Think "They" Won't Raise Your Taxes? Think Again!

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Two Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday proposed raising Michigan's income tax rate to pay university tuition for students and fund preschool programs for 4-year-olds. The plan would raise about $2 billion through a higher state income tax, with the rate increasing from the current 4.35 percent to 5.5 percent.  

Read the full press report here.

So they want to raise your income tax by 21%, yes, that's right. A TWENTY-ONE PERCENT INCREASE IN YOUR INCOME TAXES!

And what should you do about it? I suggest you come to the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 15th at high noon, and let lawmakers know what you think. Visit their offices and tell them, respectfully, that you think a whopping 21% tax increase is not a good idea for Michigan right now.

Join "Joe the Plumber" Wednesday, April 15, 12:00 noon, on the steps of the Capitol in Lansing. More details will follow. See you there!

GM will cover your car payment if you lose your job.

Well, at least Mr. Wagoner won't lose his car!

GM CEO: Accountable to the President. UAW President: Accountable to NOBODY

After reading this report, ask yourself just one question: If the President found it necessary to fire Rick Wagoner as CEO of General Motors, why is there no similar accountability on the part of UAW President Ron Gettlefinger?

http://laborpains.org/index.php/2009/03/31/uaw-financial-reports-shows-lavish-resorts-and-big-salaries-during-2008-turmoil/

UAW Financial Reports Shows Lavish Resorts and Big Salaries During 2008 Turmoil

Today, amidst further negotiations between General Motors (GM), the United Auto Workers (UAW), and the federal government, the UAW filed its yearly financial report which shows hard times for auto workers did not translate to the UAW’s lavish expense accounts and salaries.

Every UAW officer made in excess of $141,000 in total compensation in 2008. More than 550 employees (over half of the staff making above $10,000 annually) made more than $100,000 in total compensation. Over the course of the year, the union expensed $98,775 on golf courses, another $75,492 at casinos, and over $150,000 at resort conference centers.

The $33 million UAW-owned Black Lake Golf Course came with its own costs. The union spent $23,488 in member dues in a tax assessment dispute regarding property taxes for the course, and $28,000 transporting people to the resort. Unlike years past, the union did not file an auditor’s report revealing how much the course lost in operations.

The excessive spending doesn’t end there. Towels ($7,842), puzzles ($7,617), ponchos ($9,015), 35 “handcrafted computer bags” ($5,394), and bowling tournaments ($29,867) were all paid for with money from union members’ salaries. They also spent $172,641 on what must have been extremely luxurious briefcases and another $149,592 on t-shirts!

You might expect that the UAW spent 2008 getting its financial priorities in tune with the the dismal state of the domestic automotive industry, but you’d be wrong. At a time when the entire automotive industry is making deep cuts, the UAW continues to spend members hard-earned dues on frivolous expenses. With leadership like that, it is not surprising that the UAW’s membership fell to a record low not seen since before World War II.

Click here to read the UAW’s complete LM-2 report filed with the Department of Labor.

Is Your School Bus Driver on the Phone?

If you were the superintendent of a school district and you found out that your school bus drivers were on their cell phones while driving the bus, what would you do? Would you discipline the driver? Perhaps you would enact a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving the bus.

Is it safe to assume that the district board and superintendent have enough common sense and personal responsibility to address the situation? Fear not, the legislature is coming to the rescue! House Bill 4362 has been introduced to stop this foolish activity. The bill says:

"(1) The driver of a school bus shall not utilize a cellular telephone while the school bus is in motion or at any time when pupils are boarding or exiting the school bus. (2) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $100.00. A civil infraction under this subsection shall be processed in the same manner as a civil infraction under the Michigan vehicle code."

Thank goodness, we have someone looking out for us in Lansing!

Can Republicans Win by Embracing the National Education Association?

"The National Education Association agenda is the exact opposite of the Republican Party's agenda, or at least what our agenda should be. What's next? Accepting money from the National Abortion Rights Action League, Handgun Control, Gay Marriage PACs and George Soros?"  -Republican candidate for governor of New Jersey, Steve Lonegan.

The RNC reported $24 million in the bank and no debt while the DNC reported $8.6 million on hand and $7 million in debt. Awash in funds, then why did the RNC accept a $15,000 donation from the National Education Association PAC, who runs counter to fiscal conservatives and taxpayers; educational choice advocates; home educators; merit based employment; and, simply, exceptional education for America's children?

One Republican candidate, conservative Steve Lonegan, running for Governor of New Jersey, has now called on Michael Steele to return it. (See Steve's announcement below.) You might want to do the same. Find your favorite contact at the RNC here.  Or send a fax or snail mail:

Republican National Committee | 310 First Street | Washington, D. C. 20003

p/202.863.8500 | f/202.863.882

LONEGAN CALLS ON STEELE TO RETURN NEA DONATION TO RNC

ORADELL -- Republican Gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan today urged Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele to return a $15,000 donation from the National Education Association Political Action Committee

Politico reports that the NEA PAC donation was part of $90,000 collected from PACs in the last month, the first under Steele's chairmanship.

"I believe in raising money from people who share your vision of leadership," said Lonegan whose own campaign is closing in on the $2 Million fundraising mark including matching funds. "But I do not believe in asking for or accepting money from people or organizations whose mission differs from yours,” he added. "The National Education Association agenda is the exact opposite of the Republican Party's agenda, or at least what our agenda should be."

"What's next? Accepting money from the National Abortion Rights Action League, Handgun Control, Gay Marriage PACs and George Soros?" Lonegan wondered.

"Chairman Steele needs to return this $15,000 check to the NEA and stop the practice of asking our enemies to underwrite our activities. If Chairman Steele cannot run the RNC with the support of rank and file Republicans, then he should step down and turn the job over to someone else."

Lonegan said he was very disappointed in the first few weeks of Steele’s tenure.

"First he stepped out and attacked Rush Limbaugh, who has done more to galvanize taxpayers against the Obama agenda than the RNC has done. Then he said abortion was 'a choice' and now is taking money from the Teachers Union. While my opponent Mr. Christie and other party liberals may have no problem with Chairman Steele's actions, I do. We’re going to take back this country by standing tall for what we believe, not getting in bed with our opponents. And the battle to take back our nation starts right here in New Jersey, "Lonegan added.

Keep up with Steve's campaign by regularly visiting www.lonegan.com, where you will find all kinds of information, including Steve's calendar. You may also follow Steve on Twitter or request to be one of Steve's Facebook friends. There is also a great Steve Lonegan for NJ Governor Facebook Group not run by the campaign.

Sounds Like the Thought Police to Me

Here is a bill that prohibits an employer from using health status or "believed illness or health condition" from consideration in employment decisions. So, I guess a prospect who is turned down for employment can accuse the employer of "thinking I was sick" and therefore refusing to hire. And what kind of "believed illness" are we talking about? Physical health, mental health, psychological health? And who will be the judge of these health conditions?

But, if that isn't bad enough, anyone who was turned down for a job can file a civil suit and recover damages from the employer.

Bottom line, you not only can't refuse to hire because the prospect or a family member is sick, but you can't refuse to hire because you "thought he was sick." This creative legislation must have come from a consortium of trial lawyers and labor lobbyists.

"Big Brother" Getting Bigger?

Under legislation introduced this week, "a local unit of government may by ordinance require the fingerprinting of door-to-door solicitors, taxi cab drivers or other drivers for hire, or street vendors or other transient merchants for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information on those individuals." House Bill 4601 would ostensibly provide us more security. Hmm, it reminds me of a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security deserve neither and will likely lose both." I have seen this quote in several different forms, but the essential truth is always the same.

The question is, how much of our freedoms do we really want to sacrifice for more perceived security. If one "undocumented taxi cab driver" robs or assaults a fare, does that mean we need to subject every taxi cab driver in town to fingerprinting? And even if we do, will it actually reduce the incidence of crime? A larger question might be, how much more power do we want to give to government? When will the citizens, the voters stand up and say, "Enough!" Stay tuned.