Michigan grows broke, part 157... and it only gets more pathetic.
Still at issue with the government is the realization that hey, we may have made a mistake with imposing this service tax we passed without voter approval in October. They're talking about transposing that to an addenum for the state business tax.
However they get their money is up to them. But following a missed deadline in October which resulted in the government shutting down for a few hours, and narrowly averting a second shutdown just days ago, they're fighting a negative fate here again.
At least, during their deer-hunting seasonal break.
With the state at a crossroads, does our government, accused (and rightfully so) of doing nothing until the last minute, give themselves a reprieve in the Michigan wilderness with unfinished business (and the livelihoods of many) on the docket? The proposed break lasts for 18 days. Supposedly, it's said somewhere in the state constitution that this 18-day "holiday break" is for the hunters in Congress.
Out of all the congressional people in there today, it was reported that only two have applied for deer-hunting licenses. Spokespeople also say that the politicians need to "get back in their districts" to serve their constituents.
Over what? Taxpayer-paid coffee?
If the government is now all of a sudden concerned about supporting their consituents and want to make a difference to put some *gasp* honesty in politics, the best thing they can do is forego their break, or at least cut it to one week, and only AFTER this latest tax bug-a-boo is solved.
The average person these days probably doesn't care if they see their congressperson in November. What they want to see are results. They want to see an economy on the rebound in the not-too-distant future. They want to see an economic base begin to stabilize.
Wise companies budget for the entire fiscal year, at the start of the fiscal year. They don't want to invest in white-out as they keep recalculating income and expenses, namely taxes. With all the ideas assured of passage, and then revoked, nobody can work a budget except through a pencil.
These pencils should not have to last an additional eighteen days if a solution can be reached in half that time. Wouldn't the politicians consider it better for their egos (trying to use some reverse psychology here) if they could enter a reasonable week-long break knowing they passed a solution that will keep this state solvent into next year? With election season virtually ending today and having no one to campaign for, December gives them plenty to time to go back to their districts.
First things first is the business at hand, which is to solve the budget situation so that we can breathe. The papers are already pessimistic about the holiday season making less money as consumers buy less.
Why fan the flames any longer, figuratively letting Mrs. O'Leary's cow to cross the lake to set our hopes ablaze?
