Gov. Granholm - Wait 5 Years For A Booming Michigan Economy

Let me preface this with the statement that I am looking at Gov. Granholm's proposals and ideas unveiled at the State of the State Address with a non-partisan viewpoint. I am looking at it as a small business owner in a state that has a tough time getting new businesses to start and grow here. I am also looking at it from the point of a resident of a state with the nation's highest unemployment rate. The bottom line of her address is this - "In five years, you are going to be blown away by the strength and diversity of Michigan's transformed economy" - Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

I don't know about anyone else that lives, works, or does business in Michigan, but I don't want to wait 5 months for good news, let alone 5 years. I am not looking for a quick fix, but I am looking for marked improvement a lot sooner than 5 years down the road.

Read the full article - Granholm: State on road to recovery

Governor Granholm to Deliver State of the State Address Wednesday

Just a quick reminder that Governor Granholm will be delivering her 4th (and last?) State of the State Address. Check your local radio and tv listings to see if and where you can listen. The link below also has a list of some of the tv and radio stations carrying the address. Governor Granholm to Deliver State of the State Address Wednesday

Michigan #3 Importer of Trash

Did you know that 400 trucks filled with garbage from Canada enter Michigan every day? Out of all of the Great Lakes states, Michigan has the lowest fees for dumping trash. House Democrats want to raise the fee from $.21 a ton to $7.50 per ton to discourage Canada from dumping their trash here. At first glance, that sounds pretty good. However, the new $7.50 fee would have to be paid by Michigan businesses and residents too. Why should we pay higher dumping fees just to discourage Canada from using our landfills?

The proper thing to do would be for the Republicans and Democrats to get together and pass legislation that just outright bans Canadian trash. Will it happen? I guess we will have to take the 'wait and see' approach.

Lansing State Journal: Democrats say voters should halt trash imports

Glance at Gas Prices

The price of gas jumped $.20 in the last two weeks up to an average of $2.40 a gallon here in Michigan. That is about $.61 higher than a year ago. The national average is $2.31. I don't even try and guess anymore about why the price of gas goes up when the price of oil is on the decline. Just sounds like greed to me.

Gas in Michigan jumps to $2.40 a gallon; oil declines

Play the Balance the State Budget Game

Think you can do a better job than the elected officials of our state and get our budget balanced? here is your chance to find out. You can play the game here - Lansing State Journal - State Budget Game

I have yet to get the budget balanced. It is quite difficult to please enough people in order to have it approved. I would like to see a category in the Expense side entitled 'Unnecessary Expenses' that I could use to trim a lot of the fat from the budget. Anyway, it is a good way to waste some time on another dreary day.