Political News and Commentary with the Right Perspective. NAVIGATION
  • Front Page
  • News
  • Multimedia
  • Tags
  • RSS Feed


  • Your New Scoop Site

    Welcome to Scoop!

    To help you figure things out, there is a Scoop Admin Guide which can hopefully answer most of your questions.

    Some tips:

    • Most of the layout is changed in "Blocks", found in the admin tools menu
    • Features can be turned on and off, and configured, in "Site Controls" in the admin tools menu
    • Stories have an "edit" link right beside the "Full Story" link on an index page, and right beside the "Post a Comment" link on the full story page. They can also be edited by clicking the story title in the "Story List" admin tool
    • Boxes are what allow you to write new features for Scoop; they require a knowledge of the perl programming language to work with effectively, although you can often make small changes without knowing much perl. If you would like a feature added but cannot program it yourself, ScoopHost does custom Scoop programming as one of its services.
    • If you aren't sure where to look for a particular feature or piece of display, try the "Search Admin Tools" link in the admin tools menu.

    For support, questions, and general help with Scoop, email support@scoophost.com

    ScoopHost.com is currently running Scoop version Undeterminable from .

    Tag: Pensions

    Pensions & Fiscal Child Abuse


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Fri Dec 27, 2013 at 10:14:13 AM EST
    Tags: Damocles Sword, Debt, Pensions, POB, Obligation Bonds, Chris Radu, Mike Gillman, Traverse City, Grand Traverse County, Deficits, Shortfalls, Fiscal Child Abuse, Government, Arbitrage, ROI, SB1129 (all tags)

    "Live now, pay later," might have easily supplanted the national motto of "E Pluribus Unum," instead of its supposed replacement, "In God we trust."

    Aside from the obvious reference to unearned hedonism and individual irresponsibility, it should be noted that governments derived from such careless individuals as the "live now" crowd can bring all of us even closer to being debt slaves.  Yet even without the notion of pleasure as an advance reward to leadership, the function of government runs unabated. One might find it differently in private enterprise however, according to Jack Spencer at Cap Con:

    "In the private sector, businesses can't ignore economic reality by giving in to unrealistic union demands. They open their books and say, "look, we've had a lousy couple of years. We have to cut back or go under. We can't give you what you want." That reality check doesn't apply to government, which is always bargaining with other people's money. Those "other people" are us, the taxpayers. Over the decades, when faced with unpopular choices of cutting services or raising taxes, government officials have given unions most of what they asked for and left the tab to be picked up by future generations."

    In a nutshell, that is it.

    I've been there.  In fact, I have been in both places simultaneously.  At the business owned by my wife and I, folks haven't received raises in three years, yet as a county commissioner in 2012 I was present while union employees received automatic 1.5% increases. It made no sense to me that it should be so easy for a nearly unanimous Republican board to approve of such a thing, but over the years we have discovered that fiscal insanity is a scourge that has set upon both Capulet AND House Montague.

    And it is generational too.  So much so, that entire infrastructures are collapsing from the weight that has long had its supports removed.  Pensions as a part of governmental financial negligence as referenced in the Cap Con piece above are responsible for cities literally falling apart, and legitimate public safety services being eliminated.

    So what have we done to solve this?

    Go below the fold to find out how we can actually make bad stuff, worse.

    (3 comments, 2223 words in story) Full Story

    All Of A Sudden


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Wed Dec 04, 2013 at 10:21:10 AM EST
    Tags: Michigan, Detroit, EFM, Kevyn Orr, Bankruptcy, Restructuring, Futility, Higher Taxes, Pensions (all tags)

    The repealed Emergency Financial Manager law probably seems like a better idea now; at least to those who spent great amounts of money to defeat it.

    Its not as if they weren't warned.

    State appointed Emergency Financial managers couldn't touch any pension contracts whatsoever. As a state initiated law, it would  have run afoul of article 9, section 24; the state's own constitutional protection for pensions.  The EFM law was however, a tool to readjust current contracts not associated with those pensions.  Federal courts would have no say at that point.  But labor unions, and certain municipalities' elected bodies preferred to not allow such a thing.

    Instead, a bankruptcy, fully clarified in the constitution as being under federal jurisdiction, takes the state's constitutional protections of those pensions off the table.

    Golly.

    (3 comments) Comments >>

    A Message To Our Legislators - Beware False Choices

    Fun


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Tue Dec 03, 2013 at 10:33:19 PM EST
    Tags: Budz, Detroit, Bankruptcy, Schuette, Snyder, Pensions, Long Time Coming, Same Snake Two Heads (all tags)

    Right?

    Two statements from high profile positions in Michigan State Government. Both from looking at the decision to allow the Detroit Bankruptcy to go forward. The first from the Nerd

    "Today, the federal court allowed Detroit to stay on the path toward a brighter future.  A future where streetlights work and ambulances respond quickly. A future where crime and blight shrink, and where jobs and investments surge."
    And a place where unicorn farts cure despair and disease.

    From the AG?

    "However, I am deeply disappointed by Judge Rhodes' analysis that pensions may be impaired. I will continue to aggressively defend pensions and Article 9, Section 24 of the Michigan Constitution as this case proceeds to the confirmation stage of bankruptcy planning, at which time we can thoroughly review any plans for potential legal action involving pensions."
    And then he drew down his helmet, and grabbed a jousting pole.

    Said one to the other before backing up the pretend bus: "We're still friends right?"

    (3 comments) Comments >>

    Detroit Bankruptcy Could Have Been Avoided


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Wed Jul 31, 2013 at 08:30:38 PM EST
    Tags: Michigan, Detroit, Bankruptcy, Coleman Young, Dennis Archer, Unions, Pensions, Untouchable Benefits, Politics (all tags)

    There is a reason this mess happened.

    Outside of the progressive politics, corruption related to same, and a lack of respect for what USED to be the jewel of the Midwest, it was greed.  Greed, that is explained no better than by Bill Johnson:

    "History, however, shows this looming crisis might have been averted if the employees unions and pensioners had shown more flexibility forty years ago in restructuring city pension benefits. Instead, the intractable opposition demanded the city stay on a dead end course to default.

    As far back as 1974, then-Mayor Coleman Young proposed what was considered reasonable changes to Detroit's pension programs. Because labor and retirees are a potent political force, the City Council shot down the mayor's changes."

    Was that the last opportunity to correct course?

    Not so much.

    Read the rest at Johnson's blog.

    Perspective and not-so-much selective memories can take the argument so much farther, mmm?

    (4 comments) Comments >>

    Sorry Bill But


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Tue Jul 30, 2013 at 09:24:43 AM EST
    Tags: Michigan, Detroit, Corruption, AG, Bill Schuette, Garage Sale, DIA, Constitution, Pensions, Uh Oh. (all tags)

    You are wrong this time.

    The bizarro side of the world is wondering what you might be up to, but we have less tolerance for the games.  Don't play on their turf, because at some point you will realize all the friends you brought with you are gone. A realization of the truth will make short work of this:

    "Consistency and the state constitution demand that Attorney General Bill Schuette fight to protect the pensions of Detroit retirees from being downsized in bankruptcy court. It's Schuette's job to defend state laws, and he can't pick and choose which ones he fights to protect.

    Schuette filed Monday to intervene in the bankruptcy proceedings on behalf of pensioners.

    The move puts him at odds with Gov. Rick Snyder, who supports Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr's position that retirees will have to sacrifice along with other creditors to resolve Detroit's $18 billion debt."

    Of course even the editorialist will figure it out quickly enough.

    The Michigan Constitution has many things that need to be enforced, but Article 9 Section 24 cannot be used in this case. The average Joe can tell you that Article I, Section 8, Clause 4 of the US constitution says so.

    "Both state legislation and state courts tended to use debtor-creditor laws to redistribute money from out-of-state and urban creditors to rural agricultural interests. Under the Articles of Confederation, the states alone governed debtor-creditor relations, and that led to diverse and contradictory state laws. It was unclear, for instance, whether a state law that purported to discharge a debtor of a debt prohibited the creditor from trying to collect the debt in another state. "
    Ah, Detroit. Bankruptcy, being one of the (few) enumerated powers of the federal government pretty much throws a bucket of Strohs river water on what might be a flickering candle of hope that Schuette's words are said with any seriousness. In a few years no one will care what he does now anyhow.

    The constitution of the US is primary. Federal bankruptcy law which is derived from specific mandates it is absolute under this example.

    But there IS a constitutional issue the Attorney General can investigate.

    (1 comment) Comments >>

    "I'm Gonna Tell On You!"


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Fri Jul 19, 2013 at 04:12:47 PM EST
    Tags: Michigan, Detroit, EFM, Kevyn Orr, Bankruptcy, Restructuring, Futility, Higher Taxes, Pensions, Judicial Playthings, Rick Snyder, Toys (all tags)

    Seriously, its really becoming US V THEM.

    The governor actually does something that makes sense, (and only 2-3 decades late) and the protectors of leftist failures jump into action. And, the kids are getting hurt feelings. Yesterday's Detroit Bankruptcy filing made little Rose cry.  She thought she had beat the bad man to the punch.  So she has retaliated:

    "Aquilina said she would make sure President Obama got a copy of her order."
    THAT will teach that bad boy a lesson.

    Once uncle Barry hears about it, he's going to take Ricky's bridge away.

    (6 comments) Comments >>

    The Corpse Is Still In The Morgue


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Tue May 14, 2013 at 11:41:32 AM EST
    Tags: Michigan, Detroit, EFM, Kevyn Orr, Bankruptcy, Restructuring, Futility, Higher Taxes, Pensions (all tags)

    Who will claim the decaying body that is Detroit?

    Kevyn Orr, The emergency financial manager, was given an unworkable task. In a city that has been reassured repeatedly that it is too big to fail, the lights are going out. All manner of economic development incentive paid for by Michigan taxpayers as yet proves to be insufficient to generate the activity necessary for basic government services, and a sustained infrastructure. Four decades of progressive politics and fear of calling out bad decision making as it happened; fearing the sting of racial politics, and lack of compassion.

    Its far too late now.

    Banks that have loaned Detroit operating cash should count those loans as losses.  Retirees that did their jobs, and counted on their employer to manage finances and their retirement moneys appropriately might wish to reevaluate their portfolios. Orr's current status report?

    "Excluding proceeds from debt issuances, the City's expenditures have exceeded revenues from fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2012 by an average of $100 million annually. These financial shortfalls have been addressed with long term debt issuances (e.g., $75 million in fiscal year 2008, $250 million in fiscal year 2010 and $137 million in fiscal year 2013) and by deferring payments of certain City obligations, such as contributions to the City's  two pension funds."

    The accumulated unrestricted deficit was $326.6 million at the end of fiscal year 2012. Fiscal year 2013 (year ending June 30, 2013) is currently projected to add approximately $60 million to the accumulated unrestricted deficit balance (excluding the impact of the $137 million debt issuance).

    But that's not all.

    There are some other interesting items that have a familiar smell

    Continued below the fold.

    (4 comments, 783 words in story) Full Story

    Surprise - I like it.


    By JGillman, Section News
    Posted on Sun May 15, 2011 at 07:17:49 PM EST
    Tags: Michigan, Taxes, MBT, Seniors, Pensions, Tapping school pensions, fairness, Manufacturing, small Business, Growth, Obligations, Brian Calley, Lansing (all tags)

    Its time I weigh in.

    Not that my opinion is any more valid than those of you who have posted on this already.  In fact I have carefully considered the arguments, and added in the known variables along with best guesses and personal experience.  I rely on your observations as much as my own, however this is one of those times I must respectfully disagree with some of you on the negative impact of the state's new tax policy.

    Last night I was lucky enough to attend the Leelanau County Republican party Lincoln dinner with my wife and a great number of friends. Some of those friends are either retired and/or retiring soon, and have a reason to be concerned about higher taxes, the loss of exemptions, and changing tax policy that may directly affect them.  There was no shortage of Republicans present, and many of those were folks one would find in 912 groups, Tea Parties, and other constitution interested organizations.

    I believe the Leelanau county chair suggested the numbers involved in the county party were even more than last year.  And last year we had great success in moving the bar back toward conservative government structure with landslide elections both statewide and nationally.

    The reason I mention this, is to establish that this group, even while containing a number of "old guard" party types, it was hardly a pushover crowd.  While being a social affair, there is/was still an undeniable no-going-back attitude, and frankly there were enough who had a concern as do many in this forum, that this was not the way to start off.

    For the most part, I too could be counted as one who was also troubled about extending tax levels, and elimination of particular exemptions.  My understanding of the MBT going away and the Corporate tax replacement was not yet complete.

    ~ More below ~

    (16 comments, 1325 words in story) Full Story

    Next 8 >>
    Advertise on RightMichigan.com

    Login

    Make a new account

    Username:
    Password:
    Tweet along with RightMichigan by
    following us on Twitter HERE!

    External Feeds

    Metro/State News RSS from The Detroit News
    + Craig: Cushingberry tried twice to elude police, was given preferential treatment
    + Detroit police arrest man suspected of burning women with blowtorch
    + Fouts rips video as 'scurrilous,' defends Chicago trip with secretary
    + Wind, winter weather hammer state from Mackinac Bridge to southeast Mich.
    + Detroit Cass Tech QB Campbell expected to be released from custody Friday
    + New water rates range from -16% to +14%; see change by community
    + Detroit's bankruptcy gets controversial turn in new Honda ad
    + Royal Oak Twp., Highland Park in financial emergency, review panels find
    + Grosse Ile Twp. leads list of Michigan's 10 safest cities
    + Wayne Co. sex crimes backlog grows after funding feud idles Internet Crime Unit
    + Judge upholds 41-60 year sentence of man guilty in Detroit firefighter's death
    + Detroit man robbed, shot in alley on west side
    + Fire at Detroit motel forces evacuation of guests
    + Survivors recount Syrian war toll at Bloomfield Hills event
    + Blacks slain in Michigan at 3rd-highest rate in US

    Politics RSS from The Detroit News
    + Apologetic Agema admits errors but won't resign
    + Snyder: Reform 'dumb' rules to allow more immigrants to work in Detroit
    + GOP leaders shorten presidential nominating season
    + Dems: Another 12,600 Michiganians lose extended jobless benefits
    + Mike Huckabee's comments on birth control gift for Dems
    + Granholm to co-chair pro-Clinton PAC for president
    + Republican panel approves tougher penalties for unauthorized early primary states
    + Michigan seeks visas to lure immigrants to Detroit
    + Peters raises $1M-plus for third straight quarter in Senate bid
    + Bill would let lawyers opt out of Michigan state bar
    + Michigan lawmakers launch more bills against sex trade
    + Balanced budget amendment initiative gets a jumpstart
    + Feds subpoena Christie's campaign, GOP
    + Poll: At Obama's 5-year point, few see a turnaround
    + Obama to release 2015 budget March 4

    create account | faq | search