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By saul anuzis Posted in Michigan Republicans | Republicans | Service Tax | Tax Repeal — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

368 Days until Election Day

MORNING UPDATE:

Michigan 28 – Michigan State 24….what a game…down to the last minute of the game!!!

Governor Mitt Romney was at the game yesterday. He came by our tailgate and shook some hands, took some pictures and never met as many “Lithuanian-Americans” in one place before. We took a great group picture with our scout leaders as well!

We did a “live” skype video conference with out the skype! I dropped my computer minutes before we were scheduled to go on. We had tested the connection earlier, it all worked well and then butter finger on this end dropped it.

We called in via high tech cell phone technology with the First Congressional District leadership. Soon after Governor Mitt Romney dropped by my tailgate party and we then reconnected with the First District Republicans and the Governor shared his greetings with them.

Pretty cool stuff…I would really encourage any district or county that is interested in using this to let me know…I’m now regularly able to “attend” several district and county meeting via skype video conferencing…which is free…an normally works J

I walked Governor Romney over to his tailgate party which was packed with fans…green and white…maze and blue….when folks asked him which team he was rooting for – Michigan or Michigan State…he said “yes” with a smile!

Brooks for Governor? He was the talk of the show. "Michigan Matters'' which airs today CBS Detroit Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on CW Channel 50. The show is hosted Carol Cain, Editorial Director of CBS Detroit and columnist at Detroit Free Press.

Also, see "Michigan Matters on the Web'' on the CBS Detroit website http://cbsdetroit.com/shows/detroit.shows.michigan.2.7080.html where the roundtable conversation continues...

Here is an ad you HAVE to watch…Edward’s ad about Hillary:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/11/powerful-edward.html

“Slick Willie” Hillary Clinton…Long on Rhetoric…Short on Answers:

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/11/hillary-long-on.html

Michigan College Republicans are proposing a new “reform” constitution to guarantee every club, every member a fair shot at their conventions and leadership…nicely done:

See the College Republican “reform” constitution here;

http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/11/college-republi.html

House Republicans push for a “straight up” repeal of the Governor’s expansion of “sales tax on services”…with reforms and cuts to encourage job creation in Michigan!

As we contemplate our budget situation consider this: controlling spending is the ONLY solution…taxes will never catch up with politician’s propensity to spend!

P.S. Happy Birthday to my wife Lina!

Don’t Forget To Visit The Michigan Republican Party Online Store! Our secure, user-friendly site offers a variety of Republican items, including sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, travel mugs, and more! Perfect for personal use, holiday presents, or volunteer gifts, our items will allow you to confidently display your Republican pride. Visit www.migop.org/ store to view, purchase, or comment on our selection of unique Republican items.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

- In a Press Release this week: House Republicans proposed an alternative to the recently approved service tax, which is scheduled to take effect Dec. 1. The caucus offered a detailed plan to repeal the harmful tax and restructure government to fill the budget gap so that no tax increase is necessary.

“The service tax is not the only option Michigan has right now, nor is it by any means the best option,” said House Republican Leader Craig DeRoche. “Lawmakers have before them a tough choice – make reforms to state government or kill more jobs. Lansing must refocus on providing better services at a lower price to the taxpayer.”

The reforms House Republicans propose eliminates $677 million from the state budget, well above the $614 million the service tax is expected to generate for this fiscal year.

“The state shouldn’t fund a 10-percent increase in government spending when taxpayers are losing their jobs,” said Minority Vice-Chair of Appropriations Dan Acciavatti. “There is no faster way to accelerate Michigan’s downward economic spiral than to tax the few areas in the economy showing growth.”

The House Republican reforms for the Fiscal Year 2007-08 budget include:

Five percent legislator pay cut - $600,000
Michigan Business Tax transition windfall - $219,400,000
Reexamine state employee benefits - $100,000,000
Department of Information Technology reduction - $10,000,000
Competitively bid corrections services- $50,000,000
Charge prisoners more for goods purchased in prison - $3,000,000
Streamline the Department of Community Health - $92,833,331
Department of Human Services reform - $109,499,998
Stop new appropriations to 21st Century Jobs program - $75,000,000
Eliminate the Community Service Commission Grant to train volunteers - $3,190,000
Remove the increase to the Treasury Department to implement the new taxes - $9,000,000
Continued reduction of public transit funding - $5,000,000

“These are not easy reforms, but what Michigan needs most is leaders willing to make tough decisions to fix Michigan’s economy,” said state Rep. John Stakoe. “Our proposal and the eight and a half percent increase in government spending both show that the Democrats did not need to raise taxes. Rather, we need to respect the taxpayer by reforming government and fighting for jobs in Michigan.”

DeRoche said: “Reforms and structural changes will have to be made to change the way government operates, both immediately and in the long run. We are asking for support on this repeal because everyone realizes the harmful effects this tax will have on our economy.”

For complete post go to: http://migop.blogs.com/blog/2007/11/articles-of-i-3.html

Saulius "Saul" Anuzis
Chairman
Michigan Republican Party