Government Spending & Bureaucracies

The Last of the SMALL Spenders

Mackinac looked at how each lawmaker voted on those 10 bills and how much spending growth each one approved. In the House, EVERY Democrat voted for at least $1.3 billion in new spending. On the Republican side, of the 52 members, 21 approved at least $1 billion in new spending. Only four Republicans approved LESS than $10 million in new spending. They are, ranking 1st with $6.5 million, Fulton Sheen and tied for second at $7.5 million, Hune, Steil and Hoogendyk.

Let's face it, if it is wrong to take $1.5 billion in new tax revenue from businesses and families, then it is wrong to spend it.

Michigan has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.  I do not fear, nor will I vote for higher taxes to prevent a government shutdown.  If government were to shut down except for police and emergency services, most citizens would not even notice.  If you divide the 43 billion dollar state budget by 365 days, it costs $117,808,220 per day to run state government.  I know it’s not this simple, but if we shut down for three weeks according to the math we would have a surplus.   Bipartisanship is fine when applied to good policy, but if it’s bad policy I will vote against it, I don’t care which side of the aisle it came from.  I disagree with those who say we have cut to the bone; there are numerous areas which can be reformed or cut.  Raising taxes on Michigan citizens is not the brave thing to do.  Holding government harmless is elitist, disingenuous, and wrong.  I was not sent to Lansing to preserve government spending to the detriment of its citizens and its job providers.

The Results of this marathon legislative spectacle is mostly negative.  The reforms were good, but they did not go far enough.  Medicaid Healthy Initiatives will lower the cost of Medicaid; MESSA reform will save on healthcare costs; Corrections Reforms will allow privatization of Mental Health services.  On the negative side income tax will go up 12% (from 3.9% to 4.35%) and they will be spreading 6 % tax on many services.  This will take more money out of the paychecks of citizens, while increasing the cost of services, which a double hit to the consumer.  It will drive up the cost of doing business and drive out more employers, increasing unemployment, exacerbating Michigan's plight.  We might as well put a red flashing light at the state line warning businesses not to come to come here.  

I could not vote to increase taxes on Michigan citizens or job providers at a time when so many have either lost jobs, faced failing businesses and otherwise tightened their belts and made cuts in their own budgets.  Why should government be held at a different standard than everyone else in the state?

Take care & God bless,

Fulton J. Sheen
88thDistrict State Representative