From the Detroit News
Beverly Hills -- Two early poll leaders in the Michigan governor's race -- Democrat Andy Dillon and Republican Pete Hoekstra -- found more common ground than differences Friday in a rare joint appearance at Detroit Country Day School.
They agreed term limits block political relationships in Lansing; it takes too long for businesses to get regulatory permits; right-to-work legislation would be too divisive; and the state needs to retool its tax system, including extending the sales tax to services.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100320/POLITICS02/3200331/1409/rss36#ixzz0ik1tJarD
Extending the sales tax to services is a tax increase. We pay more for goods. More money goes to government which has proven itself unable to live within its means. Just as Pete Hoekstra voted to bailout the banks which fubared, he now wants to bail out government by taxing others like a democrat.
There's more:
Hoekstra said Michigan has a "crazy" business climate that drives investors to other states. He called for elimination of the Michigan Business Tax, as well as the levies businesses pay on equipment, and lowering the state income tax and the property tax on second homes to spur more out-of-state people to buy here. He favors initially ratcheting down the sales tax and extending it to services, but then going to voters to ask for a sales tax boost to offset reductions in other taxes
It's easy to be against the MBT. It was a poorly thought out rush job of a replacement to the bad Single Business Tax. (Thanks to Joe Hune for opposing that piece of crap). I oppose that too, but we have a spending problem more than a revenue problem, and punishing the types of businesses that may be growing is a piss poor way to spur growth. I'm fairly certain though that Pete Hoekstra's plan is a duplicate of self proclaimed "Business Leaders for Michigan" and Granholm's plan of a measly 1/2 cent cut on sales tax only to tax services at that race. It's a tax increase. Period, and needs to be opposed 100%. It was wrong when Granholm wanted a two penny tax. It's worse with BLFM's 5.5 cent per dollar tax increase.
It was fiscal liberalism from Republicans that cost us both the state house and congress in 2006. We don't need more of the same. Pete Hoekstra unfortunately seems to have caught beltwayitis and is bringing it here. No thanks Pete, and I expected better from you.
4 comments:
No spambots allowed.
1. I read ComGu's comments about Joe Hune. What facts did he twist?
2. Pete Hoekstra wants a tax on service. Is he a proponent of the fair tax proposal?
3. Do you know if he wants to limit spending to some percentage of the economy, or would his service tax continue to fund the spending in lansing?
I am researching candidates for Governor and ran across your site.
I like your articles, good writing.
Old thread, so I need to check some things.
1. I couldn't find the actual quotes Kevin said about Joe, so I'll say this for now. Hune's a straightforward guy. If he supports, or opposes something, he won't hesitate about saying so. He voted against all of the tax increases and fee increases as a state rep, and will probably do the same as a state senator. He was my rep when I lived in Howell, so I'm quite familiar with his record.
2. Hoekstra supports the fairtax on the federal level, but wants the Granholm services tax to replace the business tax, increasing taxes on individuals. If it was to replace the property tax or income tax as well as a detailed plan to reign in spending, I'd be less irked. It looks to me as he's being a yesman for the self proclaimed "Business leaders for Michigan" which has some good ideas, but some bad as well. I say that due to the timing of Hoekstra's announcements right soon after their push.
3. I'm waiting to see real reforms from all the candidates. Mike Cox has this, which is the most detailed - http://www.mikecox2010.com/the_plan/. Full disclosure, that's who I'm supporting.
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