know in Dearborn Heights.

Dear Taxpayer:

As a resident of Dearborn Heights you may be aware that in 1965 the voters adopted PA 345 of 1937, which allows for a millage in order to pay for police and fire personnel retirement benefits. Over the years, generous contracts with the promise of exceptional retirement benefits have been negotiated for Dearborn Heights police and fire personnel and the taxpayers have shouldered the costs for those benefits based on the vote of residents in 1965.

IF YOU DON’T WANT YOUR PROPERTY TAXES TO INCREASE PLEASE READ BELOW AND TAKE ACTION!

Please pass this along to your neighbors.

Scott Hagerstrom
State Director-Michigan
Americans For Prosperity
www.michiganafp.com

Background:

Three years ago during contract negotiations the City agreed to what is known as a DROP program (deferred retirement option plan). This program encourages police and fire personnel who are nearing retirement age to take an early retirement, thus moving the liability for their benefits off the regular City personnel budget and to the taxpayers through the police and fire millage provisions in PA 345. Once the burden of these employees’ benefits are moved off the City of Dearborn Heights’ books, the city frequently rehires the same personnel back as contractors.

The intent of PA 345 was to continue to support our city’s heroes once they have retired. That’s not what is happening today. Today, the City of Dearborn Heights is playing a shell game with your hard-earned tax dollars to fund EXISTING police and fire personnel benefits so they can make room on the city’s books for other expenditures.
In other words, while everyone else is figuring out ways to make the hard decisions in their personal budgets during this painful recession, the clever politicians at the City of Dearborn are simply moving liabilities off their books at the expense of the taxpayers through a loophole and NOT asking the taxpayers if they’re willing to support this.

Add to that the fact that in a down economy the investments and interest payments to the PA 345 funds are low, meaning the taxpayers must put more in to fund the liabilities. The millage this year alone increased by $2.30 for every $1000 in taxable property value, and because the recently arbitrated contract extends the DROP programming that millage rate is certain to continue to increase.

What does all of this mean in the real world? Former City of Taylor Mayor Cameron Priebe estimated that the PA 345 provision in their city meant that each retiree currently costs the taxpayers of Taylor more than $4.5 million (they currently have around 100 police and fire retirees). In Taylor, residents paid 1.2 mills in 1979 to support the PA 345 provisions; today they pay 6 mills and that number is expected to increase substantially. What does that mean in dollars and cents? A single resident in the City of Taylor with property valued at $150,000 will pay $450 this year just to support the police and fire retiree benefit provision of PA 345.

We MUST reign the liability of this fund in NOW. We can continue to support the retirements of the men and women who risk their lives to protect us within the provisions of PA 345, but the City of Dearborn Heights MUST get their house in order and stop using loopholes to shift the liability of the non-retired police and fire workforce to a millage provision.

Tell Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko that you will support a referendum to repeal PA 345 if the DROP program is allowed to continue.

You can contact the Mayor of Dearborn Heights, Daniel Paletko, and city council in the following ways:
E-mail: dpaletko@ci.dearborn-heights.mi.us

Regular mail: City of Dearborn Heights
6045 Fenton
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127-3294
Telephone: (313) 791-3490
Facsimile: (313) 791-3491
Kenneth R. Baron
Council Chair
(313) 565-0420
FAX (313) 565-9184
(313) 791-9924
Janet Badalow
Chair Pro-Tem
(313) 791-9923 mailto:dh4badelow@comcast.net
Elizabeth Agius
(313) 791-9922
Tom Berry
(313) 563-6100
(313) 791-9925
Marge Horvath
(313) 791-9927
Margaret Van Houten
(313) 791-9928
Roy Pilot
(313) 274-4205

Vote Early and Often

2010-07-21T23:27:00.009-05:00

It seems that every time I go to the Wayne County website they have redone it. That means I have to look all over the place to find out what they did with everything. I wonder if it is a bureaucratic plot or just a bunch of IT people with nothing else to do.

I'm getting real excited. We have a week and a half until the primary. For those of you who live in Wayne County, you should check out the Wayne County Clerks office for the ballot information.

Don't forget there is a SMART millage proposal for the tricounty area. In Wayne County it reads:

WAYNE COUNTY TRANSIT AUTHORITY MILLAGE RENEWAL
If approved, this proposal shall renew in 2010 the 0.59 mill levied by the Wayne County Transit Authority and allow continued support to the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, serving the elderly, handicapped, and general public of Wayne County.

Shall the tax imposed on taxable property in the Wayne County Transit Authority area which expired with the 2009 tax, be levied for four (4) years, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, inclusive, at 0.59 mill (59 cents per $1,000 taxable value), for the purpose of making contributions in aid of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) and its purpose of serving the elderly, handicapped and general public in the County of Wayne? It is estimated that 0.59 mill would raise approximately $12,158,000 when levied in 2010.

Yes __
No __

As a renewal it will levied subject to the Headlee rollback. If they had wished to ask for the original millage they would have had to ask for an increase to levy the whole millage. That is the reason they do not want to let it expire.

The primary is very important. This is where we separate the fruits from the nuts. November will be successful only if we pick the right people and don't leave it to the special interests who always show up. Make it a point to inform yourself and vote armed with more information than the flier on your door. Our future as a country and as a state depends on it.

Closing the Government Gap

2010-06-25T23:06:00.004-05:00

So often I feel just like the guy who fell off that cliff and that government is on the other side. I guess most of us want to believe that government is trying to help, only to find that some trick or incompetence is found where our trust was placed. We keep grabbing that rope only to find that they have dropped it.
When they try to give us a band aid to fix it they make it worse.

President Reagan was right when he said " Government can't fix the problem - government is the problem." As government grows, our influence is diminished. It is less a government of, by and for the people and more a government which controls the people. That is why I am looking forward to November. I am hopeful that the people of this country are finally waking up. I hope that they will replace those in congress and even those in local government who have been there too long and who have helped to grow government beyond our financial ability and practical need.

Should we fail to make a significant change in November, we can not give up. It has taken decades to get us to this position. It will not be easy to reverse the situation the first time. That is why we can not let ourselves get discouraged.

I have faith in the American people. I know that when they realise what is happening to our country they will stand up as they have in the past. Americans have never sherked their responsibilities nor have they been cowards when called upon.

This Video Says So Much

2010-05-31T12:15:00.009-05:00

When I was thinking about what I could say about those who have given so much for our country and her people, I received this video in an email. I am grateful every day for those who have had the courage to to stand up for our freedom and have done so much. I am also reminded that we have a responsibility to remember and honor those dead and alive. We have to insure that their effort have not been in vane.

Remembering is not enough. We must do our duty as citizens to ensure that freedom rings from coast to coast. We have an obligation to preserve our way of life and defend our nation against enemies foreign and domestic as well. Maybe we will not be required to use a gun, but we have other responsibilities which must be met.

Remember and pray for them and our country today and everyday.

21st Century Education

2010-05-27T11:40:00.005-05:00

by John Connolly

Despite much good news on the economic front, tens of thousands of teachers are being given pink slips nationwide, over 2000 in Detroit alone. Is that worth a front-page story in the New York Times? Detroit’s Emergency Financial Manager, Robert Bob has rooted out tens of millions of dollars in embezzlement, fraud and theft from the Detroit School system. You’d think the Times would find that worthy of reporting.

When I was growing up, funding for public schools was by local property taxes. School districts were able to accurately forecast how much money they’d need to support their programs and how much would be available for the next school year. At that time, the public schools were owned, operated, and controlled locally. The quality of education in the public schools of the United States was second to none.

In many of Michigan’s urban areas and in some of our more remote rural areas the increases in property values (and property taxes) did not keep pace with those in other areas. Progressives decided that it wasn’t fair that rich school districts should spend more on education than their poorer neighbors. Most Americans agreed with that view. Using the state lottery as a funding device, the State decided which schools were under-funded and gave money to districts that were not collecting enough in property taxes to support quality education. The State then demanded an important role in dictating what should be taught, when it should be taught, and how it should be taught. The State’s intrusion into the business of public education now encompasses when school should (or should not) start, when sex education should start (and what it should include), what classes in diversity should be included and how much math is two year’s worth.

Of course, more state funding also meant less certainty of when and how much state money was going to be available, and what strings were going to be attached. Public schools began the annual ritual of pink slipping a fairly large percentage of employees, knowing that many of them would probably be rehired in the fall. Some of them found another line of work. The quality of education in our schools began to drop off.

As the quality of education in our schools deteriorated, education lobbies and our enlightened administration decided that we needed to “invest” more money in education. The Federal government, under the wise counsel of President Jimmy Carter, created the Department of Education, which has now grown to an annual budget of upwards of $20 billion and more than 20,000 federal employees (not including contract personnel). Federal expenditures on education, training employment and social services increased under the previous administration from $57 billion in 2001 to $91 billion in 2008, and are estimated at $135 billion for 2010. The No Child Left Behind Act provided the largest increase ever in federal education funding, yet most of the money that it provided was swallowed up by the bureaucracy created to manage it, with little of it finding its way to failing schools or failing students. Our schools continued to deteriorate.

Despite the infusion of state and federal money into our schools, educational quality continues to fall further behind the Indian, Chinese, and many European countries in all standard educational measurements.

Instead of continuing to transfer wealth from those that produce it to favored constituencies, we need to begin to behave as though we’re truly concerned about the effect of the more than $1.3 trillion federal deficits of 2009 and 2010.

Declaring You Freedom Can Be Fun

2010-05-24T20:49:00.005-05:00

Isn't it wonderful? You can have fun and sign the petition for Healthcare Freedom at the same time. We will be at the Dearborn Heights Spirit Festival and the Livonia Spree collecting signatures and your petitions.

Dearborn Heights Spirit Festival, 1801 Beech Daly, 1/2 block south of Ford Rd.

Wednesday, June 9, 5:00 to 10:00 pm
Thursday, June 10, 5:00 to 10:00 pm
Friday, June 11, 5:00 to 10:00 pm
Saturday, June 12, 2:00 to 10:00 pm
Sunday, June 13, 2:00 to 10:00 pm

Please come and enjoy yourself Friday or Saturday at the Livonia Spree event days held at Ford Field at the corner of Farmington Road and Lyndon.A limited amount of parking is available on the Spree grounds. Take Stark Road north off the I-96 service drive. Handicapped Take Stark Road north off the I-96 service drive. The police will provide direction to the handicapped parking area. Handicap permit is required. Ample parking is available at Livonia City Hall. The free Shuttle Service will operate during Spree hours of operation

FRIDAY JUNE 25, 2010 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
SATURDAY JUNE 26, 2010 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Please come and sign the petition and bring your registered family and friends.

History Repeats Itself

2010-05-22T13:34:00.006-05:00

At times I identify with Sisyphus, a figure of Greek mythology who was condemned to repeat forever the same meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain, only to see it roll down again.

I think it was 1983 the first time I asked the Attorney General's office to enforce the Uniform Budgeting Act in Wayne County and demand that they abide by the Constitution and balance their budget. At that time they could not because they did not find they were in violation. They were not using standard accounting practices and no one could figure out their budget.

An audit was conducted and they could still not figure out what they were doing. The State developed the five year plan for balancing the budget. This kind of plan has been used over and oveer again. They switched to standard accounting pactices but that was not the last time no one cound figure out what was going on. At what point can we expect Wayne County to be accountable to the law. Poor services, excessive salaries and contracts, corruption, and mismanagement, are not reasons to give them a pass.

I don't care if the executive branch, the commission or the unions take the responsibility. I want the law enforced. Not only is the county facing a $105 million deficit in a $558 operating budget out of control but their unfunded liabilities are unsustainable. Their $2.1 billion dollar overall budget is down 6.4% since 2000. The County has also lost population,according to the estimates.

The Ways and Means Committee Chair, Edward Bioke, says they will be taking action soon. Do not include a tax increase in your deliberations commissioners - we are not in the mood and it is beyond our ability.

BREAKING: Fake Tea Party Run by Democrats in Michigan Trying to Become official Third Party!

2010-05-18T01:02:00.000-05:00

BREAKING: Fake Tea Party Run by Democrats in Michigan Trying to Become official Third Party!

Go get 'em

2010-05-15T20:12:00.005-05:00

We have sent out petitions for Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom with our May newsletter. Now it is time to get the signatures and return them. You can drop off or pick up more petitions at our May 26, Wayne County Taxpayers Association meeting at 7:00PM. at Leon's Family Dining on Michigan Ave. just east of Telegraph.

Even if you just want to come in and sign a petition or just have one or two signatures on yours, every signature is important.

Now that what we suspected right along is true, that Obamacare is going to cost much more than originally indicated, we should find it even easier to collect signatures to get this constitutional amendment on the November ballot. It is too important to leave it to someone else to do. It is important to the economy, job creation, our individual access to treatment and the cost to each and every one of us.

Here is a summary of the amendment language:
• DECLARES THE RIGHT OF PERSONS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE WITHOUT BEING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY COMPELLED BY GOVERNMENT ACTION TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
• PROHIBITS THE GOVERNMENT FROM IMPOSING PROHIBITIONS ON THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF HEALTH INSURANCE OR HEALTH COVERAGE IN PRIVATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS.
• PROHIBITS GOVERNMENT FROM IMPOSING PENALTIES OR FINES AGAINST PERSON, EMPLOYERS, AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS FOR PARTICIPATING IN DIRECT PAY ACTIVITIES FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
• PROHIBITS GOVERNMENT FROM CREATING ANY DISADVANTAGE AGAINST A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR PERMITTING A PERSON OR EMPLOYER TO PAY DIRECTLY FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR FOR PERMITTING A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO ACCEPT DIRECT PAYMENT FROM A PERSON OR EMPLOYER FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES
If you want more Information or locations where you may pick up or sign a petition, please contact me at 313-278-8383 or email me at wctaxpayers@comcast.net or, you may also contact Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom at www.MICHIGANHCF.COM .

Please don't just sit back and do nothing. If we all work toward the goal it should be easy.

Action at All Levels

2010-05-02T12:46:00.005-05:00

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 is scheduled for the Grosse Pointe Shores Recall at thier City Municipal Building. We wish then good luck in their efforts.

SPECIAL ELECTION
TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2010
POLLS OPEN 7:00 AM TO 8:00 PM
GROSSE POINTE SHORES MUNICIPAL BUILDING
795 LAKE SHORE ROAD

According to the Shores Recall Website, if you are a Shores taxpayer and are not outraged by the current fiscal crisis, then you are not paying paying attention to the facts! From what we have read of the situation they have every reason to be upset.

I will be there for another reason. I will be circulating petitions for the Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom. From 1-8:00 PM you can sign, drop off or get petitions. We are attempting to get the amendment on the November ballot and the amendment will do the following if approved:

• DECLARES THE RIGHT OF PERSONS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE WITHOUT BEING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY COMPELLED BY GOVERNMENT ACTION TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
• PROHIBITS THE GOVERNMENT FROM IMPOSING PROHIBITIONS ON THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF HEALTH INSURANCE OR HEALTH COVERAGE IN PRIVATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS.
• PROHIBITS GOVERNMENT FROM IMPOSING PENALTIES OR FINES AGAINST PERSON, EMPLOYERS, AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS FOR PARTICIPATING IN DIRECT PAY ACTIVITIES FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
• PROHIBITS GOVERNMENT FROM CREATING ANY DISADVANTAGE AGAINST A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR PERMITTING A PERSON OR EMPLOYER TO PAY DIRECTLY FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR FOR PERMITTING A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO ACCEPT DIRECT PAYMENT FROM A PERSON OR EMPLOYER FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES

If you want more Information or locations where you may pick up or sign a petition, please contact me at 313-278-8383 or email me at wctaxpayers@comcast.net or, you may also contact Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom at www.MICHIGANHCF.COM .

RESA Wants Millage Increase

2010-04-27T14:30:00.007-05:00

The Wayne County Intermendiate School District RESA wants a millage increase. Suprisingly, they are getting school districts to agree that they want more money. The Detroit School Board still believes, or at least claims to believe, lack of money is their problem. I guess more than $11,000 per student in Detroit is not enough to expect some kind of resonable education. This is insanity.

How did this come about? With the passage of Proposal A and the change in how schools were funded, the only way to increase operating millage was on a county wide millage. Exempt from this were sinking funds and bonds which were still allowed on a local district level and are used unmercifully.

The County millage could be increased up to 3 mils with the approval of the districts that together make up more than half the student population of the county district and then it would be placed on the ballot. We should be grateful they are so considerate to ask for only 1.9 of the three mills allowed. That is only $1.90 for every $1,000 of taxable value on your property. If your taxable value is $50,000 this means you will only have to pay $95 more per year. This millage will only generate $92 million. It will then be distributed back to the districts based on student population. More redistribution of wealth with no accountability and guarentee of better education.

If we let this happen we deserve it. Accountability first. If we don't get accountability, we are throwing good money after bad.

Do We Need and Want a Constitutional Convention?

2010-04-25T11:25:00.006-05:00

The picture above was sent to me by a friend about a week ago and started me thinking. It was taken in 1990 during the Headlee Tax Cut Initiative. For those of you who do not recognize those in the picture Dick Headlee of the Headlee Amendment fame is on the left and the lady with the owl looking glasses on the right is me. It seems that a similar picture could have been taken a number of times over the years as I have worked on many Constitutional Amendments.

In November of 2010 we will be asked if we want to call a Constitutional Convention. According to the Citizens Research Council the State Constitution has been amended 31 times since it went into effect in January of 1964. The length of the document has increased from 19,203 to 36,525 words. We agree that a shorter more succinct version would be desirable, but we have to credit the courts and the legislature itself for making this necessary.

Every time the legislature tries to subvert the will of the people it becomes necessary to amend the Constitution in a way that allows little room to misinterpret the language. Because of their efforts, a common theme of the amendments has been to reduce the power of the legislature in favor of the citizens. It is not that we have abandoned the idea of representative government, it is that they have failed to take their obligation seriously. They don't even have the ability to pass a budget on time.

The legislature itself has placed issues on the ballot. As early as the mid 1890s they realized the need for ballot initiatives but it wasn't until the adoption of the 1908 Constitution that it became a reality. It was so restrictive that it was not very functional. It wasn't until the 1913 amendment to the Constitution that it took on its present form allowing constitutional, statutory and referendum amendments.

CRC Special Report on Michigan Constitutional Issues
Approval Rates by Decade
In the first three decades of the life of the 1963 Constitution, approximately one-third of the proposed
amendments were adopted, whether proposed by joint resolution (34.4 percent) or initiative petition
(33.3 percent). Since 1993, however, over three-quarters of the proposals have been adopted by the
voters, with 100 percent of the legislative proposals adopted and 42.9 percent of the initiatives passing.
All of the amendments proposed in 2004, 2006, and 2008 were adopted.

There is no need to call a Constitutional Convention. It took a lot of work and sweat to make the changes we have. We can not trust a hand full of political cronies to make decisions for all the people and legislators who had ideas accepted by the citizens of Michigan. There has been talk of limiting the referendum, expanding term limits and streamlining language that protects us from skirting the intent of the amendments. If the ideas are good they can presented one at a time for considered analysis and informed decision.

Tea Party Lansing April 15, 2010

2010-04-16T23:33:00.002-05:00

It was a great day in Lansing and all over Michigan. We helped sponsor the Tea Party in Lansing, but there were Tea Parties everywhere. If you missed the excitement at these parties, you really missed something. You can feel the energy in the crowd. The people are upbeat and ready to do what they have to to preserve our system of government and demand accountability from our elected officials.

I gave a short speech in Lansing and I let the people know how happy I was to see them there. The one thing you can always count on is the American Spirit. They gave me hope and warmed my heart with their sincerity and willingness to do what needs to be done.

From there,it was too late to go to the Plymouth Tea Party, so I went to Sterling Heights where Michigan Taxpayers Alliance was having a rip roaring Tea Party. I serve on their board, so I guess that was another reason I wanted to make sure I got there. Mr. Perks, the giant pink pig was there as well. I ran into many familiar faces and a lot of new enthusiastic ones.

The thing that amazes me the most is, when anybody asks the question if these people have been involved in politics before, the majority of the people say they haven't.
That is what makes this so exciting.

From there, it was off to St. Clair Shores to the Metro Detroit Freedom Coalition to hear a debate between the candidates running for governor. The moderator was Frank Beckmann from WJR. He is a great guy and did an excellent job with the four candidates who where there.

Keep up the great work folks. We the people will straighten out this mess yet.

Onward and Upward

2010-04-12T10:56:00.005-05:00

This video is as meaninful now as it was last year.

The final stop in Michigan of the Tea Party Express in Clinton Township was a great success. Now it is time to think about the next event.

On April 15, tax day the Wayne County Taxpayers Association will be cosponsoring the Lansing Tea Party at the steps of the Capitol. The legislature will be in session and it will do them good to know that the people Michigan will not give up our country or state. The Governor, legislators, and special interests want to raise taxes by billions of dollars. With the highest unemployment rate in the country and Michigan per capita income dropping from 9th to 41st in the country we need to send a message to politicians that they must put our economy first and bureaucrats second.

Noon – 1:30 PM
State Capitol lawn, Lansing

Featured Speakers include:

• Attorney General Mike Cox
• Rich Michaels, Host of WMMQ-FM 94.9 Michaels in the Morning
• Joan Fabiano, Grassroots in Michigan
• Kyle Olson, Education Action Group
• Rose Bogaert, Wayne County Taxpayers Association
• Tina DuPont, Tea Party of West Michigan
• Kathy Hoekstra, Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Please show us your support. Send them a message and let them know that we are not going away. If you can not attend in Lansing, and I hope you will, try to make it to one of the local tea parties even if just for a little while. Go to http://michiganactivists.com and find a location near you. I will be attending as many as possible.

2010-04-08T21:20:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow, April 9, is the kick off in Wayne County of the Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom Petition Drive. The problem is that there are a bunch of other activities going on at the same time. We encourage anyone who doesn't already have plans to join us at:
Canfield Community Center
1801 N. Beech Daly
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
8:00pm to 9:00pm

At first I felt a little sad until I realized that the activities that are happening are worthwhile and that all they have to do is contact me and I would see that those who could not join us get petitions. It also meant that they are out of their chairs and doing something to defend their freedom and encouraging others to do the same. As a matter of fact I was impressed by the numbers. I hope to see you there.

Now for April 15, tax day, the Wayne County Taxpayers Association is co sponsoring:

The Michigan Tea Party Rally in Lansing.
Thursday, April 15, 11:30am – 1:30pm
100 N Capitol Ave, Lansing, MI 48933
Capitol Steps (East)

The Michigan House and Senate will be in session. This is an opportunity to show Lansing politicians that the people of Michigan are serious about free market reforms, smaller government and lower taxes. Speakers included (subject to updates): WMMQ’s Rich Michaels and Kyle Olson of Education Action Group will be joining us and you can expect the Capitol steps and lawn to be full of activist leaders.

There are Tea Parties all over the state that day and I will try to visit as many as I can schedule. In the mean time, check out the Michigan Activist Calendar that will give you an opportunity to keep up on the things that are happening around the state.

There will be other updates on what is happening around you. Get involved, save your country, and do something important for your family.

Come Join Us

2010-04-01T15:22:00.005-05:00

The Wayne County Taxpayers Association will be one of the county coordinators for Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom. Our kickoff will be at:

Canfield Community Center
1801 N. Beech Daly
Dearborn Heights, MI
Friday, April 9, 8:00 to 9:00 PM

COME AND GET YOUR PETITIONS!

The objective is to place on the November ballot a referendum to amend the State Constitution to fight back against the Washington health care takeover.

If you want more Information or locations where you may pick up or sign a petitions in the future, please contact me at 313-278-8383 or email me at wctaxpayers@comcast.net or, you may also contact Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom at http://www.michiganhcf.com/ .
If you wish to distribute petitions or know of a location that might allow us to distribute them, please let us know. In the future, information will be available on our website http://www.wctaxpayers.org/ .

Inaction Is Not An Option

2010-03-31T21:06:00.006-05:00

I have volunteered to be one of the county coordinators for Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom.The objective is to place on the November ballot a referendum to amend the State Constitution to fight back against the Washington health care takeover.

Here is a summary of the amendment language:
• DECLARES THE RIGHT OF PERSONS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE WITHOUT BEING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY COMPELLED BY GOVERNMENT ACTION TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
• PROHIBITS THE GOVERNMENT FROM IMPOSING PROHIBITIONS ON THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF HEALTH INSURANCE OR HEALTH COVERAGE IN PRIVATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS.
• PROHIBITS GOVERNMENT FROM IMPOSING PENALTIES OR FINES AGAINST PERSON, EMPLOYERS, AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS FOR PARTICIPATING IN DIRECT PAY ACTIVITIES FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
• PROHIBITS GOVERNMENT FROM CREATING ANY DISADVANTAGE AGAINST A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FOR PERMITTING A PERSON OR EMPLOYER TO PAY DIRECTLY FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR FOR PERMITTING A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO ACCEPT DIRECT PAYMENT FROM A PERSON OR EMPLOYER FOR LAWFUL HEALTH CARE SERVICES
If you want more Information or locations where you may pick up or sign a petition, please contact me at 313-278-8383 or email me at wctaxpayers@comcast.net or, you may also contact Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom at www.MICHIGANHCF.COM .

If you wish to distribute petitions or know of a location that might allow us to distribute them, please let us know. In the future, information will be available on our website www.wctaxpayers.org . You can also access our blog from that site.

There Is No More Integrity

2010-03-21T23:49:00.005-05:00

I can not believe that all that posturing that Stupak did was just for show. He lied like a man who had no quams about it. He spoke like a man of priciple and caved like a man without integrity. This video was made last year without his knowledge. He knew all along that he would vote for health care reform. Now it is our duty to teach him that he should not lie to the American people and pretend he is something he is not.

He must now be voted out of office along with all the others who are trying to transform our country into a socialized nation. The blatent disregard for the will of the people makes them all targets in the next election.

2010-03-20T21:15:00.010-05:00

We should be embarassed that we have let things get this far before doing something. This great country has provided us with many advantages that others could only dream of and admire. We have the ability to correct our errors in a non violent way because others have fought and died for our system of government, which provides for that means.

Our duty to be vigilant and to do the work necessary to maintain our way of life does not allow us to lay back and do nothing while our freedom slips away. It is all of our responsibility. We must, while hoping to keep the fruits of our labor, not take them from others.

For too long we have allowed government to control our lives and surendered for perceived comforts which can only lead to lack of choice and a restiction of our freedom. It is not to late to take back what "the God of nature has placed in our power" - the right to life, liberty and the persuit of happiness.

If we are to give up our lives, it should not be because some bureaucrat makes the decision but for the sake of liberty.

I Love these Ladies

2010-02-24T21:33:00.003-05:00

I am sure this is an oxymoron, but "Common Sense in Government" is at it again. You have to admire the imagination of Wendy Day and Melanie Hall. These two can think up more ways to make a point than any two people I know. Their latest adventure was to build snowmen at the foot of the capitol steps - more than a dozen of them. They even made Fox News.

Wendy told me that they try to make fun out the work they are doing to cut government taxes and reduce their spending. I guess she wasn't kidding. These ladies always have a smile on their face when I see them and you can see their enthusiasm in their work.

I can't do the things I used to. I guess there is envy in my heart. I would be right there with them, building their snowmen and distributing flyers, if I could. That fact does not discourage me from asking you to join them when you can. It is so very important that the fight be brought to the forefront. We need to make our elected officials aware that we are watching them and we will hold them accountable.

No matter what your ability, do what you can.

Something You Shouldn't Miss

2010-02-16T12:19:00.008-05:00

Austin Texas then and now.

You really should subscribe to the "Michigan Capitol Confidential". Its free, well written, entertaining and factual. The only thing that might upset you is the content. They expose government waste and things that you may not find out in the press or may have missed on the tube.

The internet has given us an oportunity that was not available before and we should take advantage of it. Individuals are now able to discover things and comunicate them. If you are young and it has always been the way things are, you can not appreciate the difference.

The Tea Party movement would not be the movement it is without the internet. Grass root conventions, seminars and meetings would not be as well attended or as easily organized. It is much harder for a despot to take control of our government without being exposed because of the internet. There is always the comfort in the realization that you are not alone in your thinking.

Most of all, it gives even those who are unable to get out much, the elderly, moms with small children, those who are still employed and those who are not, an oportunity to get involved.

Click on the link it will be worth your time.

Is Life So Dear or Peace So Sweet ...

2010-02-12T14:36:00.013-05:00

Is the MHBCCC Defunded? from Mackinac Center on Vimeo.

It seems that government at all levels has gotten completely out of control. My city is early retiring police and firemen. They then receive their hospitalization and pension from PA 345 funds which are funded by a separate millage which is regulated by disbursements. They are then subcontracted back by the city who now no longer has to pay their benefits from the city budget.

At the State level there is so many things going on that the list is prohibitive for this space. But, the video above gives you a taste of the disregard they have for taxpayers, the corruption taking place, and the lack of respect for the State Constitution.

You can not help but be aware of the indifference toward their constituents of the majority of our elected officials in Washington. Everyday on the news you can see them trying to get around the law and attempts to implement their will over the will of the people.

If we do not wake up the rest of our neighbors and friends and encourage them into action, we may soon find we have waited too long to take our country back in a peaceful manner. It is important that we keep respect for ourselves and our government and insist that those we elect do the same. The great experiment proved to be more than theory. We can not allow ourselves to slip back to a form of government that historically and repeatedly failed.

"These principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation. The wisdom of our sages and blood of our heroes have been devoted to their attainment. They should be the creed of our political faith, the text of civil instruction, the touchstone by which we try the services of those we trust; and should we wander from them in a moment of error or alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety."

Thomas Jefferson

State of the Citizen Makes a Point.

2010-02-04T21:23:00.016-05:00

Once again the taxpayers are left out in the cold. This time they didn't seem to mind. What a lively bunch. While the governor and legislators were inside staying warm for the State of the State address, about 500 people were on the steps of the capitol expressing their dissatisfaction with the way their tax dollars are being spent and the way that policy has been directed.

Chants of "it's our money" and "blown away",referencing the goveror's promise, were loudly repeated between speeches. The topics of the state of the taxpayers, the state of business and the state of the family were discussed. It was cold but it was inspiring and I am glad I went. Empty chairs, set up for legislators who wished to attend the state of the citizens instead of the state of the state for the lame duck governor remained empty, at least until we were sure the legislators were not coming. If you didn't attend you missed a great event. I hope we will see you at the next one.

The State of the Citizen is Here

2010-02-02T16:34:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow February 3, 2010, the people of Michigan will hear the real condition of the State of Michigan as understood and felt by it's citizens. We hope you will join us at 6:30 - 8:30pm outside the Capitol Building. It will be interesting to see if any of our legislators show to listen to their constituents.

The governor will be speaking inside the building at the same time. It is not unusual for the taxpayers to be left out in the cold. Our politicians need to understand that we will not go away and given the severity of the issues we can not give up because the stakes are to high.

I Appeal to You

2010-01-29T18:04:00.007-05:00

The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and the Wayne County Taxpayers Association have been busy scheduling seminars on " How to Appeal Your Property Assessment". We only have a few more to schedule around the state.

If you are interested in seeing the schedule go to our website and click on the picture of the little pink house.

We have a PowerPoint presentation, a handout, and question and answer sessions at all of them. If you are going to appeal you might as well learn what will help make it successful.

We will explain the difference between the Headlee Amendment and Proposal A, Truth in Taxation and how they determine the value of your property. You might also make suggestions on how we can improve the program. We had our first one in Detroit in the middle of January. I am looking forward to seeing you.

Ficano Is It True?

2010-01-25T22:06:00.016-05:00

The following was sent as a comment to one of the blogs on this site. I wish to know if anyone knows the answer to these questions. I don't believe that running it through a true or false search engine would have these answers but the commission should be able to find out.

The Wayne County Commissioners should investigate Mr. Ficano’s over the top mishandling of public funds for his own personal private benefit. A media firm in Clawson, Michigan was sub-contracted to produce this Ficano “campaign commercials” masquerading as a Public Service Announcement.http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=264826959408

The media firm ----

Magnetic Cinema was retained by FMG. Is FMG the same Oakland County Firm FMG (First Media Group) that is also a Wayne County Airport Authority Contractor? Is it a coincidence that FMG owner Delora Hall Tyler also hosts a radio program on WCHB with Ficano gal pal Mildred Gaddis?

1. Did this contract and sub-contract go out for bid?

2. What county employees were involved with this?

3. How much was paid, including commissions, to produce these spots?

4. What budget did they come out of?

5. What was the purpose of that budget as originally approved by the CountyCommission?

6. Were federal funds used?

It is time to put a stop to Ficano’s Mass Manipulation of the Detroit Media Market.
Why all of these Flu Shot Radio and TV ads surrounded by children??? Did the parents give permission for this possible political exploitation? Is this “PSA” running in free air time or was even more money squandered to make paid media buys? HOW CAN A BROKE COUNTY AFFORD FICANO THIS INDULGENCE? Flu season was over in Nov/December. But campaign season is just starting. Ficano may have broken the law if he shifted federal funds from free flu shots for the poor to producing these "political commercials". Did he once again use the media company owned by Mildred Gaddis (1200 AM) or Kevin Deitz to produce these campaign commercials that pretend to be Public Service Announcements??? Is this a clear violation of Michigan Campaign Finance Law or FCC rules? If these were truly public service announcements then perhaps the public health director or a nurse should be doing them --- not Freeloading Ficano. When will the TV Stations wake up and realize that Ficano is duping them again to plastering his Face all over the air for free? . Amazing how these “PSA” always start up when he is running for office. Oh well I guess he is desperate for free air-time since he does not have Benny Napoleon to put in his race this time to split up the black vote. (Ricardo Solomon )

Is this the ranting of a disgruntled employee? Is this the rantings of an opponent? We may soon find out.

Thick Sculls

2010-01-24T14:18:00.005-05:00

What is it we have to do to communicate with our elected officials the message we are trying to send? The spin out there is unbelievable. The arrogance is even more unbelievable.

What I heard from the president was that he did not do a good enough job explaining what we should think. I personally spent a lot of time researching the situation and I do not appreciate anyone, president or not, telling me what to think. I would prefer that he tell me what the heck he was thinking.

People who are desperate enough to dedicate their time and money to send a message should at least be listened to and not ignored. It is the policies that we object to, it is not an understanding problem. Fortunately, we understand very well where the present policies are leading.

Government is spending to much, borrowing to much, confiscating to much power and interfering in our personal lives with powers that far exceed those granted them under the federal and state constitutions. The policies they have put forward have failed. Look to history and look to the present. Our elected officials put forth policies and deny culpability, then blame someone else. If that is not bad enough, they present us with more of the same.

Don't give up. Keep the pressure on. Keep involved. The president used the term fight more then 20 times in his last speech. We have to use it in every sentence we speak to counter the arguments. Join us in Lansing on February 3, for the State of the Citizens on the steps of the Capitol 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

How to Appeal Your Assessment Seminar

2010-01-07T21:40:00.009-05:00

Well we finally found a place for our first seminar in Detroit. We don't have much time to advertize, so if you will help us spread the news we would appreciate it. Send it to those who live in the area.

Make sure to check our website for updates on other locations as we set them up.

How to Appeal Your Assessment Seminar

Type: Education - Workshop

Where: Redford Library in Detroit
21200 Grand River / 6 Mile
When: Saturday, January 16, from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm

This is the first in a series of seminars on How to Appeal Your Property Assessment sponsored by the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and the Wayne County Taxpayers Association. This was scheduled in early January because the people of Detroit must appeal to the assessors review in February to appeal to the Board of Review in March. We had great success with our presentations last year and expect this year will meet or exceed last year’s expectations.

A powerpoint presentation and hand out will facilitate out program. A question and answer session will be held at the end.

We are asking for a $1.00 donation for the cost of the material.

Check for future seminars as they are scheduled on our website.
http://www.wctaxpayers.org
For more information call 313-278-8383

Assessment Time

2009-12-28T22:45:00.004-05:00

Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and the Wayne County Taxpayers Association are about to start scheduling our state tour on How to Appeal Your Property Assessment. Here is the Problem. We have to schedule a seminar in Detroit in January because they are the only city that requires an appeal at the Assessors Review in early February before an appeal can be made before the Board of Review in March. We need a place to hold it.

Last year,we reserved a room at Wayne County Community College and they cancelled on us the day we were going to hold the seminar. We need a place in Detroit to hold our seminar. I need your help to find one. It can be a church hall. It can be an auditorium. It needs to be in a location where the people of Detroit will be interested in coming.

If other are interested in having one in their community please contact us and we will try to hold one or let you know where the closest one to you is located when we finalize our schedule.

Contact us at wctaxpayers@comcast.net or 313-278-8383.

Joy! Success!

2009-12-14T23:46:00.010-05:00

On December 10, Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and the Wayne County Taxpayers Association held a successful awards banquet. The award winners gave inspiring speeches and appeared to delight the crowd. Approximately two hundred attended and listened as Wendy Day our, "Activist of the Year" explained how necessary and fun their participation can be. Frank Beckmann our, "Voice of the Taxpayer" entertained us with witty stories and comments. Robert Bobb received the "Taxpayer Hero of the year award" and mesmerized us with the feats he has achieved in the Detroit Public School system.

Everyone appeared to have a good time and indicated they would like to do it again next year. It will be difficult to beat this years edition but we should give it a try.
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Another success for us was the recent decision by The U.S. District Court, for the Western District of Michigan, which struck down a Michigan law requiring recall petition circulators to be residents and registered voters of the recall district in which they reside.

When I became the plaintiff in this case so long ago, during the Dillon Recall attempt, I knew this would be an important decision for that effort and for future efforts. Grass root organizations need to rely on each other and; the chance that better funded organization just so happens to agree with them. This allows for like minded individuals to help with the cause and also levels the playing field to some degree that special interests will almost certainly have the greatest power.

Without the support of the Sam Adams Alliance, The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and the individual contributors who came foreward this victory could not have been achieved. From the "little guys" I offer my sincerest thanks.

I'm Getting Excited

2009-11-30T22:06:00.001-05:00

On December 10, the Michigan Taxpayers Allience and the WCTA are going to give awards to people that really deserve them. Robert Bobb, Emergency Financial Manager for the beleaguered Detroit Public School system and Frank Beckmann the taxpayers' friend and advocate from WJR AM 760 radio and writer of insiteful newpaper columns in the Detroit News have performed in a manner deserving of recognition. We will also have an award for a surprise guest.

We hope you will come and join us. Time is running out and tickets will not be available at the door. Click Here for information.

I expect we will all have a great time. Everyone is welcome. Help us celebrate and toast, in this time of government hell, those people who are actually doing something for us. It is a rare thing to find people of integrity who work hard at doing the right thing. When we find them, we should let them know they are appreciated and ask them how we can help.

I look forward to seeing you there.

I Must Be Precient

2009-11-27T22:25:00.015-05:00

When the effort for passing Proposal A was in full force in 1993,I worked my heart out trying to defeat it. Some people thought I was crazy. There was no question that assessments were out of control as well as the property taxes they generated. My argument then is the same as it is now. It was the method they chose that I was opposed to. A tax reduction could have been acheived by something as simple as reducing taxes from 50% of true cash value to say 40% of the true cash value of the property.

They on the other hand had to make it complicated and bate one segment of the population against the other. While Proposal A did slow the taxation rate by reduceing millage rates and slowing taxable values for some, other were picking up the burden as property changed hands through sales or inheritance. Right now, two families living in identical houses in the same subdivision may be paying drastically different amounts of taxes for the same services because one person has lived in their house longer. The crash in our property values has helped to aleviate that problem for some but it has not eliminated it. When we go to sell our homes there are fewer buyers because the tax will then be applied to the State Equalized Value of our property making the payments to expensive.

Proposal A had all kinds of enabling legislation that went into effect. We got an increase in the sales tax and gas tax. Inflation helps to increase those taxes. Given the way the federal government is spending money, we will soon see a huge increase in inflation and taxes. We got a different rate of tax on our non homstead property. Another thing that came to fruition was an increase in requests for bonds and sinking funds for schools, which are still allowed.

Due to the decline in proprty values,you will now begin to see more Truth in Taxation Hearings. Local governing bodies can increase millage rates up to the maximum allowable truth in assessment / equalization millage by simple ordanance or resolution instead of a vote of the people. This can be done because the revenue generated under Proposal A will not equal last years revenue plus inflation without increasing the millage. This is also true of all the other government millages in Michigan.

Another interesting restriction that was created under Proposal A was a requirement that no increase over the then authorized operating millage could be passed unless it was done on an intermediate school district level. Each County wide region is allowed a 3 mil enhancement if approved by the voters.
Multi-district tax a tough sell, but that could change

By DAWSON BELL

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

With state aid in peril and federal stimulus funding that came to the rescue this year set to expire, is it time for Michigan’s local school districts to turn again to local taxpayers?

Some have exercised a rarely used option under 1994’s Proposal A to seek multi-district millage hikes.

Very few have succeeded.

The schools of Washtenaw County — including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Saline — asked voters to approve enhancement mills on Nov. 3. Property taxpayers in the Washtenaw Intermediate School District would have paid an extra 2 mills for 5 years had the request been approved.

It passed in Ann Arbor, but got hammered elsewhere. The final tally was 57.4% no to 42.6% yes.

“We knew that this was a bad time” to be asking taxpayers for more money, said Ann Arbor Public Schools communications director Liz Margolis. “But we just had no choice.” With state help in decline as state revenues shrink and the likelihood of more bad news to come, a countywide discussion had been under way for a year, Margolis said. Ann Arbor voters had a history of support for school millages, and district officials led the campaign.

But while Ann Arbor voters kept their reputation intact, the measure lost by margins of up to 3-1 in some out-county communities such as Milan and Lodi Township. Margolis said schools won’t try again soon and would give it another shot only if every school district in the intermediate school district, or ISD, would “buy in and really try to sell it.”

So far, talk about enhancement- millage requests — regions can ask for as much as 3 mills and use the money for any purpose — has been muted around the state.

David Martell, executive director of the Michigan School Business Officials, said that for years after Proposal A took effect, school funding was secure and obstacles to winning regional approval for tax hikes were so high, that few enhancement elections were held.

“It’s a very, very hard sell,” Martell said, chiefly because the cost and benefits are usually unbalanced across an ISD because the tax is assessed on property wealth and distributed on a per-pupil basis.

But financial conditions are rapidly worsening in so many districts that Martell said the bar for passing a millage could drop.

“I don’t know why” enhancement- millage requests “haven’t taken hold more recently,” he said. “I think once parents start to feel the real impact of the cuts that are coming … they might turn to something like that.”

Voters in Kalamazoo County approved a 1.5-mill regional tax in 2005 and renewed it by a wider margin in 2008. But Kalamazoo Regional Superintendent Ron Fuller said that unless economic anxiety in Michigan lightens by then, “it will be a tougher sell a year and a half from now” when it is scheduled to expire again.

Doug Drake, a financial analyst with Public Policy Associates in Lansing and former state budget official, said that if state lawmakers decline to approve higher taxes to restore school funding, more districts may have to consider joining for enhancement efforts.

“When the checkbook in the sky is empty, you just may have to think about going door-todoor. There aren’t very many other options,” Drake said.

Governor Granholm and the legislature understood this when they refused to reduce the budget in other ways, while alowing cuts to education. If you can not get the legislature to raise taxes, put the pressure on parents to do the job.

I for one am tired of excuses and the blame shifting. The Governor and the legislators are paid to do a job but they keep shiftng the hard stuff on to the taxpayer and disclaim any personal reponsibility. Enough is enough! We need to make them do their job or remove them and keep them from any future office.

Here's the Beef

2009-11-10T19:36:00.004-05:00

If they were meeting in private to get it right without distraction, they failed. I can not believe that they could come up with a bill that is 1992 pages long and not explained away any faults in three bill. Hold on to your hats. It is going to be a very bumpy and dangerous ride. Maybe it will be deadly for some.

If you value your health, contact your senators now that the bill has passed the House. In fact, write them, email them and fax them. Contact other senators as well.
The phone is a great invention as well. In fact, I suggest you use it early and often just like some people vote.

Maybe if we make a real nuisance their staff will quit and they won't be able to do anything.

This is not a Laughing Matter

2009-11-06T16:50:00.004-05:00

They may think this is funny, but I don't. As we speak the intent of Congress is to vote on the health care bill this coming Saturday (tomorrow). How many times can the American people be lied to before they fire these incompetent, self righteous, self serving, destroyers of the American way.

Neither the Democratic Bill nor the Republican bill is good for the American people. Both bills take away your freedoms and give power to the government. They are destroying our system of government and the legacy for our children. They have put forth nothing to solve our problems but have only done things to exacerbate them.

How can a $460 billion dollar tax increase be expected to save people who are already unemployed. Increased taxes to small businesses will not create more jobs. The fact that you can not believe a thing they say does not help. You never know what your getting. We have compromised our liberties to long. We should make them listen or throw them out if they will not.

Call Congress November 5

2009-10-31T13:19:00.014-05:00

November 5, is Congressional House Call Day. The object is to tell congress at least one more time to keep their hands off your health care. The almost 2000 page bill as it stands today will ultimately lead to government control of your health care.

If you are interested in reading all 1990 pages of the bill, you can click here. If your interested in the breakdown of the important parts, then click here. It is important that we don't give up. We have to keep hounding them until they listen.

This represents 1/6 of our economy and the government makes a mess out of everything they control. Medicare is bankrupt. Medicaid is bankrupt. Social Security is bankrupt. The country's unfunded liability is astronomical. The debt we are leaving to our children is outrageous. More than that, the government should not be making decisions reserved to be between you and your doctor.

A Sad Day

2009-10-23T18:13:00.003-05:00

You know your getting old when you start reminiscing. Lunchtime was great when I sat down in front of the TV and had it with Soupy Sales. As a little girl, I would giggle when Pookie would sing or White Fang and Black Tooth would show up. I am proud to say I was a card carrying official birdbath. That may not mean anything to some of you but it was a big deal for me.

Some of you never got the opportunity to see his crazy hat and bow tie. I can still do the Soupy Shuffle. The words of wisdom kept me on the straight and narrow.

Those were simpler days. I wish that the kids of today could appreciate things the way we did. I didn't realise until I was grown that we didn't have much money and the special things that magically appeared once in a while were the results of sacrifices by my parents. I am sure that I am not the only one who will miss his slapstick comedy. I throw you all A BIG KISS.

An Honor to Honor

2009-10-21T17:36:00.010-05:00

We are often accused of being negative. I attribute that to those who would rather call us names than judge our solutions. This time, we are sure our effort can not be misconstrued. When Leon Drolet of Michigan Taxpayers Alliance and I were deciding who should be honored, we found it easy to agree on Mr. Robert Bobb and Mr. Frank Beckmann to receive top honors.

Robert Bob has been doing yeoman's work at the Detroit Public Schools weeding out fraud and abuse. Frank Beckmann has been a voice of sanity and a source of information and taxpayer advocacy for years. This will be an event you will not want to miss. These men deserve to be recognized. For information click here.

Please help us make this a memorable event. Join us and join the fun. Jacket and tie for men and business attire for women.

Call for Resignation

2009-10-20T09:56:00.004-05:00

I am respectfully calling for the resignation of Appropriations Chairman, George Cushingberry. He has the most powerful committee in the State House of Representatives. He controls the purse strings for all Michigan residents. He obviously does not understand that as head of that comittee he is supposed to represent all of us. His rant below is a clear indication that he needs to be reminded. I am asking that he appologize and recind his statement or resign.

Please contact him and remind him respectfully to correct his position or to resign from his Chairmanship.

Office Address
S0687 House Office Building

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514

Phone: (517) 373-2276
Fax: (517) 373-7186

Toll-Free
(888) 347-8008

Email
georgecushingberry@house.mi.gov

When laws are passed and appropriations are made they effect all of us. Please be polite but firm.

Canadian Style Healthcare

2009-10-15T10:12:00.012-05:00

It can't be good folks. I am contacted daily, by organizations I admire and trust who warn me, about the dangers in the proposed health care bills which are about to be consolidated into a bill which will be put before congress.

Last night I was part of a conference call of over 10,000 activists, sponsored by American for Prosperity, who listened to and asked questions of Congressman John Shadegg. He warned us of the deals being made. The bill has not even hit the floor yet. As you might imagine, these deals are being made for their constituents and not everyone.

Can you really believe they will cut costs, improve services, and cover more people without raising taxes and reducing accessibility to services. The fact that at present, the Sen. Baucas bill that came out of committee is enforced by the IRS should tell you something.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy has put out several videos. I hope you will watch them and contact Senators Levin and Stabenow to oppose nationalized health care or anything that resembles it. Call their local and Washington office, email them, write them, and fax them. Do it more than once so they know you are serious and intend to stay involved all the way to the voting booth.

Election Wayne County Style

2009-10-11T11:37:00.012-05:00

On November 3, the residents of Wayne County will be asked to vote on various ballot issues. We encourage you to check ahead to see which issues effect you. All ballot issues go through Wayne County. We have included a link to the Wayne County Elections in the County Clerks Office to assist you. There you will find everything that will be on the November ballot in Wayne County.
That includes city, school millage and all other elections elections. Please check out the list to see those that effect you and then forward the link on to others in Wayne County who are in your address book.

Some people may not even know there is an election this year. All elections are important. This year in particular as few are able to absorb the increases in taxes.

Proposition O is a renewal of the current millage rate without the increase in millage that has been rolled back under the Headlee Amendment. I am concerned that if property values continue to decline but the overall state rate of inflation increases that there might be an increase through "Truth in Taxation "hearings. We will keep an eye on this for you and you can contact your various government representatives.

PROPOSITION O:

OPERATING MILLAGE RENEWAL

To renew the millage authorized in 2000, shall Wayne County be authorized to continue to levy this millage at the estimated 2008 rollback rate of 0.9529 (about 95 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation) for ten more years (2010 through 2019), and proceeds used to continue existing County services, including programs for arrest, detention and prosecution of criminals, juvenile court and related services, public health, recreation, County parks, job training, senior citizen services, and programs for meeting medical needs of the poor, the disabled, and the aged? This renewal is projected to generate $43,495,573 in 2010.

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Keep in mind that if approved this year, the millage will be rolled back from this years Levy per the Attorney General opinion .

The following opinion is presented on-line for informational use only and does not replace the official version. (Mich Dept of Attorney General Web Site - www.ag.state.mi.us)
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
MIKE COX, ATTORNEY GENERAL
TAXATION:
GENERAL PROPERTY TAX ACT:

HEADLEE AMENDMENT:

CONST 1963, ART 9, § 31:
Application of millage reduction fraction to renewed multi-year, voter-approved millages

In the case of municipalities seeking authorization to levy "renewed" millages, the millage reduction fraction specified in section 34d of the General Property Tax Act, MCL 211.34d, is calculated on an uninterrupted basis for each succeeding year as if the voter-approved millage it replaces had never expired. Under MCL 211.34d(11), the calculation of the millage reduction fraction does not commence at 1.0 for the first year of the "renewed" millage but with the fraction utilized for the millage levied in the last year of the millage it replaces.

Opinion No. 7193

March 30, 2006

Honorable Valde Garcia
State Senator
The Capitol
Lansing, MI 48909

Honorable Joe Hune
State Representative
The Capitol
Lansing, MI 48909

Honorable Chris Ward
State Representative
The Capitol
Lansing, MI 48909

OAG No 7131 examined this section at length and explained how the "millage reduction fraction" established by the Legislature as the basis for calculating the constitutionally required rollback was to be applied:

By this measure the voters mandated that the total of taxes assessed against all taxable property within a taxing unit shall not increase from one tax year to the next at a rate exceeding the rate of increase in the General Price Level for the prior year. In any tax year in which the value of all taxable property has, in comparison with the value of the same property for the previous tax year, increased at a rate in excess of the rate of increase in the General Price Level, the Constitution requires a reduction in the rate of taxation so that the revenue realized from such property for the current year does not exceed that which was realized from that same property for the prior year by more than the percentage increase in the General Price Level.

This constitutionally mandated rollback of authorized millage rates has been implemented by the Michigan Legislature in accordance with Const 1963, art 9, § 34, through its passage of amendments to the General Property Tax Act, specifically section 34d, MCL 211.34d. They establish the "millage reduction fraction" (MRF) as the basis for calculating a rollback and describe how the MRF shall be applied.

This fraction is calculated by comparing the value of taxable property that existed in the prior tax year with the value of the same property for the current year. It is designed to arrive at a true comparison by eliminating the increases and decreases in value attributed to additions and losses. Thus, the MRF involves the determination of the ratio between:

(a) the value of the property for the previous year, less losses, multiplied by the sum of 1.0 plus the rate of increase in the General Price Level (the numerator of the fraction); and

(b) the value of the property for the current year, less additions (the denominator of the fraction).

The value lost when property or improvements become exempt from taxation, are removed, razed, or otherwise destroyed in the previous year (losses) is subtracted from the numerator, and the value added by new improvements or other enhancements during the current year (additions) is subtracted from the denominator. Simply stated, losses, which are not present in the current year, are subtracted from the prior year and additions, which were not present in the prior year, are subtracted from the current year. Thus, the values compared are truly "apples to apples." It is the difference in the value of property that is actually present in both years that determines whether a MRF is appropriate, and to what extent.

If the value of such property for the prior year (properly adjusted), multiplied by the sum of 1.0 plus the rate of increase in the General Price Level, is less than the value of the identical property (again, properly adjusted) for the current year, then the value of such property has appreciated at a rate greater than the rate of increase in the General Price Level. To reduce the excessive increase in revenue that would result if the original millage were applied against that increased value, the effective millage (rate of taxation) is multiplied by the determined MRF, a number less than 1, so that the amount of revenue received is properly reduced. [OAG No 7131 at p 28; footnotes omitted.]

Section 34d of the General Property Tax Act (GPTA), MCL 211.34d, addresses your inquiry and warrants quoting in pertinent part at length:

(6) The number of mills permitted to be levied in a tax year is limited as provided in this section pursuant to section 31 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963. A unit of local government shall not levy a tax rate greater than the rate determined by reducing its maximum rate or rates authorized by law or charter by a millage reduction fraction as provided in this section without voter approval.

(7) A millage reduction fraction shall be determined for each year for each local unit of government . . . . For ad valorem property taxes that are levied after December 31, 1994, the numerator of the fraction shall be the product of the difference between the total taxable value for the immediately preceding year minus losses multiplied by the inflation rate and the denominator of the fraction shall be the total taxable value for the current year minus additions. For each year after 1993, a millage reduction fraction shall not exceed 1.

* * *
(9) The millage reduction shall be determined separately for authorized levied millage approved by the voters. The limitation on millage authorized by the voters on or before April 30 of a year shall be calculated beginning with the millage reduction fraction for that year. Millage authorized by the voters after April 30 shall not be subject to a millage reduction until the year following the voter authorization which shall be calculated beginning with the millage reduction fraction for the year following the authorization. The first millage reduction fraction used in calculating the limitation on millage approved by the voters after January 1, 1979 shall not exceed 1.[1]

(10) A millage reduction fraction shall be applied separately to the aggregate maximum millage rate authorized by a charter and to each maximum millage rate authorized by state law for a specific purpose.

(11) A unit of local government may submit to the voters for their approval the levy in that year of a tax rate in excess of the limit set by this section. The ballot question shall ask the voters to approve the levy of a specific number of mills in excess of the limit. The provisions of this section do not allow the levy of a millage rate in excess of the maximum rate authorized by law or charter. If the authorization to levy millage expires after 1993 and a local governmental unit is asking voters to renew the authorization to levy the millage, the ballot question shall ask for renewed authorization for the number of expiring mills as reduced by the millage reduction required by this section. If the election occurs before June 1 of a year, the millage reduction is based on the immediately preceding year's millage reduction applicable to that millage. If the election occurs after May 31 of a year, the millage reduction shall be based on that year’s millage reduction applicable to that millage had it not expired.
* * *
(16) Beginning with taxes levied in 1994, the millage reduction required by section 31 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963 shall permanently reduce the maximum rate or rates authorized by law or charter. . . . The reduced maximum authorized rate or rates for 1995 and each year after 1995 shall equal the product of the immediately preceding year's reduced maximum authorized rate or rates multiplied by the current year's millage reduction fraction and shall be adjusted for millage for which authorization has expired and new authorized millage approved by the voters pursuant to subsections (8) to (12). [MCL 211.34d(6), (7), (9) – (11), (16); emphasis added.]

Where the terms of a statute are clear and unambiguous, albeit complicated, they must be applied as written. See Storey v Meijer, Inc, 431 Mich 368, 376; 429 NW2d 169 (1988). The italicized text of MCL 211.34d(11) is determinative. For a renewal millage, the millage authorized is subject to a MRF identical to the MRF that would have been applied to the millage which it replaces had it not expired. For the first year of levying the renewed millage, the calculation of the MRF starts not at 1.0 but rather at the MRF of the expiring millage.

The millage about which you inquire was approved in 2004 after May 31.2 By its passage, the voters authorized levies in 2006 and subsequent years. No levies of the "renewed" millage are to be made until 2006.

For 2006, it is necessary to determine an MRF for the renewed millage. The MRF will be the same MRF as would have been calculated for the expiring millage and applied to it had it not expired. In other words, the calculation process does not start over but rather continues uninterrupted.

Like the situation addressed in OAG No 7131, the factual setting you present calls for a reduction in the rate of authorized taxation whenever the revenue monies to be realized from taxing property (after adjustments for losses and gains) at the voter-approved rate would result in realizing more tax revenue for the year of the levy than would be realized by multiplying the authorized rate of taxation by the taxable value of all property (after adjustment) times the rate of increase of the General Price Level for the preceding year.

It is my opinion, therefore, that in the case of municipalities seeking authorization to levy "renewed" millages, the millage reduction fraction specified in section 34d of the General Property Tax Act, MCL 211.34d, is calculated on an uninterrupted basis for each succeeding year as if the voter-approved millage it replaces had never expired. Under MCL 211.34d(11), the calculation of the millage reduction fraction does not commence at 1.0 for the first year of the "renewed" millage but with the fraction utilized for the millage levied in the last year of the millage it replaces.

MIKE COX
Attorney General

1 This subsection, MCL 211.34d(9), prior to its amendment by 2005 PA 12 (effective April 28, 2005), specified May 31 as the "cut-off" date rather than April 30. The change is not critical here as the election underlying your request was held after May 31 in 2004.

2 See n 1.

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http://~bogaert/Opinion.htm
State of Michigan, Department of Attorney General
Last Updated 04/03/2008 13:29:45

Defending the American Dream III

2009-10-06T10:28:00.004-05:00

I thought that the best way to communicate the incredible list of speakers that were at the final day of the convention was to provide a link to C-Span , who taped the whole thing. You can slide the gage to the speaker of your choice or listen to the whole list of speakers. I don't think you will be disappointed. They obviously are public speakers for a reason.

At Lunch we broke up into our state meetings. During lunch Lana Theis and I received awards for our efforts with AFP. Mine was a one time award given for "Lifetime Dedication to Limited Government and Economic Liberty". I am humbled by this award but it is not just mine. It is also for all those who have been with me since the beginning of our efforts and those who have joined over the years and have worked so hard. I thank you, Michigan AFP and anyone who joins the WCTA for making this possible. Please continue to support us and join in the effort.

After Lunch we had short updates from the state directors of each state. Next,we had brake out sessions where we trained in topics of our choice. They included topics concerning emerging issues in 2010:The Lefts Strategy and Our Solution, Grass Root Training, Detecting and Countering Media Bias, How to Impact your Legislators, Investigative Reporting Skills, State budget Crisis, and much more.

In conclusion we had the final reception and farewell speech by Tim Phillips. You should consider attending next year if you can, it is fun and informative.

The Defense of the American Dream Continues

2009-10-04T22:20:00.008-05:00

The morning of the first day was great. It started out with specialized grassroots training sessions on internet activism, grassroots activism and training on methods. It wasn't in anyway as subversive as it sounds. It was just good clean suggestions on methods.

In the afternoon, most people prepared for the rally and after that meetings with their legislators, which mostly turned out to be their aids. The above video was taken by AFP. Their cameras are so much better than mine.

That evening was the "Tribute to Ronald Reagan Dinner". We had some great speakers. Laura Ingram, radio host and best selling author was the keynote speaker. She was funny and thought provoking. She was followed by Congressman Mike Pence, who not only gave a very engaging speech but did great imitations of George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. They were followed by Dr. Jim Miller, former Reagan Budget Director and Art Pope who is AFPs Chairman.

More tomorrow.

The American Dream Begins Again

2009-10-02T12:44:00.016-05:00

I am writing to you from the third annual American Dream Summit in Washington DC sponsored by Americans For Prosperity. This year they have over 2000 people registered for the conference. This morning we had seminars on blogging and Grass Root training. In reality they are lessons in communication - ways to attract people to your organization and how to communicate your ideas.

In the picture above you see the attendees loading on to buses to go to a Capitol Hill town hall and news conference. After the rally they will go to meetings, organized by state delegations, to talk with legislators. Most likely they will be talking to aids or bureaucrats, as the legislators are not in session. I hope that you will get involved by calling or emailing your legislators and telling them to leave our health care alone. More later.

2009-09-27T22:47:00.002-05:00

Who would of thought that Governor Granholm would lack imagination? After all, she is such a dramatic actor. Who else can pretend to care for this state and not try to do anything different? She knows that the changes she suggested are DOA according to Speaker Andy Dillon. Here are the changes she suggested according to “Cynical Synapse”:

Here’s what Granholm’s plan includes for Michigan’s budget over the next 2 years: $2.2 billion in cuts, $1.09 billion in tax/revenue hikes, and using $2 billion of Federal stimulus money. It’s important to note this is on top of the $500 million in cuts Granholm proposed in February. To entice Republicans, she’s offering to phase out the Michigan Business Tax 22% surcharge over 3 years, beginning in 2011.
Reduce film industry tax credits from 42% to 37%
Reduce other business tax credits by 12%
Extend 6% sales tax to live entertainment tickets, vending machine sales, and service contracts
Impose a 1% sales tax on bottled water
Increase the cigarette tax by 25 cents per pack to $2.25
Double non-cigarette tobacco taxes
Increase liquor license fees
Cut school aid by $520 million
Reduce local revenue sharing by $74 million
Squeeze $34 million out of funds used to entice business—and jobs—to Michigan ($22 million from the 21st Century Jobs fund and $12 million from a road improvements fund)

If the legislature knew the proposed suggestions for balancing the budget was unacceptable, why did they go on vacation?

If we had a part-time legislature this would have been resolved by now. Passing a continuation bill is not acceptable. I say we shut the state down. Most people would not even notice and others who get funds from the state might take some concessions and squawk so loud the legislature might get something done.

Not All Tea Parties Need To Be Huge

2009-09-18T15:15:00.004-05:00

I recently read a Post by "Parcbench" indicating that it was time to stop marching and do something. While I agree it can be overdone, I do not think we should stop. Over and over again we see movements develop. Leaders emerge. They are taken over by more powerful and financially developed organizations and the people who were involved are left to feel disenfranchised.

I will grant you that the large groups get access to the media and are effective in lobbing for taxpayers through our contributions and support. We definitely need to continue to support them. But, we need to maintain our own protests and our own groups to not only remind ourselves how important we are, but also, to remind those lobbyist and politicians that we are the force that makes them possible.

It is easy for us (well maybe not these days) to write a check and let someone else do our work for us. That is how we got into this mess to begin with. We have to continue to keep ourselves informed, question what our elected officials tell us and think about the consequences of what is being done. All to often, we are sucked into party politics before we know it and who gets elected becomes more important than what they stand for.

I say, keep these tea party groups going for all levels of government. One of the things that makes them most effective is recognizing that there are others out there that feel just like you. It keeps your spirit and your enthusiasm charged. It keeps you from being lethargic and just plain lazy. It keeps you informed and allows you to know what questions to ask. Don't slip back to the way it was because we have only made a dent. We still do not have the respect of those who are elected by us and who have usurped power that is not theirs to take.

Be selective but not invisible. Keep them on their toes and in their place.

My Heart In Washington Today

2009-09-12T12:51:00.004-05:00

I am at home today sitting in my front room watching Fox News coverage of the 9 12 project and the march on Washington. My heart is with them. It is physically impossible for me to walk the distance and stand for hours - or you can bet I would be there. I want to believe that there are millions more who share my feelings. Others are financially unable to attend.

On September 9, I attended the rally in Troy, Michigan to support the Tea Party Express which traveled from California to Washington,DC to today's rally. There enthusiasm and commitment bolstered my feelings.

We can not stop here. When the events have come an gone, we must continue to press the issues. It is difficult to keep up the momentum. But, it is even more difficult to live under an oppressive system of government. Many people have fought and died to preserve our system of government. We have been the envy of the world and rightfully so. It is far to precious to give up without a fight. We are far to smart to be seduced by lies of government saying everything is free. We know nothing is free, especially freedom.

Continue to contact your legislators,both local and federal. Let them know that their jobs are in jeopardy if they continue to violate the Constitution they swore to uphold.

Energy Citizens

2009-09-03T11:34:00.006-05:00

I am blogging from the Energy Citizens Rally. This rally is one of many across the country. It is being held in Livonia, Michigan at the Burton Manor. There is a great turnout. Speakers from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Farm Bureau, American for Prosperity, and Frank Beckman from WJR Radio. They are all opposed to Cap and Trade legislation and are encouraging you to contact your legislators and ask them to oppose it as well. It is insanity to support legislation that would harm Michigan. We are already hemorrhaging jobs and being burried under stifling taxes.

It is time for all of us to get involved. Pick what ever organization that makes you feel comfortable and take action. Get involved. Makes some noise. Let your voice be heard.

theblogprof: Report From The Birmingham, MI Tea Party Protest - August 22, 2009

2009-08-23T01:55:00.000-05:00

theblogprof: Report From The Birmingham, MI Tea Party Protest - August 22, 2009

From the MTA

2009-08-19T21:47:00.003-05:00

Dear Michigan Taxpayer,

You are about to be pitted against your own local government in a battle for your remaining income.

Why? Plummeting home values are (belatedly) slamming municipal governments and school districts with lower property tax revenues. Now these local governments are starting to panic. They see just one way of protecting their budgets - by going after more of yours.

As their tax revenues fall, some local politicians will simply vote to raise property taxes. Others need to ask voters to approve higher taxes because they already tax at the maximum rate permitted without a vote of the people. These local officials will carefully select the most obscure election day possible to place the tax hike on the ballot, hoping that government employees will vote while most citizens remain unaware.

DEFEATING THE COMING PROPERTY TAX INCREASES ISN'T ENOUGH

Even if voters defeat these tax hikes, you still lose. Why? Because nearly every school district and city hall is locked into unbelievably generous contracts with government employee labor unions. These contracts guarantee expensive perks that ordinary citizens would never imagine.

For example, many government employees are allowed to retire at an early age (age 50 in some communities). Other government employee benefits include platinum-clad health care (some plans even cover massages) and paid vacation days far beyond what's affordable in the private sector.

In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, local school and government employees enjoy benefits that cost almost twice as much as the benefits of the average full-time private-sector worker. Not to mention far better job security and higher wages.

Your local government isn't alone. Across the country, politicians have been caving to the increasingly outrageous demands of government employee unions. For decades, these unions locked-in jackpot pensions and other lucrative benefits that are now coming due. States like California are already collapsing under the weight of these past promises.

Why can't elected officials just cut the cost of these government employee benefits? Because the benefits are locked into contracts that your school board and local politicians already signed.

POLITICIANS WILL FORCE CITIZENS - NOT BUREAUCRATS - TO BEAR THE COSTS OF THEIR BAD DECISIONS

Due to the folly of signing these contracts, the only thing left for school districts and local governments to do is to raise taxes or lay off employees. If voters reject tax hikes, politicians will start laying off teachers, police officers, firefighters and such (of course, upper-level bureaucrats will NEVER be laid off, no matter what). These local politicians will threaten to make the service cuts they think will hurt citizens the most in order to scare voters into approving the tax hikes.

To stop both of these tactics, you and your neighbors would have to attend every township or city meeting, school board and county commission meeting in your community and fight against tax hike efforts while trying to convince your local politicians to reduce government employee benefit costs. You can’t win.

Or can you?

THE MTA HAS A REVOLUTIONARY PLAN THAT PUTS CITIZENS FIRST - AND COULD RESCUE OUR STATE

If local politicians won't address these outrageous costs - and they've demonstrated that they won't - why not go over their heads? What if local politicians were prohibited from providing benefits to government employees that exceed the cost of benefits in the private sector? In other words, what if there was a cap on the amount that government employee benefits could cost?

According to fiscal analysts at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, if every state, local government and public school employee in Michigan were provided benefits that cost the same as private-sector benefits, Michigan taxpayers would save about $5.7 billion!

How much is $5.7 billion? The despised Michigan Business tax will send about $2.3 billion to Lansing this year. The entire state income tax will send a total of $6.5 billion to Lansing's big-spenders. That's right, just by capping benefit costs of government employees at private sector levels, we could cut the state income tax in half AND completely eliminate the state business tax.

Michigan could become one of only five states with no tax on job providers and Michigan's struggling families could see their state income taxes cut in half!

A huge tax cut with no reduction in government services? All by simply capping government employee benefit costs at private sector levels? My friend, a change like this could be enough to rescue Michigan!

AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION IS HARD WORK (AND RIGHTLY SO)

But is it possible? It would take an amendment to the state constitution.

The Michigan Taxpayers Alliance is interested in researching whether this tantalizing possibility could become a reality, but we need your help.

Amending the constitution requires loads of research and legwork - and that costs money. For example, in order for the amendment to be air-tight and "tricky-politician proof" it would have to be written by top-notch experts on constitutional law and be researched by qualified labor law attorneys. And detailed economic analysis would have to be done by highly-competent economists. Amending the constitution is difficult (as it should be), and is therefore expensive.

But imagine for a moment that the citizens of Michigan DID collect the 380,000 valid signatures to put this amendment to the state constitution on the 2010 ballot. Every radio talk show host, editorial board and media outlet would suddenly be talking about the (previously hidden) costs of government employee benefits. Citizens would suddenly have a chance to see just how unfair these jackpot benefits are to taxpayers.

"RESCUE MICHIGAN" WOULD BE A GAME-CHANGING EVENT

What if this ballot proposal (let's call it "Rescue Michigan") were adopted by voters in November of 2010? The impacts would include:
• Significantly slashing the tax burden on businesses and families,
• Protecting core services,
• Eliminating deficits, and
• Overnight making Michigan a magnet for investment and new job providers

This "Rescue Michigan" initiative would be a bold, unprecedented and sweeping reform - the game-changer our state desperately needs. Never before has such an amendment to the constitution been considered in any state. But then, no state has ever been in the fix that Michigan finds itself in today.

But every other state, in the midst of their growing economic meltdowns, would know what Michiganders did. Those states' taxpayers would have an example of a new solution for their own state's budget implosion - the "Michigan solution."

Michigan is desperate. And the benefit costs of our public servants (including politicians) have been very quietly skyrocketing for decades. We need to fix this problem if we want to fix Michigan's problems. The "Rescue Michigan" constitutional amendment is a solution that may be the most important reform measure ever adopted in this state.

Again, it won’t be cheap or easy. Collecting the signatures will cost over $1 million, and then there’s the cost of winning a "yes" vote from voters in the election. But from a return-on-investment perspective, such a constitutional amendment would be the deal of the century: nearly six billion dollars returned to taxpayers - every year!

WILL YOU STEP UP FOR THE GOOD OF OUR STATE?

To make the "Rescue Michigan" proposal viable, the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance needs your help. We need citizen-activists and ordinary taxpayers willing to help fund the legal drafting and "ballot testing" that are a critical first hurdles for any serious ballot measure.

Will you help us rescue Michigan?

If you send a donation, I promise you that every dime will go toward drafting, researching and organizing the “Rescue Michigan” solution. Someone, somewhere in Michigan has got to take the lead if we are to have any hope of climbing out of the economic dumpheap we’re in. The MTA can take that lead, but not without resources to make it possible.

We need you to take the lead with us. We need you to contribute to the solution.

Or, we can sit and wait. Maybe the politicians in Lansing will save us? Maybe President Obama will send ever larger stimulus checks every year, trying to prop up our state, local government and school budgets? Maybe our local officials and school boards will suddenly muster the courage to confront the unions and force them to make reasonable concessions?

But you know the truth: It’s in our hands. It’s up to us to stand up and make something happen ourselves.

Don’t wait. Help now.

NO FIGHT WORTH HAVING IS EVER EASY

I know you probably have questions about this proposal. Will it work? Will it hold up in court? Could it be written to prevent end-runs? Will "big money" donors contribute?

The answers depend on how carefully the rescue Michigan amendment is constructed, but yes, it CAN work.

Guarantees? None, besides my personal pledge to, as Mr. Churchill said, give my "blood, sweat, toil and tears" to make it happen. This is a big idea and gaining victory is a major challenge.

I'll be frank, the ways we could come up short are many. After all the research and legwork, it may happen that not enough resources are found to make a ballot drive possible. I don't have all the answers, but I do know that any idea meaningful enough to have a huge impact will also face huge obstacles.

I WOULD KNOW - I'VE AMENDED THE CONSTITUTION BEFORE

I understand these obstacles. Back in 2003, I became Chairman of the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative constitutional amendment. MCRI would ban the government from giving preferential treatment to people based on race or ethnicity in government hiring, contracting and college admissions. It took three years of work against enormous odds to collect over 500,000 signatures and qualify the MCRI for the 2006 ballot - but the job got done and voters overwhelmingly approved the amendment.

OUR ECONOMY NEEDS "RESCUE MICHIGAN" IMMEDIATELY. THE MTA CAN LEAD - CAN YOU HELP?

Every important idea has obstacles and risks, but the biggest risk is to do nothing. Our state's economy is NOT going to magically fix itself while burdened with high taxes and exorbitantly expensive government employee benefits.

I understand that there are other ideas to help fix Michigan. Reforming labor laws, adopting the Fair Tax, making the legislature "part-time" and other ideas are all important, but no potential solution to our state's problems would provide a more immediate reduction in government spending and taxes.

I’ll do the necessary groundwork, I just need you to please help with the costs - even a little. Let me get started. I know how to build a team that can get this done, but that team needs to include you.

It's in our hands - your hands. Will you work with me to rescue Michigan?

Please make a contribution in whatever amount you can afford to the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. Rescue Michigan is the best hope we have for a fast and dramatic turnaround. Your contribution funds the best strategy to win a fight that we didn't ask for, but that we MUST win.

Sincerely,

Leon Drolet
Director, MI Taxpayers Alliance
www.mitaxpayers.org

P.S . The MI Taxpayers Alliance is a federally registered 501c4 (an activist organization) — not a 501c3 (a charitable organization). Donations are NOT tax deductible. Corporate checks ARE permissible.

P.S.S. We won’t give up, but we need your support so that Michigan’s government-class, big-government statists know they are in for a fight. Your contribution gives the MTA a real chance to win.

©2009 | Michigan Taxpayers Alliance | 46116 Lookout Drive | Macomb | MI | 48044

Plymouth Health Care Rally

2009-08-17T23:19:00.003-05:00

On a very windy Sunday in Plymouth, Michigan people gathered. I apologize for the poor sound and video quality but I thought you should see the angry mob and the truth about those who oppose health care reform.

As you can see they are a well organized mob and their attire indicates their subversiveness. They obviously do not know how to protest properly. No fires. No broken glass. No police in riot gear. What a disgrace. Flags and signs - how unoriginal. What we need are our legislators who know how to drain the last drop of blood from people to show them how to make a real mess.

Just remember. Sticks and stones may break your bones but names will never hurt you. Personally I like walk softly and carry a big stick.

Trust Me

2009-08-15T14:59:00.008-05:00

I have been watching every one of President Obama's meetings on health care. He has been inconsistent, his analogies have been poor and he has lied or been misinformed on what has been contained in the health care bills.

He comes off charming, friendly and down to earth, most of the time, and at others haughty and superior. The thing that troubles me the most is that he talks as if he knows what he is talking about. There are a number of bills in the House and the Senate. None have been completed and all,to the best of my understanding, have some undesirable qualities. How can you do anything but listen to concerns under those circumstances?

Those in Congress seem to know even less. They do not seem to know what is in the bill they are sponsoring. I'm not sure they have even read them.

The people of this country are right to be angry. We have turned our heads for long enough. Our attention is required to keep our great country. We can not continue to elect people without checking their credentials and values. We need to hold them accountable and demand that they keep their promises. We can not allow those we elect to call us names and denigrate us.

Get involved and, if they refuse to hear us, then we must remove them from office and replace them with someone who will. This is not a partisan problem it is a universal problem. They have awakened the giant now let's give them something to remember.

Unorganized Mob

2009-08-07T10:50:00.007-05:00

When I arrived early it was already too late to get in. Congressman Dingell's Town Hall Meeting was packed. Large numbers of union supporters were already seated in a room that holds only 150 people. The rest in attendance I can not account for. The real story is the hundreds outside the building who could not get in.

I have to give Mrs. Dingell credit. She came outside to talk to some of those standing around. So why are people so upset? They are tired of getting form letters which don't address the subject. They are tired of the phone being taken off the hook at the legislative offices. They are really tired of being called names and being described as fronts for other organizations.

As I walked up and down the line talking to people I asked some of them why they came. Most were fed up and were tired of being thought to be stupid. Some heard about it on the radio, some on the television and some from organizations to which they belong. They do not feel misinformed because they feel that even the legislators do not know what is involved.

They can do the math and know from experience that congress and presidents make mistakes and sometimes tell bold face lies to achieve their objectives. The older people know medicare is in trouble. They are upset that their benefits and services may be cut to take care of illegal aliens. They observe the poor quality of health care delivery in one payer systems and have no desire for death counseling every 5 years as a substitution for good medical care.

This discussion is far from over. Citizens are encouraged to fight back with every non-violent measure possible. Socialism does not work, fascism does not work but capitalism does. It has provided us with the best country on earth. Take time to preserve it.

Assaulted On Every Side.

2009-07-27T23:25:00.005-05:00

On July 15, President Obama came to Macomb County Community College to again tout one of his expensive initiatives. While he spoke of his plans for our money, outside along 12 mile, protesters gathered to express their dissatisfaction with many of his policies. Opposition to his healthcare policies, Cap and Trade, the bailouts and some wanted to audit the Federal Reserve to find out where our money went.
There was very little coverage and some say Obama didn't even know we were there. That may be true, but the people driving along 12 mile knew we were there. We can't control the media but we had the support of many who drove by.

On the State level the 2010 budget is expected to be $1.7 billion in defecit. Speaker Andy Dillon has come up with changes to public sector healthcare reform which would take care of $900 million but chances of them passing are as good as they are when others presented them before.

Chances of increasing revenue anytime soon are slim and none. The exodus from the state due to bad policy and tax increases does not bode well for those of us who remain here.

On the local level you can expect to see an increase in "truth in taxation hearings" over the next two years. Due to the decline in property values local units of government revenue can decline. They can increase millages to adjust revenue up to the rate of inflation just by holding a hearing. It can not exceed the voted millage. So while you are experiencing job loss,wage cuts and decline, the value of what may be your biggest investment. Elected officials can increase their revenue and overide the Headlee rollback just by getting together at a public meeting and agreeing on it.

It is time for you to stand up and be heard. Make your feelings known to those who are supposed to represent you.

Rational Health Care Reform

2009-07-22T22:23:00.007-05:00

by John Connelly

America's doctors and medical institutions are the envy of the world. The level of expertise and the pace of innovation in U.S. health care are unmatched. Yet many Americans worry whether they will have access to medical care when they need it. The present health delivery system does have some serious issues. Many Americans lack health insurance, there are gaps in coverage, and costs are increasing at an alarming rate. Health insurance is usually not portable from job to job, and consumers have very little choice about what their insurance covers. Many of these deficiencies in the present system are the result of government regulation.

President Barack Obama has begun an intensive public relations campaign with the media and the American people, to promote his “public option”. He has asked Congress to draft the legislation, but called for it to encompass three basic principles:
1. The rising costs of health care have to be brought down.
2. Americans have to be able to chose their own doctor and their own plan.
3. All Americans need to have quality, affordable health care.
The President must know that these goals are impossible to achieve in a government run plan.

Unfortunately, most Americans don't pay much attention to the details. With the implied promise of something for nothing, and few alternative solutions offered, Obama has many supporters. Most of them are unaware that every where this has been tried, it has increased the cost of health care and lowered the quality of care. The innovation, high quality and advanced treatment techniques that characterize our current system would be degraded. Rationing of care, especially at the end of life, would become the norm.

To see government health care at work we don’t need to look at Canada, Cuba or Great Britain; fifty nine million Americans already have it. It’s called Medicaid. Medicaid was passed in 1965 to provide health care for poor Americans. Government, both federal and state, pay for it. A recent study cited by Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a physician and health care expert at American Enterprise Institute, showed Medicaid patients to be 50% more likely to die after heart bypass surgery than patients with private coverage or Medicare.

Obama’s proposed plan would be an insurance program designed to compete with private insurance. It would be funded by taxpayers, administered by Washington, and open to everyone. President Obama claims people would not be forced to change their doctors or their coverage. He denies trying to push people into a government-run plan, but employers and state governments with private plans will soon realize it's less expensive to move employees into the government plan than to continue private coverage. Obama Care will soon become the single dominant health plan, which is its political purpose.

The Lewin Group, a health-care policy research and consulting firm, estimates that a public option could result in employers switching up to 120 million Americans from their current coverage to government-sponsored coverage to reduce costs. Thus a public plan, especially if combined with a mandate on employers to offer government coverage or pay a tax, would mean that millions of Americans would be pushed out of the private coverage they have today.
Like Medicare, the Obama Plan will control spending by using its purchasing clout and political leverage to dictate low prices to doctors. Physician income declines will be aggravated by regulations that will make practicing medicine more costly. Doctors will be required to employ expensive electronic prescribing tools and computerized health records, and will be encumbered with rules requiring expensive staffing and documentation to show compliance.

With last fall’s bailouts, the government spent almost $1 trillion. This year’s stimulus package cost even more. Can we now afford the price tag for an “Affordable Health Choices Act”, the name given to the recent Kennedy-Dodd health care bill? Last Monday, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost of the Kennedy-Dodd health care plan at $1 trillion. Supporters of the plan complained that the estimate was based on a preliminary plan that was incomplete. Since that time the cost estimates for the plan have been upped to $1.6 trillion. The government already owns much of the banking industry and two major automakers. Do we now need to give it control of another 17% of the economy?

In a recent Wall Street Journal Opinion (June 8, 2009) the writer offered the following:
“Increasing cost-sharing would discipline the health spending curve and give it a more rational bent. As societies grow richer, it makes sense that people will invest more in their own well-being. Health is a superior good, while the utility of wealth is fairly low if you're dead. The U.S. health cost "crisis" is that we spend so much with no incentive to weigh the costs against the benefits.”

I couldn’t agree more. In 1960, the average American paid more than 60% of his health care out of pocket. Health care spending has since increased sevenfold, but the percentage that consumers pay directly is now less than 12%. It is unrealistic to believe that health care will become less expensive because the government is paying for it. When people aren't exposed to the true cost of their care they consume more care. The real solution to the health care dilemma is to give consumers more control and more responsibility for their health care choices.

Across the State and Across the County

2009-07-06T11:20:00.011-05:00

Apparently the news media was to busy eating hot dogs to do justice to the tea parties that were taking place all across Michigan and the United States. That's OK. We know who we are, our numbers and the effect we can have on election outcomes.

I spoke at a Tea Party in Owosso, Michigan. There were about 170 patriots there concerned about the direction of our country. They had a great little country band and people who seemed to know why they were there. We were right along the road and people honked in support as they drove by. The real inspiring aspect of the tea parties is that these people are ready to put their words into action.

A real example of a Wayne County resident moved to action is Nancy Hames who is attempting to recall two members of her city council in Grosse Pointe Woods. She is only recalling two because the others who voted for the increase are up for reelection in November. Her reason is their vote for a property tax increase of 13.5% a full 1.75 mills. Grosse Pointe Woods has some very exclusive property but the owners have not been exempt from the effect of the bad economy. Small business owners, white collar workers and professionals have been hit too.

There is no reason to believe that Grosse Pointe Woods is any different than any other municipality which thinks they are justified in raising taxes instead of cutting spending. We will be meeting with her this week to see how we can help.

If you are interested in helping call me at 313 278-8383 and I will direct you to the proper person.

theblogprof: 32 of 46 States Whose Fiscal Year Begins July 1 Do Not Have A Budget

2009-07-01T15:12:00.000-05:00

theblogprof: 32 of 46 States Whose Fiscal Year Begins July 1 Do Not Have A Budget

What A Well Dressed Protester Should Wear

2009-06-18T21:34:00.006-05:00

At one of the breakout sessions at the Tea Party Convention last Saturday, a interesting man stood up and said that the Tea Party on April 15, was the first protest he had ever attended. He said he did not even know what to wear but decided on casual clothes. Well that was a pretty good guess.

In reality , the well dressed protester wears what ever he or she pleases. That is what it is all about, liberty, soverinity and getting those we elect to represent us instead of themselves. I think the convention was a success. It was a good second step. The speakers were interesting, the discussions were good and the people were friendly.

The feeling I got was that everyone there was ready to move on to the next step and was not willing to maintain the status quo. Some were preparing for more Tea Partys on July 4th, others were preparing for the march on Washington in the fall and still other are prepared to gather signatures to effect change in our state. What I saw was a large group of determined people.

You can get involved too. Click on the minuteman and sign up. Read how a little effort by a lot of people can make a difference. Let the events in Iran motivate you. Let it remind you how precious our freedoms are. Let it remind you what our forefathers had to endure to acheive their goals. Do not let anyone convince you that any political party,or any person has motivated the new patriot revolution. It is driven instead by the actions of our elected officials and their insesitivity to the people they represent. It is a result of thier lack of regard for the principles set down in our constitutions that they swore to uphold.

Any people who believe in freedom, when pushed, will eventually push back. Technology has made this a much more even fight. We can not let the selfserving ruin our country or our state. We can not let them decieve us into complacentcy. The thugs on the far left or the wacos on the far right should not be allowed to define the rest of us. That sould not be interpreted as the lack of will by the rest of us to do what must be done.

Et Tu Wayne County?

2009-06-11T18:09:00.008-05:00

On Tuesday June 9, Scott Hagerstom from AFP and I testified before a Wayne County Committee which was considering a county sponsored title corp at the request of the Register of Deeds Bernard J.Youngblood. What has Wayne County got to do with title searches and insurance. Needless to say, we thought it was a bad idea and said so. The title companies, as you would suspect, had something to say on the issue as well.

Our main concerns were that government should not be in business. If they did this, what kind of transparency and oversight would there be? How would the liability be paid for? Who would pay the $10,000,000 that is anticipated for start up? What success has there been where it was tried before. Has It been tried before and succeeded?

Wayne County's track record, in my book, has not been very good. Even if it starts out costing less, taxpayers will eventually wind up picking up part of the tab. Even those people who do not have the resources to own their own property. They had to stop the meeting because of conflicts but they are going to schedule another for more discussion. Good thing.

Forbes Magazine said that title insurance is the richest insurance racket. If Youngblood believes that, why does the county not prosecute instead of go into the business?

Youngblood's attorney, Patrick J. Bruetsch, approached us after the meeting. He says the county will have nothing to do with this, Youngblood just wants to endorse the idea. We asked then why is it before the committee. Then he said Youngblood will only let credible investors be involved. We asked "how does he get to pick the investors if he is not involved?" He claims he misspoke. He then proceeded to say much the same twice more. Something stinks here. The county should stay clear of this. They have enough problems to deal with. When they can do the job with what they have, even then it should not be expanding government. Besides, who is paying for youngbloods attorney? Why does he need one if he only wants to endorse the project?

If someone can do the job cheaper let them go in the business. If the title insurance companies are price fixing as they implied, then call in the feds.

Stand Up

2009-06-08T20:21:00.006-05:00

I am looking forward to this Saturday, June 13. The Tea Party Convention will not only be fun, but it will continue the momentum of the Lansing Tea Party. The five proposals that will be presented, voted upon and prioritized will give us goals to work towards. The speakers have a wealth of information between them and the break out sessions will give us a chance to share ideas.

I am asking you to get out of your fetal position and register. It is being held in Holt, Michigan. It"s not that far. You can get to the registration page from the homepage of the Wayne County Taxpayers Association. The cost is only $10 per person and that includes lunch. For those of you that have children, there is even childcare. What more could you want.

Put some effort behind your words and join us. All talk and no action doesn't change a thing. People call me all the time and want me to do there work. This is your opportunity to commit to do your share. Hope to see you there.

D Day Dilema

2009-06-06T11:11:00.003-05:00

I watched with appreciation the international ceremony to commemorate the 65th anniversary of D Day. It is very easy to take for granted the sacrifices the others have made for the freedoms enjoyed by the rest of us. It is also almost impossible not to be touched by the old and failing figures who were there at the ceremony. Those aging soldiers that remain are passing at a phenomenal rate and soon will be no more. We can not afford to let their memory pass with them.

Against incredible odds they landed in Normandy, France and thus began the eventual downfall of Nazi Germany. With the playing of the most impressive rendition of taps that I have ever heard, speeches, a 21 gun salute and fly overs by planes of the countries of France, England, Canada and the United states we honor the courage, dedication and and the supreme sacrifice of those who fought and died.

You could see behind the eyes of the remaining soldiers the memories of their lost friends and the difficulties that they endured from that moment on, both in memory and physically. They gave up so much for our way of life, please do not let it be in vane.

Recently, we have been warned by our socialist friends about the dangers. We are on the precipice and ready to fall over. Of all the warnings, the most unsuspected was from Pravda, a Russian publication:

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into
Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a
passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.
True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century,
especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted
upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not
just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much
money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and
betters. ..........
The Russian owners of American companies and industries should look thoughtfully at this and the option of closing their facilities down and fleeing the land of the Red as fast as possible. In other words, divest while there is still value left.

The proud American will go down into his slavery with out a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker.

I can not believe that Americans will much longer sit by and let this happen. How can we refute our history. How can we deny that our poor have been better off then in any country? How can we refute that opportunity has not been plentiful when people try to sneak into this country across the borders and across the seas? How can we so willingly turn over to our representatives control of our lives? How can we let people run our economy who have no experience, tell us what we want, tell us what we need and ,heaven forbid, what we should think?

Thank you to those who have fought and died for our country. I for one will try not to let your efforts be in vane.

Dillon the Villan and Boss Hog Handy

2009-06-04T21:59:00.006-05:00

Nothing to relieve the taxpayers burden has been done in this state. Some things just stay the same. When I failed to recall Andy Dillon from the 17th district and rid him of his seat as the Speaker of the House for raising taxes, I was sure that this would happen.

I allowed myself to rejoice in the fact that his association with R Miles Handy, then Supervisor of Redford Township, along with Handy's own bad reputation, caused Handy to be replaced as Supervisor. That joy was short lived. I knew in my heart that those that sleep with dogs get flees. So instead of eliminating one bad apple from Lansing, we now have two. This kind of thing is part of the reason we do not have good governance.

Handy is now Andy's right hand man. I hate to think how the two of them can conspire to think about what they can do FOR themselves and TO the rest of us. Between the two of them, they have one diabolical mind. Andy Dillon's payback to his political friend costs us all. We have another year and a half to endure. I wonder if he replaced someone or if he is paid from the increased office expense account they voted themselves.

As a reminder of who Dillon calls his friend, I have a must see video released during the recall. If you have already seen it, it is fun to watch again anyway.

Short Wait By Future Standards

2009-06-03T21:17:00.006-05:00

I am delighted to say that I spent 6 1/2 hours in the Emergency room at Oakwood Hospital last night. Oh it was tiring and aggravating but I was happy to do it.

The day before yesterday, my husband felt a pain behind his knee. We thought he must have pulled a muscle or stretched a tendon. He could not remember anything he had done to cause the problem. The next day it started to really swell and by evening his leg started to turn blue below the knee. At that point, it was off to the emergency room with his very swollen blue leg.

Our fear was that it could be a blood clot that might travel and kill him. They took his information as soon as we walked in. Then, proceeded to take his vitals and information about the problem. We waited about 45 minutes to be taken back to a examination room. Then it was wait for a doctor. In the mean time, a nurse came in and took his vitals again. The doctor finally examined him. He said it may be a cyst that had burst or a blood clot and an ultrasound was necessary to determine the problem.

We then had to wait a couple hours for his turn with the ultrasound machine and a reading from radiology. They determined that this was one of the biggest cysts that they had ever seen in a leg and it had burst. Keep the leg elevated and see your physician the next day was the advice. He thought that it might not require surgery and would eventually be absorbed by the body.

The point of all this is not that you care about my husbands leg but that in 6 1/2 hours we went from fear to diagnosis and treatment. Only in America!

The Fraser Institute of Canada did a study about "Waiting Your Turn in Canada". The startling statistics brings home the truth about socialized medicine.

The Fraser Institute's 11th annual waiting list survey found that waiting
time for surgical and other therapeutic treatments grew significantly in
2000-01. Total waiting time between referral from a general practitioner and
treatment, averaged across all 12 specialties and 10 provinces surveyed, rose
from 13.11 weeks in 1999 to 16.2 weeks in 2000-01. This nationwide deterioration
reflects waiting-time increases in eight provinces, while concealing decreases
in waiting time in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland.

In 2007 the median wait for an ultrasound was 3.9 weeks,but in Manitoba and Prince Edward Island it was 8 weeks. Prince Edward Islanders are waiting far too long for routine ultrasounds and X-ray results. The same story replays over and over in each country with socialized medicine.

We have to keep that nightmare from happening here. Call your members of congress and tell them you don't want single payer healthcare.

What A Fix I Am In

2009-06-01T13:20:00.008-05:00

I am conflicted. As a resident of Wayne County I know that I should be doing everything I can to encourage business to stay and flourish in Wayne County. As I have just become a major stockholder in GM, I now have other considerations to take under advisement.

Right now Detroit and Warren are having a disagreement over where the Headquarters of General Motors should be located. First lets look at the taxes. Mayor Bing and Executive Ficano are proposing a tax free zone for the Renaissance Center. While, The City of Warren has offered a 30 year abatement if GM moves its headquarters to the GM Tech Center.

If lower taxes are good for GM, why are they not good for everyone else? The small businesses that will suffer or be put out of business because of automotive downsizing are sure to need propping up. There is also the average taxpayer to consider, who must pick up the burden for the hole that exists in revenue left by the break given to businesses.
I know that as consumers we are paying them anyway, but somehow if you don't pay them directly they seem less harmful and there is still the possibility that they will not pass the break on.

Then there are the employees. Would they rather go into Downtown Detroit and pay a fortune for parking?
Or, would they rather park in the huge parking lot at the Tech Center? If they wish to live near work, would they rather live in Detroit with poor services and inadequate schools ? Or, live in Warren where schools and services are not so bad and their spouses will not have to pay the 2.5% resident income tax? That is if they work.

How about property values? Would you rather invest in housing which will continue to decline under present tax rates and exiting population? Or, in property which will very likely appreciate in the future?

The Detroit News has given you an opportunity to vote on the question of whether they should stay in Detroit or move to Warren. I am torn on the question to be sure. It isn't easy being a business owner in Michigan.

I Can't Believe It's The USA

2009-05-28T13:01:00.005-05:00

What the heck is going on. I never believed that I would see Americans standing by watching their country change the way it has. The government is taking charge of every aspect of our lives and the people are standing around looking dumb founded. Has our educational system dumb down our population so much that we can not remember why our country was founded. Have we learned so little history that we willingly repeat the mistakes to the same regretful ends. Socialism does not work and Fascism works even less well. Yet, we seem to be immobile because we have been taught that government knows better.

Nothing government does seems to function properly but we are willing to abdicate more responsibility to them. Our banking system is crumbling, our Social Security System is not secure, we are losing our homes, our jobs, and our secure future. All of this has been done at the hands of government and the governed who have not been vigilant. Now we are about to give up our very health to a system that other countries warn us is inadequate and failing the people of other countries to the degree that they must come here for proper treatment.

I always cringed when I hear someone quoting Patrick Henry. I thought there is someone going over the edge. As I look around me now, I am thinking maybe these people were not so crazy. I am not ready to pick up arms yet, but I can see based on history why it became necessary. In light of what is happening around me, I am wondering just how far government is willing to go before it tramples our constitution. Watch this video of Patric Henry's speech and tell me what you think.

It's People

2009-05-04T22:00:00.007-05:00

It seems that national health care is as close as it has ever been to passing. It is absolutely scary to me. Not only will it mean that I may not qualify for some health care procedures because I'm getting older but it seems that those I qualify for might be beyond my reach because of the length of time I must wait. Government involvement in other countries has meant less people inclined to become doctors. Fewer doctors translates to longer waits.

As the last bastion of non socialized medicine people come here from all over the world to receive treatment. Where will we go?

I suppose we should suspect such things as we devalue life and trivialize the belief in a Supreme Being. We have people who are pro choice all the way to partial birth abortions. Why would they not think it is OK for old people to die. We could even do it real nice like in the classic movie "Soylent Green".

Unfortunately, I would still have to be like Charlton Heston at the end of the movie.

The Simplified Single Business Tax

2009-05-02T11:43:00.009-05:00

Remember the reason for changing the Single Business Tax in Michigan? They wanted to make it more simple and it had to be revenue neutral. First they thought up the Service tax that turned out to be a disaster and then quickly changed it to a 22% surcharge on the Michigan Business Tax. That too turned out to be anything but simple or revenue neutral.

Chairman, President, and CEO of the Edward Rose and Sons Building Enterprises, Sheldon Rose is holding his tax return for Michigan. It weighs between 7 and 8 lbs. and is ten times the size of his previous return. When asked what he thought about it, his response was that it was "preposterous". I cant' think of a better word to use.

The family-owned company is a residential developer, general contractor, and property owner and manager with a large presence in the Midwest. How has our legislature encouraged him to keep his business here in Michigan? They seem to be perplexed by the fact that people and business are leaving. If we do not become more business friendly in this State there will be no one left to produce or employ. This is the thanks we give to people who create jobs, operate and invest in Michigan. That is of course unless they are hand picked by Governor Granholm to receive taxpayer money.

Fleas Spreading Everywhere

2009-04-26T12:49:00.010-05:00

What do Big Business and Government have in common? Answer: An incredible amount of unfunded liability. The old saying,"If you sleep with dogs you get fleas" can not be better demonstrated than in the relationship between the two. As we rely more and more on government the infestation is spreading.

Those of us who planned for our future liability are now seeing our 401ks, IRAs and Social Security disappear before our eyes. I always thought that I should be self reliant. I never thought that it would be taken from me so drastically by my own governments. I use the plural for a good reason. They are always suspicious that there will be subversives from among the people. But, it seems that they are the ones conspiring to make our lives hard and to disrupt our way of life. They are delusional. They think that they can solve problems by doing anything. Just vote for a bill. Don't read it. Talk about a problem. Don't do anything that might solve it.

It is more important that they be liked than right. The State of Michigan is a perfect example of doing nothing. In spite of the trouble we have been in, their solutions have been non existent or more harmful. At the federal level they are devaluing our dollar to the point that we should be furious. We are not the danger to our country - they are.

Please get involved. The country you save may be your own.

Taxpayer Minutemen

2009-04-25T18:58:00.014-05:00

Now that the Tea Parties were such a success, we can not just go back to the way things were. We can not be complacent and allow things to pass without comment. All those organizations who work to make them a success have agreed to work together and insure that we are not forgotten. Leon Drolet of Michigan Taxpayers Alliance came up with a great idea. As a result of the US Supreme Court decision for which I was plaintive, any resident in Michigan can collect signatures for a recall. Anyone can collect signatures for a ballot initiative. So, Leon thought up the idea of Taxpayer Minutemen. Below is an explanation of just who we are. We hope that you will join us. Just double click on the picture. Print out the form and send it in. It will show your true commitment to change and show the politicians who is in charge as we grow in number.

Politicians will think twice before voting against the people who elect them. Only those in their district can vote against them, but people of like mind can bring to the attention of the people of their district, through recall or initiative, ideas that they have thwarted in the past with rules that have worked against their constituents. The balance of power between lobbyists and their money and citizens they are supposed to represent, can be equalized with your help and commitment.

Allert: 4/26/09 The registration link for the Taxpayer Minutemen will be up within a few days. there was a mixup in communication. Sorry for the mixup. Please check back. Thanks.

Proud To Be An American

2009-04-16T21:38:00.008-05:00

The Tea Parties should be an inspiration to all true Americans. I have to laugh at those who think that the tea parties were organized by well funded organizations. I know that groups like ours, an those that worked with us, worked for weeks in our humble way to make them a success. I think it is beyond the nonbelievers to understand that we are capable of independent thinking. They are so busy walking in lockstep with the liberal and delusional press that they forget what a great and free country we have.

The same people who showed up for the Tea Parties are the son, daughters, husbands and wives of people who have fought for this country. It would be a shame to let all their efforts be for nothing. We are the people who know and appreciate what we have and intend to keep it. We are not Democrat or Republican or anything but American when it comes to our country and freedom.

We know that socialism does not work and we believe that we can make a difference. This can not be a one time event. We understand that because we became lax, we will have to work harder now to maintain our way of life. If things continue as they are, we will enslave our children an grandchildren. They will never have the standard of living we have, old people will suffer under the inflation and productivity will diminish with our ability to compete in the global economy. We owe it to ourselves and future Americans to preserve what has been so heroically fought for by our forefathers.

I'm No Coward or Racisit - How About You?

2009-04-10T12:44:00.005-05:00

The latest news is that the Tea Parties will be infiltrated by Acorn, the Huffington Post and others. My reaction is -so what? The only thing that bothers me is that Acorn gets our money to do these things. My suggestion is to ignore them. If they ask you to sign something, politely say no thank you. Do not let them goad you into anything. Do not get into an argument with them, no matter how much they try to get you into one.

There is nothing more aggravating than failing. That is what we want them to do. The media will make that their story rather than the one we try to get across. If you feel the need to sign something, sign up with one of the sponsoring organizations. We are now all working together on things we agree upon. We communicate with each other and are finally realizing that we need each other to reach our goals.

With the recent decisions in the Supreme Court, we can assist each other on ballot initiatives, Recalls, and other petitions. We can pool our physical and financial resources when the need arises. Our cyber connections allow us to communicate effectively and efficiently. It is not just the government who can tell the story.

Come Join us on April 15, at the State Capitol steps in Lansing at high noon. There are more of us than there are of them. Let us peacefully make our point while we can. Get involved and get mad but make sure you are in control.

Why We Need To Expose The Far Left.

2009-04-05T11:37:00.007-05:00

The double standard of the left fascinates me. They clammier the loudest if denied free speech but when it comes to them, they frequently deny it to others. As an example, the Michigan Liberal Blog still will not allow me to comment on anything they write. I have never used obscenities or done anything but express my opinion on what they have written. Yet, they seem to be so week on their opinions that they are afraid to be challenged? Moveon.org has no problem in making a point by any means necessary but will try to block any opinion that does not agree with theirs.

That is what I like so much about the concept of the Taxpayer Tea Party scheduled across this county. There is no way to disguise the hundreds of thousands who will be attending these Tea Parties. People of all stripes will be attending and expressing their feelings of frustration and indicating they are not going to take it any more.

We may not have the money that some of these left wing organizations have but we have the American Spirit. We have the awareness and history of those who fought and died for the principles of our forefathers. We have the freedom to express ourselves and the desire to make sure we keep them. This is not a one day event. It is a way of life. We need to defend it every day. I even defend the Michigan Liberal Blog but I wish they had the courage of their convictions and the philosophy of fair play.

Please join us on the steps of the Capitol Building on April 15, at noon. Also, sign up with one of the sponsoring organizations so that we can continue to fight the fight. We are cooperating more and more. We have our eye on the prize which is a free and representative democracy.

For Printable Map of Downtown Lansing CLICK HERE: