Will The Courser Gamrat Scandal Get In The Way Of A Road Package ? NO.

Nobody cares about them. But this is what WILL keep blocking any progress, as September 2015 ends with no Road Funding Solution in Michigan in sight!

The Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat scandal was such a big deal it even got national news coverage.

What adulterous sex ? What government scandal ? Who Me ?

At first they were innocent - they said. Or just being picked on by the republicans in Lansing who simply did not like them - they said. Well finally they either quit or were thrown out of their jobs. Good - we said.

We screwed up (literally) but give us our jobs back !

Then, surprise surprise, they flip-flopped, turned around (or over) and said to the astonishment of the whole state, that they wanted the voters to decide if they were good enough to be part of Michigan government again and would run for the vacant offices they got canned from or ran out of !

Michigan House Votes To Use Forced Labor To Fix Roads ?

If someone takes something from you without your permission what might you call that? Steeling?

If you were told you must work and someone else will get the money even though you do not wish it, how would you feel? Like you were forced?

Some 3/4 Million Michigan tax payers will be forced to fix the roads, whether they like it or not, by working more hours without actually receiving pay in their pockets for the work they do. And the majority of the Michigan house of representatives is all for it. What? Let me try to explain.

Here is what I have read:

"House Republicans voted this week to eliminate the earned income tax credit as part of a plan to spend more on road improvements. Senate Republicans may follow suit this summer." - Oakland Press

The Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit (EIT) Democrats and others say, is the state credit which helps low-income people pay their bills and buy necessities. About 780,000 qualifying Michigan taxpayers received an average credit worth $140 last year. People who need this credit use the money not for luxuries, but for necessities, like food for their kids. Republicans want to use that money to fix our roads instead.

Fix The Roads - Are We There Yet?

Will this republican plan hurt people in Michigan?

For people earning minimum wage, that might amount to 2 or more days of work. Work which will now be paid, not to them, but to the state to 'Fix The Roads'!

If they do not wish to do that, some feel that may amount to Forced Labor. What do you think?
 
Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof thinks it is a small thing and supports it.

Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof tells The Associated Press he supports ending the tax credit and so does a majority of his caucus. He says it’s a small credit compared to a larger federal credit. - Oakland Press

And in addition, while republicans exist in office to a large extent off the mantra 'no new taxes' and 'lower all taxes', their vote to completely remove the Michigan EIT is in essence a raise in taxes for those that currently claim it.

Increase taxes on poor?
'Nothing is off the table' - Arlan Meekhof

Is this republican proposal impractical, ignorant or just plain mean spirited? My hope is it simply will not fly and a Real Plan to Fix Our Roads will be put forward by the legislature. However like the Bible says; 'hope is the expectation of things not beheld'. I hope but I just don't see it.

Thanks for taking a look at this, my opinion. Please tell me what you think.

Drive Careful,
Will

All We Are Saying Is Give Mayors A Chance

"As state leaders drive around Plan B for how to fix Michigan roads, they need to bring to the table those people residents trust most and are looking to for solutions: mayors." - The Detroit News, May 20,2015

So how about it? Do you trust the mayor of your city? Can mayors come up with solutions to fix our lousy Michigan roads? Do you even know who the mayor of your city is?

Well I just read an article in the Detroit News by William Wild, the mayor of Westland, Michigan. He makes the point that while he and other city mayors supported Proposal 1, with money earmarked specifically for local communities, one reason it failed was because Michigan mayors were not really involved. He stated that Proposal 1 "did not have local leaders helping to craft the proposal or engaging them before rolling out the plan."

While he is right about the fact that mayors were generally not involved in crafting Prop. 1, I live in a township. I am not sure it would have made any difference if my township supervisor or clerk would have asked me to vote for Prop. 1 or had told me that he/she wrote some of it. I still did not like it and I made that decision all by myself. Good for me.

In fact, according to my township web site, the township "does not maintain any roads in the Township. Issues regarding chloride, paving and snowplowing should be directed to the Road Commission of Oakland County". So much for anyone in my city/township government having much pull when it comes to fixing roads.

A U.S. Conference of Mayors/Zogby poll explains that while American trust in elected leaders has declined, mayors rank higher among the public than the president, their governor, Congress and their state legislature.

As to whether state mayors should now be a part of the elusive Plan B, well so far not even the governor or the state legislature seems to be a part of it. Or what they are coming up with so far amounts to pipe dreams; a Republican state lawmaker plan to use projected growth in the state budget to fix Michigan’s roads is downright laughable.

"...the legislature is saying 'our economy is doing great, and it will fix the roads all by itself. Just you watch'. Makes me think an alternate reality exists in Lansing where economist and lawmakers (one Kevin Cotter in particular) float high above the States crappy infrastructure and voters expect nothing more than the pleasantness of fantasy induced smoke being blown up their ... - Will Branning commenting on Michigan Radio article.

In the end, if you and I want better roads in our great state of Michigan, no matter what your reason, then you and I are the only ones who will make that happen. Contact the Governor. Contact your state Representative. Contact the news outlets. Tell them what you want. Better Michigan roads! It's their job. It's in the Michigan constitution. It's the right thing to do. Amen.

Oh, and to really make things happen, why not order your "Fix Our Roads" bumper sticker today? Place one on the ass end of your vehicle and show it to all the people who can make a difference with our roads. Proceeds may or may not be used in the campaign to make a difference. Anyway, they are cheap but of quality materials and cute to boot.

Get Your Bumper Sticker Today !

Just click the photo, or go to the tab at the top of the page. Thanks a Lot!


Detroit News article: 
Mayors should be part of Plan B conversation


Drive Careful,
Will

Michigan News: Proposal 1 Passes

Michigan Proposal 1 Passes....into history.

 
Remember this famous headline? Maybe you saw it in a history book . Or maybe you remember it when it really happened. Okay, this is not how it really looked, ("Dewy Defeats Truman") but if you do remember it when it happened you could still be driving. Hopefully in Florida or somewhere where it's a little bit warmer and a little less bumpy.

So I just could not resist, although if I had the time I would have photo shopped Gov Snyders face in place of President Trumans. But the people who outspent the opponents to Prop. 1 by a reported 40 to 1 margin will probably be dreaming this headline until the ugly, expensive reality sets in tomorrow. Too bad they did not spend those millions fixing a road somewhere.

Well where does the defeat of Proposal 1, the "Road Funding" bill, leave us now? Let's face it. Another two years or more before we see results to any real legislation to fix our roads. Don't get me wrong, the bill just had to die. It was lousy with extras, ambiguity and in my opinion outright deceit. But now we must all take on a very important task. That of forcing our Michigan lawmakers to come up with a genuine plan to FIX AND MAINTAIN our roads!

Guess that's all for now. It's getting late and I'm going to sleep and dream of a place where it's a bit warmer and a little less bumpy. My bed. Night all.

 
Drive Careful,
Will

Vote No On Proposal 1 - It Will Cost You Less

Know What Proposal 1 Will Really Cost? 

 

Do you hate driving on our lousy Michigan roads? What's more, do you hate having to pay big repair bills caused by our lousy Michigan roads?

I do. Last year I spent hundreds of dollars on each of two vehicles to repair damage directly caused by hitting potholes on my local roads. Passing Prop. 1 is supposed to stop that cost with smooth roads all over the state. Really?

In fact, a well researched report cited by The Michigan Transportation Team (MTT) states that Michigan drivers pay an annual average of $357.00 in bad-road-related repairs. 

Now an AP report has come out saying that the average cost to taxpayers in Michigan if Proposal 1 is approved can be as high as $545.00 per household next year.

If voters approve a measure on Michigan's May 5 ballot to improve roads and bridges, the $2.1 billion tax hike would average $545 per household in 2016 — or $45 a month — according to calculations by The Associated Press.

The number is an average of course, however it is one that can not be ignored. There is going to be a cost to fix our roads. Just seems the lawmakers we hired do not want to be the ones to do it, raise the money themselves. Not good on their resume when they to go be re-elected.

And related to whats real and what's not, A new 60-second ad supporting the Proposal 1 road funding plan has several exaggerated claims, according to a Detroit Free Press analysis.

A proposal to raise the state sales tax and dole out the money where ever is not a solution to the problem we are talking about. Lousy Michigan roads. What is needed is a well thought out solution. Not one thrown together hours before the end of a fruitless legislative session on the important subject. I am still frustrated that there is no REAL talk about a "Plan B". A road plan, not a money grab.

So before you vote on Proposal 1 on May 5th, make sure you get all the facts. I have and I know how I will vote, you know :~) ?

More in a bit. The voluptuous lady has not sung yet.

Drive Careful,
Will

What Will May 5th Mean For Us In Michigan ?

Will Proposal 1 spell the end of the World?

Do you believe in fate? Even if I did, I would not know how to translate this. One of those things that could mean one thing or another.

World Ending? Or Another Session In Lansing?

I recently found out that the lease I have on this website name, "www.potholeparadise.com" ends on, you guessed it, May 5th.

Of course I have made sure to renew it for a few more years, but that is a funny and interesting fact. When I got it, I certainly had no idea that a lame duck legislature would pass the buck of fixing our roads to the people they work for, especially in a complicated proposal with all sorts of special interest goodies added on and for nothing less than a permanent sales tax increase! All to be voted on May 5th.

So then, is May 5th the last day anything needs to be said about fixing Michigan roads? Will all things be as they should be as we drive around our beautiful state, and we'll never have to worry about the issue again? All after May 5th?

Let's face it. There is no Santy Clause, Easter Bunny or Man in the Moon. Get it?

Now it seems that polls are showing that the proposal is doomed. All the while people like Roger Martin with the Safe Roads Yes campaign says, “We’ve never had a May, off-year, single-ballot-issue election ever in the history of Michigan,” and so “For that reason and other reasons, we put absolutely no stock in any of the polls taken so far.”

Yeah, OK. Polls don't mean a thing. Not even several. One after the other. Still it seems like a "Plan B" would be in order about now.

And that is another thing. Even when the proposal was first approved to the dismay of so many, no "Plan B" was discussed. As if the lawmakers just laid the egg and then stuck their heads in a hole. I think that was and is a bad decision.

But some are talking about a Plan B, especially with the probability of defeat of Prop. 1. One web article I read discussed some options: There is no Plan B? Here are four viable options…

Get this. That article is on a web site called 'SayNoToHigherTaxes.org' . Talk about a great web site name. What with all the tax issues in all the states in the U.S.A., and they got that name!? And, it seems to deal mainly with the Michigan Road Issue. They better check and make sure That name doesn't run out on May 5th !! That's all I can say.

Anyway, there is certainly more to come on this subject which we all face every day we drive. How to Fix Our Roads in Michigan. May 5th will not fix anything.

And - don't forget to get your FIX OUR ROADS bumper sticker. I'm sure they will still be good and meaningful after the 5th :~)

Drive Careful,
Will

The More I Know, The More I'll Vote No

It's Not Just A Road Repair Bill

How much do you know about the Michigan May 5 ballot proposal to raise the Michigan sales tax from 6% to 7% ?

If you know as much as I do, than the people that want it passed are probably afraid of you.

That's because in a recent poll commissioned by the political news service MIRS, it stated. “Fifty-five percent of voters say if today the election was held they would vote ‘no’ against it,” said Ed Sarpolus with Target Insyght. And what's more, “When we actually read the ballot language, how it will appear on the ballot, the support drops from 55 percent to 65 percent ‘no,'” Sarpolus said.

For example did you know that the money raised by the increased sales tax will not all go to to future road repairs?:

• The package, as intended, is projected to pay down $865 million in debt in fiscal year 2016 while increasing funding for state and local road agencies by $368 million.
• In fiscal year 2017, $467.5 million would be used for debt payments while $764 million would go to roads.

Not until 2018 will the full intended amount go to new roads and ongoing road repairs.