It's enough to inspire hope again, when all hope seemed to be missing in action ...
caught between rampant Unemployment ... and the Tea Party Fire Sales to dismantle America's way of life ...
Today the People of Michigan fought back ...
1,000-plus seniors rally at Capitol to protest Snyder's plan to tax pensions
By CHRIS CHRISTOFF, DETROIT FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU CHIEF -- 10:09 AM, Mar. 15, 2011
LANSING – More than 1,000 seniors and retirees packed the front of the state Capitol today to protest Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget-balancing plan that would tax pensions like ordinary income.
Chanting, “It’s not fair,” and, “Recall Rick,” the crowd -- 400 were bused in by AARP Michigan -- heard speakers denounce Snyder's fiscal plan as an unfair tax shift from businesses to retirees and the middle class that would hurt funding for schools, universities and basic city services.
“I’ve never been political, but this is a power grab,” said Jennifer Cherrette, 55, a Lansing-area retired state employee who said her pension is less than $20,000 a year. “And it’s not about the budget. It’s about our governor taking our money and giving it to big business. And now he wants those emergency managers. It’s wrong, and it’s not about the budget.”
She added, “This isn’t about old people, this about working America and killing the middle class.”
[A'Lynne Robinson, president of Lansing City Council, addresses protesters today at the state Capitol in Lansing. / SUSAN TUSA/Detroit Free Press] larger image
Don't you wish you were there?
Wow, even the Local News station picked up the story -- of Michigan Seniors pouring into their State Capitol:
Retirees protest tax pensions proposal
Local New Report in Lansing Michigan Channel 8
http://www.youtube.com/...
And Detroit News Reporters too ... is the Media FINALLY waking up too?
Seniors, activists protest Snyder's tax plan at Capitol
Karen Bouffard, Detroit News Lansing Bureau -- March 15. 2011 5:57PM
The protesters carried signs that read "The Nerd has become a bully" and "Shared sacrifice? Where is it Nerd?" — a jab at Snyder, whose campaign slogan was "One Tough Nerd."
"I voted for Snyder and I'm exceptionally disappointed," said Tom Foghino, 66, a protester from Kalamazoo. "I wouldn't have voted for him if he announced this in his campaign."
In an interview with The Associated Press, Snyder defended his proposal, under which retirees are expected to have to pay close to $900 million more.
"I think there's a large group of silent people out there that are very supportive of this. They may not like it, but they're supportive," Snyder said. "They understand shared sacrifice."
Governor Rick Snyder should take a look in the mirror, and at his "Best Buddies" List, and ask HIMSELF if THEY understand what the meaning of "Shared" -- or "Sacrifice" -- is?
Here's a Hint Guvner: "Shared" doesn't start off with a 1.8 Billion Dollar Tax Giveaway to your Corporate Buddies.
Gov. Snyder unveils his budget plan
Proposes deep cuts in spending, business taxes
by Todd A. Heywood, michiganmessenger.com -- Feb 17, 2011
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, before a joint session of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees this morning, unveiled a budget plan full of deep spending cuts and new taxes on seniors, the poor and the middle class to offset a business tax cut.
[...] Snyder says the proposal will result in “shared sacrifices,” his plan to restructure the tax system will strongly shift the tax burden away from businesses. Under Snyder’s plan, the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) will be axed and a new six percent corporate tax will replace only part of the MBT revenues. Overall, businesses will see a reduction in their taxes of nearly $1.8 billion.
That $1.8 billion business tax cut is being offset by tax increases and steep cuts to other parts of the budget, including a new tax on public and private pensions for retirees. Under current law, public pensions are entirely untaxed in the state, while private pensions are exempt from taxation up to $45,000 for individuals and $90,000 for couples. That tax would raise about $1 billion a year in new revenue.
[...]
Snyder has also proposed a cut of 15 percent to state university budgets, and proposes a four percent — or about $470 per pupil — cut in local K-12 spending. Snyder says his plan protects community colleges. He would also provide a pool of cash as incentive for universities to keep tuition increases below seven percent.
Unsurprisingly, his budget met with immediate criticism.
Today the Seniors of Michigan, (and many Non-Seniors too) ...
Started Criticizing!
Don't Tax Gramps!
Now there's a "Shared Sacrifice" Slogan -- that's Actually Saying something!