LSJ Blogs: Capitol Journal by Scott Davis

Be thankful for corporate greed, Sarah Palin and lint

It’s that time of the year again, when (you guessed it) we all should reflect on what to be thankful for. True, the pickings seem a little slimmer this year, with the economy and all. But take heart. Here are a few things that I offer for your consideration:

Be thankful for Sarah Palin. Conservatives love to love her. Liberals love to hate her. Regardless of how you feel, one thing is for sure: She is certainly a unique individual, and life is more interesting with her around. Or at least more bewildering.

Be thankful for greed, corporate conquest and Madison Avenue. If you believe conservative economists, these capitalist forces created America’s economic expansion over the past 70 years – leading it to achieve the world’s greatest standard of living and become its greatest power. Until things collapsed last fall. At which point, everything became Barack Obama’s fault.

Be thankful for unions, social progressivism and World War II. Some would argue that these forces, in fact, are what led to living wages, child labor laws, Social Security, civil rights reforms, accessibility to higher education and a remarkable growth in the standard of living for Americans. Not to mention the fact that WW II made ruins of much of the planet, leaving the U.S. as the last nation standing to rebuild everything, grow its economy and rake in big bucks.

Be thankful that Benjamin Franklin failed in his bid to make the turkey the national bird. This would have made the obese fowl off-limits to our carving knives on Thanksgiving Day. And that most likely would have made meatloaf our chosen holiday meal. Just think, ketchup instead of cranberry sauce. Using Hamburger Helper, instead of Aunt Marge’s turkey roasting recipe with 15 ingredients. Twenty minutes in the oven, instead of hours of slavish labor to prepare a bird. Come to think of it, meatloaf sounds pretty good.

Be thankful for lint. In these economically tough times, it feels good to have at least something in our pockets.

 

How government should work...and rarely does

Occasionally, Republicans make a very good point about big government getting in the way of common sense and the ability of ordinary Americans to get stuff done.

In recent months, when state Republicans pointed out a nonsensical state policy that treated a woman watching some neighbors’ children as a licensed home care operation, it was one of those times.

Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm set things right recently by signing a bill, sponsored by state Rep. Brian Calley, R-Portland, that removes license requirements for such informal, neighborly babysitting ventures.

"While it's unfortunate that a law was actually needed to allow Michigan residents to be good friends and neighbors, I'm extremely pleased common sense has prevailed," Calley told Gongwer News. "This embarrassing episode should discourage government from attempting to intrude on our everyday lives."

That was simple enough. If government could only solve every problem that easily.

Funding for school bus inspections hits roadblock

There’s been a lot of talk about restoring $1.4 million in funding for school bus inspections in Michigan, but don’t throw away those hiking shoes for Little Jimmy quite yet.

The move to restore funding for school bus inspections in is proceeding at a snail’s pace, with the proposal now stalled in the House Appropriations Committee.

The State Police is trying to restore funding for inspections – which were among this year’s budget cuts – by taking $900,000 from the police crime labs division and other funds from cutting the Capitol security force.

But Rep. Chuck Moss, R-Birmingham, the Republican vice-chair of Appropriations, said he is reluctant to make the transfer because county sheriffs were concerned about longer delays in processing crime evidence, according to Gongwer News.

Rep. Bob Genetski II, R-Saugatuck, said he hoped the state would consider allowing school district mechanics to certify the buses, instead of state police. School districts have opposed this idea because it would increase their liability.

For now, the buses are running. But unless the state addresses the funding issue – or the requirement that all school buses be inspected by state police -- that could change in coming months.

Now you tell us......

Trying to bolster her lieutenant governor as a viable successor, Gov. Jennifer Granholm made a revealing admission about her own seven years in the post.

She told WLNS-TV Wednesday that she would have been a better governor if she had served in the Legislature before being elected.

"That's been my biggest flaw. My biggest liability has been the fact that I haven't had legislative experience,” Granholm said. “I don't know if somebody with more legislative experience would have been able to bring Democrats and Republicans to do things they don't ultimately want to do together."

By contrast, she said, Lt. Gov. John Cherry has that experience.

Perhaps the biggest slam against her in recent years is that she lacks the politically savvy to negotiate budgets with the House and Senate leadership. So it was surprising to hear even her echo that sentiment.

It would have been nice – though not necessarily politically advantageous – for her to admit that earlier.

News flash: Rich don't pay fair share in Michigan

The Michigan League for Human Services, which has long pushed Michigan to adopt a graduated income tax, is bolstering its case with a newly released study showing that low- and middle-income families pay a higher share of their income in state and local taxes than do the richest families in Michigan.

According to the study by the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy, families earning less than $15,000 on average pay 8.9 percent of their income in state and local taxes, and those earning between $32,000 and $54,000 pay 9.8 percent.

 But those with average incomes of about $1 million pay only 6.4 percent, the study reports.

 Although the study found it was the state’s reliance on sales and property tax that made the tax system more regressive, the Michigan League for Human Services is hoping it will bolster  its argument for a graduated income tax that would levy higher rates on wealthier citizens. The state now has a flat income tax of 4.35 percent.

 Interestingly, a bit of naïveté crept through as Matthew Gardner, the institute’s executive director and lead study author, commented on the current tax system by saying “no one would ever design an income tax with lower tax rates for the best-off taxpayers.”

 No one, that is, except for the best-off taxpayers.

What Michigan's economy needs: A good bong hit

I’ve said it before in this blog. Michigan’s burgeoning medical marijuana industry is an untapped goldmine for the state.

This week, the Detroit Free Press published a story on the expanding industry for providing medical marijuana to those certified to use it. Doctors are setting up clinics, and gardening supply shops are raking in dollars by selling equipment to grow the green-leafed pharmaceutical.

In a state that has the nation’s worst unemployment, that’s a good thing, right?

So far, Michigan has taken a hands-off approach to medical marijuana, intervening only to the extent of certifying eligible patients and growers. Why doesn’t the state more closely regulate it – and also tax it?

Already, our education system receives much funding from a state lottery system that preys on the hopes and dreams of an underclass who can’t really afford to shell out the extra dollars for tickets.

Surely, we can stomach the thought of marijuana tax revenue being used to buy books and computers for Little Jimmy in school.

Planning a state budget two years out: Good idea?

State lawmakers had a heck of a time developing a budget this year on time – partly because state revenues were declining so fast they could never get a grip on how much money they had to spend.

So naturally, at least one gubernatorial candidate thinks that planning two years out – instead of one year – is a solution to the problem. Republican Rick Snyder, a candidate in the 2010 election, said he also wants to get more input from the public as to which programs they value – presumably through surveys – giving lawmakers guidance on how to spend the cash.

Public feedback is not a bad idea, but the danger is that it could significantly imperil Medicaid and welfare spending, since the vast majority of Michigan residents never use those services. And state revenues are so topsy-turvy that it’s hard to imagine how the state can now plan six months in advance, much less two years.

Still, most gubernatorial candidates agree that some reform of state government is needed, so it’s good to see candidates like Snyder put ideas on the table.

Memo to all candidates: Keep them coming.

Voters, step right up -- and set your price

Who needs the marketplace when voters can set their own rates for goods?

On Monday, the Board of State Canvassers approved a legislature proposal by a group, the Fair Affordable Insurance Rates, for the 2010 ballot that would allow voters to reduce auto, home and business premiums by 20 percent.

Supporters of the ballot question still must gather 304,000 signatures and clear other hurdles, however, before it can be placed before voters.

 A similar move by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to lower car insurance rates went nowhere, and insurance companies continue to complain that a 20 percent rollback would force them out of business.
While it’s true that Michigan has the 14th highest auto insurance rates in the country, that’s due partly to the fact it’s the only state that requires unlimited personal injury protection benefits.

Given Michigan’s economy and pared-back family budgets, this is one populist measure that may see rising support.

To protect, serve and spin like a yo-yo

It’s likely not in the job description for a Michigan State Police trooper, but it sure appeared that 55 of them have been treated like yo-yos in the past week.

After weeks of budget squabbling that threatened their positions, the group of troopers were told Monday to return to duty. But that order was suspended Wednesday over concerns by state officials that their salaries could not be paid because of declining state revenues.

Fast forward one day: On Thursday, state budget officials took a second look at the budget, which was finalized last Friday. State budget director Robert Emerson said it appeared there was enough money afterall to put the troopers to work.

So the troopers were told to report to work afterall.

No one can blame troopers for feeling somewhat discombobulated.

Pistol-packing DHS workers?

Michigan Department of Human Services employees are becoming increasingly worried about violence in the workplace as the welfare system becomes overwhelmed by rising numbers of applicants needing assistance.

But one lawmaker has a solution. State Rep. David Agema, R-Grandville, urged DHS workers to get a concealed weapons permit as a deterrent to keep applicants in line.

In testimony Wednesday, DHS case workers told lawmakers of rising numbers of residents verbally and physically threatening them because of impatience over receiving benefits. In one instance, an impatient resident threw a brick through the window of a Wayne County DHS office, and a Jackson County worker felt compelled to obtain a restraining order against an abusive client, Gongwer News reported.

Concerned employees are asking state lawmakers for better security measures in their offices to prevent an outbreak of violence.

Such concerns are likely only to increase in the coming year as the department shaves an additional 320 positions – many of them case workers.