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    Who are the NERD fund donors Mr Snyder?

    Raise the curtain.

    Real quick...


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Mon Nov 02, 2009 at 11:37:37 AM EST
    Tags: Michigan, Promise Grant, Granholm, Budget, Schools (all tags)

    Michigan's Governor Granholm is in Traverse City today as part of a tour speaking to educators in an effort to get some pressure on our legislators to put some adjustments together and support TAX INCREASES.

    She lost the budget battle, and is now attempting to scare the foot soldiers of an ever growing government with words like "CUTS," and "Eliminations.."

    A Little more below the fold...

    Granholm suggests that the revenue sharing will not be enough to fund the schools, and that the estimated income will fall short of projections.  She says the legislature used numbers that were relevant last year, and that we are continuing to see declining numbers based on fewer and fewer retail sales (where much of the revenue sharing comes from)

    She may be correct, but her answer to it is predictable as always.  She wants NEW taxes.. Though her wording is

    "If only we could close just 13% of the loopholes out there..."

    Exactly.. tax increases.

    But do not forget about the "Promise.."  This is the information graciously provided by Treasury.

    Michigan received $290.2 million in tobacco settlement revenues in 2008...with an estimated $300 million in 2009.  Since 1999, the state has received $2.9 billion in settlement payments since 1999.

    As for the MI Promise, if that program were to have been retained in the FY 2010 budget (or if funds are allocated to fund the program at some point) the expenditure would have been approximately $140 million (original amount in FY 2010 executive budget recommendation).

    Read into it what you will..

    < Members of Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op overwhelmingly trust Wolverine | Vote NO on Washtenaw School Millage >


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    Real quick... | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)
    Another Viewpoint (none / 0) (#1)
    by J Baranowski on Mon Nov 02, 2009 at 11:55:15 AM EST
    http://some-other-viewpoint.blogspot.com/2009/10/granholm-blames-promise-program-cut-on.html

    Granholm is up to her old tricks again. Does she not accept that she is the leader of our state? This budget should have been done months ago; instead, Granholm sits in her office and tells the legislature to "take care of it."

    She says this program is important to her. Republicans made it known that balancing the budget without raising taxes was important to them. She should have been on the floor every single day advocating them to find money to pay for the program. That would have meant cuts in other parts of the budget. If the Michigan Promise was truly her priority, she could have made it happen.

    Instead we have Granholm sitting in her ivory tower threatening line-item vetoes if she doesn't get higher taxes, pouting like a petulant child. This IS NOT leadership. Sen. Majority Leader Bishop is no better. He held the bills until the last minute so that there would be no time for negotiation. He forced Granholm's hand.

    But in my opinion, the buck stops with Granholm. She is ultimately responsible for our state. It's time she acts like it.

    http://www.some-other-viewpoint.blogspot.com

    some more history... (none / 0) (#3)
    by J Baranowski on Mon Nov 02, 2009 at 12:00:28 PM EST
    Here's a bit more on the Michigan Promise history:

    Since 2000, Michigan has received approximately $300 million per year as part of the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). Through legislation, Michigan committed tobacco settlement revenue to two trust funds: the Michigan Merit Award Trust Fund and the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund (TSTF abolished in 2005.

    From 2001-2007 the Michigan Merit Award Trust Fund received 75% of the State's revenue from the settlement with the tobacco industry. In 2007, however, a portion of the MSA payments were securitized and the lump sum payment was used to address a state budget deficit. In addition, legislation allocated $75 million of tobacco settlement revenues (that had not already been securitized), annually 2008 through 2015, to the 21st Century Jobs Trust Fund. The Michigan Merit Award Trust Fund supports a variety of health and education programs, including the Michigan Promise scholarship

    It is time! (none / 0) (#4)
    by LookingforReagan on Mon Nov 02, 2009 at 03:08:29 PM EST
    For Jenny to go someplace else and do something she is qualified for. May I suggest a greeter at Walmart might be within her limited abilities.
    While I don't mean to trivialize the budgit process it seems so very simple to me. Do what every other citizen of this state has to do each and every month. Live within your means. There are so many options open to lawmakers that could reform the way the state does business and save money while at the same time attracting business activity from other states. Not picking and choosing the winners but having a bunch of winners instead of a few who are willing to grease the proper palms in Lansing.
    First get rid of that stupid green jobs crap. It won't fly and will be a millstone around the neck of this state.
    My formula is to do the following.
    Adopt a fair tax for the state.
    Pass right to work legislation and make it law.
    Privatize government institutions such as medium and minimum security prisons.
    Set up a school voucher program. Protect homeschooling and encourage more Charter schools.
    Reduce state staffing to 40,000. Defund and eliminate the State Surgeon Generals office. End money for a first spouse office and staff.
    Sell the Governor's residence. That saves millions in maintainence costs. Sell the Mackinaw Island residence. Again more savings.
    Reduce compliance costs to business by adopting a central information system for information and reporting.
    These are just a few that I can think of right off the top of my head. I am sure there are tons more. Oh, we also need a bill passed that in effect would prohibit any governmental entity from cutting police, fire and EMS in a budgit crisis. Untill other cuts would be made first the public safety comes first. This way it can't be used as a sword hanging over the heads of citizens.
    Just a few but it can save us a lot.

    Real quick... | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)
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