Rick Snyder's vision of a reinvented Michigan centers on what he calls Michigan 3.0, the Era of Innovation.  This vision has three key pillars. The first is a globally diverse economy that provides increasing prosperity to its citizens.  The second pillar is to provide a great quality of life, by protecting Michigan's natural resources and enhancing its central cities.  The third pillar is to create an environment in Michigan that will not only allow our youth to stay, but one in which they'll want to stay.   For more information, see:

http://www.michigan.gov/snyder

Federal Government value-engineering study

Office of Management and Budget

I want to hear that our county is more effective and a lower tax burden than other counties and regions.

I believe that government employee benefits, should be average with the private sector.  The job descriptions and performance reviews should align with the equivalent talent compensation offered in the private sector.   Public sector employees should have a review every year against their performance goals, and also compared to those of competitive regions. 

When it comes to wages and benefits, there should be a public vote with a super-majority (66%) convinced into supporting proven position needs. 

I am against abuse of the system in allowing public employees obtain more than one public retirement payment or benefits package.  Most states have already outlawed double dipping.  Returning to work is no problem, with the understanding that retirement payments will be deferred until they retire once again.   Training of a successor should phase out the retiree.  Public jobs should be reduced, or consolidated where workload is too light to sustain staff levels.

I am OK with public employees working more than one job, even in the private sector, so long as it does not impact the public job.   As a recent example, Police officers working other jobs, say as a security gurard.   Police officers are trained and expected  to be our public ready first responders - at any time of need.   So safeguards to prevent fatigue, etc. must be taken into account, so as performance for public safety is not compromised.   Double shifts, both private, public, or mixed lead to fatique.  Care must be taken to maximize the public trust in best value for their services, with priority over the private sector. 

Average price of electricity, Michigan vs. the country
 
Michigan's Public Service Commission — the state's electric and natural gas regulators —  published a new report reviewing electric choice policies as an alternative way to keep electric prices low. Unfortunately, the report underplays the success that Michigan had from its relatively brief electric choice experiment when electricity prices dropped to benefit all residents. 

Michigan, like other states, has long regulated the supply and delivery of electricity. The state is divided into service territories dominated by regulated suppliers, either Consumers Energy or Detroit Edison for about 90 percent of Michigan customers.

Michigan once had one of the most successful electricity competition laws and policies in the country, and electricity customers received clear and measurable benefits from this competition while it lasted.  

Please see rest of the article at:

http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/19246

Bring back Electric Choice!

I'd like to ask... What have the power companies done to lower the cost of electricity?  

I have no problem with opening up competition, provided:

• We also have 10% renewable generation imposed on competition,
• We see distribution costs aligned with other states.
• We pay comparable wholesale credits to small power providers for any excess clean [of Green House Gases - GHG] energy production (not necessarily just solar or wind).

The FairTax is Fair - (Don't confuse with Flat or VAT Tax proposals) It replaces the federal income tax system, which taxes what we earn, with a tax on what we spend. The FairTax is a consumption tax: the more you buy, the more you pay in taxes; the less you buy, the less you pay in taxes. So everyone pays fairly when they choose to spend, including illegal immigrants, foreign visitors (about 50,000 each year), and those who evade paying taxes under the income tax system. The FairTax:

• Makes sure everyone pays their fair share
• Allows you to keep your entire check: payroll, Social Security, and pension
• Un-taxes the poor with a rebate on the necessities of life
• Protects Social Security and Medicare
• Stimulates investment, economic growth and job creation
• Under the FairTax, there will be less than 20 million businesses that will be filing sales tax returns and thus subject to the possibility of being audited. Thus, the probability of tax cheats getting caught will be much greater than it is today, making tax evasion riskier than it is today.

The FairTax is Simple:

• NO income tax filings
• NO loopholes or exceptions
• NO hidden taxes

The FairTax is Incredible:

• 95% of all Americans will pay less tax!

The FairTax can happen soon. All it takes is a strong commitment by WE THE PEOPLE. Take action now. Don't wait. Join our team and help restore the American Dream for everyone, including your children and granchildren.

 FAIR TAX CALCULATOR  ---> http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer?pagename=calculator




Michael Reagan Becomes Honorary Chairman of the FairTax National Victory Campaign 
Friday, January 15, 2010

FairTax will attract trillions of dollars of foreign investment into the U.S. economy and bring back trillions more in American investments currently in offshore accounts and investments, expand the national tax base dramatically to include taxation of those who illegally avoid taxation or benefit from special tax breaks to the politically powerful, and lift the weight of federal taxes and payroll deductions entirely from millions of poor and elderly. "It is the shortest path to full economic recovery and millions of new jobs, ending Congressional corruption of the tax code and providing significant tax relief to the middle class", he said. "The FairTax ends the special benefits enjoyed by the political class which has so badly hurt our economy."