Remember the old Michigan saying that came from the dark days of the 80's recession: "last one to leave Michigan turn the lights out?"  I remember my days in the legislature, and how Republican elected officials loved to boast almost daily as to how Gov. Engler saved this state from that all but too certain death (leaving aside, for the moment, whether this accolade is deserved).  Yet, today's Gongwer Report (www.gongwer.com)highlights how much worse Michigan's condition is today by discussing the state budget:

"The severity of [the] crisis was highlighted by Treasurer Bob Kleine, who said that revenues fell by 11 percent, when adjusted for inflation, in 1981, during the last cataclysmic economic recession the state endured.  In 2009, revenues, adjusted for inflation, have fallen by 23.5 percent, he said."

Hmmm.  More than twice as bad last time the state was actually going to "close"?

And yet, the legislature ineffectively bumbles its way through "fixing" the SBT such that the MBT -- a tax that is just as bad or worse by all accounts is put in its place.  I've personally heard about companies whose tax loads have increased two, three, even six fold.  I've been assured by prominent real estate developers I work with that the cranes in West Michigan will soon disappear, headed for greener lending pastures to the South.

Michigan, depending on the survey, is either the 48th, 49th, or 50th LEAST hospitable state for businesses to locate and operate due to the high cost of business (taxes) and heavy unionization businesses will find here.

This is an immediate crisis -- a dire emergency.  This state must become attractive to businesses and the jobs that come with them NOW.

And lest the skeptics cry corporate welfare, understand that whatever you call it, if there are no jobs, there are no incomes; there are then no revenues, no home sales, no auto purchases.  Michigan is in a perfect storm of failure brought about (in some cases) by factors out of our control; but mainly brought about by a vacuum and void in leadership.

Forbes recently analyzed the prospsects for Michigan.  Proudly, our cities top the "worst cities for jobs" nationally.  See www.Forbes.com, Joel Kotkin, "Worst Cities for Jobs" April 28, 2009 at http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/27/worst-cities-jobs-opinions-columnists-employment-opportunities.html .  Mr. Kotkin highlights what has been nagging me in the back of my mind and making me feel uneasy about the prospects for a comeback-- there is nothing on the horizon that is going to fix this state.  While we are in a national recession, and everyone is hurting, the United States will come back.  Michigan will not, because the fundamentals are still bad: hostile business environment, high taxes, unionization, undesirable climate, etc.

We are doomed to this fate unless our leaders actually do something drastic and do it fast.  So, Republicans:  No more meaningless resolutions on abortion; No more committee meetings worrying about legislative minutiae; No more Joe the Plumber.  Get to work -- lead.  There is one issue that must be addressed right now, or it will be too late to turn Michigan around.

Republican Legislators (and all legislators for that matter):

1)  Get in your car;  2)  Drive to the capitol building; 3) Go inside (we'll keep this simple); 4) Draft a corporate tax and incentives bill that takes Michigan from the 48th-50th worst state in the nation to the very top of the heap; 5) Refuse to leave the capitol or to take up any other business until that bill is passed and signed.

It sounds simple when you think about it.