Friday, March 09, 2007

Anti-tax groups target Lansing with ads



Business groups who complain about paying more taxes can somehow find the money to launch a propaganda war. Imagine that.



Two large business organizations will launch a TV ad campaign in Lansing attacking Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposal to impose a 2% excise tax on services.



The ad will be limited to cable TV stations in the Lansing area for several days next week. But it’s sure to heighten the public relations war between Granholm and critics of her tax plan.



The Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Michigan Association of Realtors will launch the 30-second ad Monday. It will point out the kinds of services that would be taxed, according to the two groups.



Tricia Kinley, a tax policy specialist for the state Chamber, said the public is unaware of how many services the proposed tax would affect. It would generate nearly $1.5 billion in additional revenue with a 2% tax on 132 services that range from haircuts, car washes and shoe repairs to plumbers and dry cleaning to accountants to entertainment tickets – including professional sports events.



This might be a good time revisit the list of things that Tricia wants from her government.



(Those of you who just read this down below, stick with me here. I want it to show up again in light of this news.)



Heard at a recent town hall meeting-



Granholm: The question is, for businesses, what is going to make them competitive. Yes, having a competitive tax structure is important, but they also want to have educated workers, do they not?



Kinley: They certainly do.



Granholm: Right. And they also want to make sure that when they pick up the phone to call the police, a police officer comes, don't they?



Kinley: They certainly do.



Granholm: Right. And they want to make sure that their health... that we're not subsidizing the cost of health care for seniors or children or people with disabilities... you don't want to have to have businesses pay for all that, right?



Kinley: That's certainly true.



Granholm: So there's a role for government in those things, and the question is can we work together on finding the most competitive business climate, as well as the ability to invest in our state.



Apparently the answer from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Realtors is, no, we cannot work together, we want to have all these things and not have to pay for them, now we are going to run campaign style ads designed to scare people to follow our agenda.



Obviously they want to influence the Legislature only with these ads- Tricia may say the "public is unaware", but most of the public lives in Detroit followed by Grand Rapids. Lansing is 6th on the list as far as population goes.



Now, why would Tricia say such a thing when they aren't targeting the bulk of the population? Because it's not about you, people of Michigan, it's about those who might touch that precious bottom line, those bought and paid-for stuffed suits put in place to protect the monied interests only.



Better that you pay more in your income taxes. Bet these guys would have no problem with that.



Granholm has favored the service tax because it would be paid by both residents and businesses while a higher income tax — another idea floating around the Capitol — would fall entirely on individuals.



Ironically, one reason they won't run the ads elsewhere- they don't want to pay for it.



Kinley said it’s not decided whether the TV ad will be aired outside of the Lansing area because of cost.



Maybe it's time for some ads that show what will happen if revenue isn't raised. Two can play at this game- and if you want some 30-second propaganda, severe cuts to the budget could paint some horrific pictures if you really think about it.



Where are the cops, teachers, mayors that are resistant to more cuts? Will they speak up again? Wonder what Stryker is up to these days. Wonder if you could get the MEA or the Municipal League to put something togther.



Wonder if anyone is going to stand up for our state. I'm having my doubts today.