Granholm's state address optimistic without the details

Maybe we should nickname our illustrious governor "Jenny Blue Skies." It seems to her that if Michigan residents can be as optimistic as she is about our state's future that everything will fall into place and make Michigan's economy rebound. Yeah, and if ifs and buts were candies and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas.

She threw out a lot of dollar figures when talking about ambitious new programs. She didn't say how a struggling (projected budget deficit in 2008 of $3 billion, yeah that's billion) Michigan economy was going to provide the revenue necessary to run these fun sounding programs.

What I liked about her speech:

• A commitment to quit plugging holes in the budget by cutting school funding.
• Requiring cities and townships to consolidate purchasing/services with other local municipalities to receive increased revenue sharing payments from the state

Wow. I thought there would be more points that I liked, but after reading through the text that was all I could honestly come up with. There was a lot of talk and optimism, but not much at all in the way of facts to back up her accusations and financial solutions.

Her proposed state budget makes its debut tomorrow. It will be interesting to see her "tax boosts" and what will be cut in order to balance the budget.

I guess I just expected more in the way of hard numbers. Optimism is great, but optimism without facts to back up your reason for being optimistic is like skipping dinner and eating a sugary sweet dessert instead. Sure it tasted good, but it usually leaves you feeling sick and empty when you're finished.

See for yourself. You can read the text of her speech at the Lansing State Journal.

Before you hit the road, hit the web for current road conditions in Michigan

Michigan law enforcement and public safety workers across the state contribute road condition information that is provided to the public at http://www.ohsp.state.mi.us/rw/home.htm. This service is provided during Michigan's winter months - September to June (just kidding) Late November/Early December through March 30th. Simply click on the area of the Michigan map that you want road conditions for and you will be taken to a page that lists road conditions for the major trunk lines and freeways in that particular area. Rural and county road conditions are rarely (if ever) provided.

For example, I clicked on southwest Michigan and some of the information provided was the following:

I-94 Between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek is reporting Icy, Snow Covered, Drifting Snow, Blowing Snow, and Lanes Reduced.

Of course, if you are out driving and things get dicey it is always best to just stay off the roads. Use the information provided at the above website to help you plan, but don't forget to use your head for more than a hat rack.

Keep Warm!

Rotten news for Michigan on a Monday morning

Boy, I don't know which is worse. The fact that Michigan gas prices are up to a $2.21 average when just a few weeks ago we were under $2, our state budget crisis, or the fact that in a Detroit Free Press/Local 4 poll 46% of those polled would vote for Hillary Clinton. What a crummy start to the week.

We need another Clinton in the White House like we needed another Bush in the White House. When will America learn that one family member in the White House is enough?

On a lighter note, our state is in some serious fiscal shape (catch that wonderful sarcasm?). We are up the proverbial creek without the use of a paddle. Have no fear, though, my fellow Michiganians.

Our illustrious governor will be letting us all in on her great plan during her 5th State of the State address on Tuesday night. Remember last year's address? That was when she made fodder for Dick DeVos' television campaign with the infamous line - "and in Five years, you're going to be blown away!"

I hope she wasn't off by a decade or two in her prediction of when Michigan's economy will rebound.

Woohoo! For those of you wondering what wonderful sound bites she will have this year - stay tuned. I will have my thoughts on the address posted sometime on Wednesday.

Ouch! State budget panel recommends raising Michigan's taxes

The Detroit News is reporting that a 12 person budget panel that includes former Michigan governors' James Blanchard and William Milliken came to the conclusion that in order to erase our current and future budget deficit our state needs to raise taxes. No specifics were given on what taxes and who (individuals or businesses, or both) would foot the bill. Here we go. Funny (not really - actually this ticks me off) how Granholm had to of known of this (budget crisis) last fall, but failed to mention anything to the public until after the fall elections. Not that I am 100% sure that this information would have caused Dick "I don't act like I really want to be Governor" DeVos to be elected.

Now before you accuse me of being some "black helicopter spotting conspiracy theorist" just think about it for a minute or two.

Logically, there is no way that this current budget crisis just came to light. They've been crunching these numbers for at least the past six months (most likely much longer).

And the government wonders why we don't trust politicians?

If they (politicians) would start being the duly elected representatives of the people that they are and quit being politicians maybe that trust could be built up and maybe, just maybe, our great state would not find itself in its current economic condition.

Grrr! :(

Michigan Chamber of Commerce endorses gas tax hike

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that the "usually anti-tax Michigan Chamber of Commerce endorsed increases in the state’s gasoline and diesel taxes today to hasten road and bridge repair and construction. It even advocate the authorization of motor vehicle registration fees by counties to pay for additional work and mass transit." I have already made my thoughts clear on what I think of raising taxes and fees.

I still firmly believe that rather than take a look at trimming the fat from the budget (it's 140 pages long - there has to be places to make cuts in there) Governor Granholm and the State Legislature look for ways to increase funds in order to balance the budget. Whether it's an increase on alcohol and cigarette taxes or an increase in what we pay sales tax on it's just the same story, different day.

What ever happened to government being "of the people, by the people, and for the people?" Abraham Lincoln made those remarks in his Gettysburg Address.

It seems the Granholm administration believes that government is to be paid for by the people - after all it IS for the people, right?