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By RightMichigan.com Posted in Breaking News | Democrats | Kathy Angerer | Michigan | Tax Hikes — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Cross-posted on Right Michigan at www.RightMichigan.com.

I'm not going to say "I told you so" but I so did.  Last week the Michigan House of Representatives began moving the Granholm / Cherry monopolization package and already this morning the Democrats are talking new tax hikes, market manipulation and picking winners and losers.  

This morning's peach of a plan comes courtesy of Kathy Angerer, herself no stranger to the idea of raising taxes.  Last year it was the income tax and the Michigan Business Tax... this year it's a surcharge on your energy bills.  

The Associated Press reports on "energy efficiency":

"It's the cheapest power available," says Rep. Kathy Angerer, a Dundee Democrat who's sponsoring a bill that would put energy efficiency programs back in place...

Although details would have to be sorted out by utilities and state regulators, the plans generally would mean utility customers could get rebates for buying more efficient light bulbs and household appliances in the future. But they'd likely have to pay more -- 50 cents to $1 -- on their monthly bills so the rebate program could be put in place.

Can you say redistribution of wealth?  Let's make sure we've got this plan laid out in plain English...

Step 1: House Democrats want to tax every Michigan resident an extra $1 a month.

Step 2: House Democrats then want to give that money to Consumers Energy and DTE, the two companies they're trying to re-monopolize by killing their competition and driving billions of dollars in potential investment right out of Michigan and into neighboring states.

Step 3: House Democrats then trust bureaucrats in Lansing to work with these giant utility companies to arrange a deal where Big Energy takes SOME of those millions in new taxes and sends SOME of it to SOME consumers but only if they buy the right products.  But only consumers who have enough money laying around to buy those expensive high dollar products.

There's a companion piece on MLIVE that suggests what those products might be...

Buy a new dehumidifier.  Buy a new refrigerator.  Replace your thermostat.  In other words, EVERYBODY pays an extra dollar a month to one of two powerful utility monopolies so that a couple people can save a few bucks when they buy new major appliances or have work done around the house.

This sounds like a great plan.  Where do I sign up?  Except that I already have an energy efficient fridge.  I don't have or need a dehumidifier.  I've got a new thermostat too.  And my light bulbs?  Guess what... I bought some of those fancy energy efficient dealies and they're supposed to last for over a year.  So I won't be buying any more of those for a while now either.

In other words, even to the enviro-whacko tree huggers I am the PICTURE of energy efficient responsibility.  And the thanks I get?  They're want to kill competition, ensure that my rates go up, slap an $8 billion tax hike on top of that to pay for new plants that the competition they just killed would have ensured free of charge and now they want another monthly tax hike so they can send coupons to good little soldiers who join the Green army.

And the men and women struggling to make ends meet paycheck to paycheck?  Those who can't afford major appliance upgrades coupon or no coupon?  Plum out of luck.  So much for the little guy.  If you'd kindly lay him on the tracks right there the train should be by any second now.  

That's how Lansing works.  

How might a more free market oriented plan work?

Step 1: Don't raise taxes again, allowing hard-working moms and dads to keep more of their own money to figure out how to best take care of their families in a Michigan economy that continues to spiral deeper into depression.

Step 2: Protect PA 141, the law that prevents monopolization of the energy industry so that the energy producers who've kept DTE and Consumers Energy from raising rates through the roof continue to protect consumers at the meter.  In fact, go ahead and cut taxes and regulation on these smaller businesses so they can do what they do cheaper and more efficiently leading to savings they'll pass down to home owners and renters.

Step 3: Instead of sending tax-dollar funded coupons to people for buying the "right" products just get the heck out of the way and let the folks who produce those products and the people who buy them figure out what works for them.  If it's cheaper to buy energy efficient products everyone will.  Call it enlightened self interest.  

There'd be less bureaucracy, more money in the economy and lower energy rates.  As Michael Scott would say, "that's a win-win-win."

Of course, all of that would require that tax-hikers like Kathy Angerer stop gouging their constituents at every turn.  That $2.5 billion wasn't enough last year, Kathy?  Now you need more?  So that you can print coupons?

This is what happens when we send folks to Lansing who think they know better than us normal folks what we need.  That they're smarter than the free market.  That it's their JOB to pick winners and losers in business and life in general even if it means propping up two giant businesses at the expense of small businesses.  Even if it means giving every single one of their constituents the shaft in order to give a break to those more fortunate who have thousands in disposable income.  

Hey Kathy... it's NOT your job.  You pretend you support the little guy.  Any time you're ready to start...

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