Citizenship
Project News
It is never too early to learn how to be a good citizen. Our
children are watching us. We’d love for
you to share in these activities.
Events:
· Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement
Convention, for the purpose of endorsing candidates
for attorney general and secretary of state, will be
held Saturday, April 17, at Cobo Hall in Detroit. Constituency
Groups meet from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.; Congressional
Districts meet at 10:00 a.m.; and the Endorsement Convention
convenes at 1:00 p.m.
This is an opportunity to hear from many candidates
-- including several for MI Supreme Court -- as well
as for MDP members to participate in the choice for
probable nominees for two of our most important statewide
offices, attorney general and secretary of state.
The impressive resumes of Richard Bernstein (for AG)
and Jocelyn Benson (for SOS) are strong testament to
the quality of character and intellectual gifts each
would bring to their office. Charismatic and accomplished,
each would certainly do much to elevate the level of
excitement in this year’s election. And each
seems to me to embody the very highest ideals of our
Democratic Party. To learn more about them, go to:
http://www.bernsteinformichigan.com/ and http://www.votebenson.com/
More details about the Convention can be found at www.michigandems.com.
· DFA Campaign Academy Training in Jackson, MI, April 24 – 25.
For all details and to register, go to http://www.democracyforamerica.com/events/33830-dfa-campaign-training-in-jackson-mi.
· MSU to offer 100 free New Economy Training Programs in 60
days as part of the Michigan Prosperity Initiative. This initiative is an important
partnership between Michigan State University, the State of Michigan, regional
councils of Government and Michigan’s local governments to better prepare
Michigan to compete in the global New Economy.
The free trainings, to be lead by the MSU Land Policy
Institute and MSU Extension, will take place in each
region from Monday, April 19 through Wednesday, June
16. The initiative includes three levels of training
programs: New Economy 101, 201 and 301. Each event
is progressively more complex, with 101 being intended
for general audiences.
In West Michigan, New Economy 101 will be held Monday,
April 26, in Muskegon. To register and to learn more,
go to www.landpolicy.msu.edu/modules.php?name=Pages&op=viewlive&sp_id=498.
· “First Friday” May, moved up to Friday, April
30, features former city Commissioner and current candidate for Michigan Senate
David LaGrand. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and happy hour beer and wine
5:00 – 7:00 at the Ottawa Tavern, Waters Building, downtown Grand Rapids
at Pearl and Ottawa; your donation of $25, $50, $100, or whatever goes directly
to the candidate. Make checks payable to Committee to Elect David LaGrand or
contribute on line at http://davidlagrand.com.
· Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council is hosting the 3rd and last
meeting to get input from the public on its off shore wind development recommendations
Tuesday, May 4, at the Muskegon Community College, Collegiate Hall, 221 S.
Quarterline Rd., Muskegon. The Open House begins at 6:00 p.m., and presentations
run from 7:00 p.m. to conclusion at 9:00 p.m. For more details and to download
background material, go to www.michiganglowcouncil.org/meetings.html. I am
informed that earlier meetings have been both exceptionally educational and
civil.
Announcements and News
· Announcing an Exciting New Program in Michigan to Discover/Treat
Environmental Cancers
· More doctors sought for training and participation.
· Detroit's Karmanos Cancer Institute in cooperation
with Michigan Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has undertaken
a unique "national demonstration" program
to identify cancers caused by environmental toxins
and treat them at the earliest possible stages.
· Michael Harbut, MD is the Director of the Environmental
Cancer Initiative. The effort's first phase is aimed
at identifying cancers caused by arsenic, asbestos
and radon. Physicians who choose to participate have
taken 4 hours of on-line coursework, giving them the
basics of diagnosing and treating environmental diseases.
· Help Get the Word Out About this Program-
Be sure to ask your doctor if s/he has taken the coursework,
participates in the Environmental Cancer Initiative,
and to screen you for environmental cancers. If you
have questions, e-mail Cyndi Noraian at Noraianc@karmanos.org.
· Find out more about the
program at Click here: Cancer Treatment | Cancer
Research | Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
| Detroit, Michigan or http://www.karmanos.org/app.asp?id=1264&ssec=7
"What
We Know About Climate Science"
http://climatecrocks.com/
Peter Sinclair’s long list of five minute videos "crock
of the week" all address
specific single misrepresentations by climate deniers.
This ten minute
show is a more general overview intended as an introduction
to the
factual evidence versus the glib hype being offered
by the naysayers.
It is an excellent short presentation of the incredible
complexity and
depth of climate science. And no, it won't convince
everyone, because
some people just would rather not be convinced no matter
what the evidence.
Globalization in
reverse driven by diminishing availability of cheap
fossil fuel? Hear what Jeff Rubin, Canadian economist,
has to say on the subject at the 2009 Climate Change
Conference: Jeff Rubin at the The Business of Climate
Change Conference 2009 | Energy Bulletin
Message from a Better Michigan Future: Tax Loophole
of the Week
This week's loophole is a slippery one -- $7.5 million
for Michigan's own version of The Beverly Hillbillies.
People in Michigan with oil wells producing under 35
barrels a day get a tax break. When this loophole went
into effect, oil sold at $13.35 a barrel. Today's prices
are more like $82.04 a barrel.
Michigan’s oil barons can generate over $1 million
in gross revenue a year from just one well and should
be paying the same tax rate as other oil well owners.
So let’s give Michigan families a break by closing
this wasteful giveaway and using the money for schools,
public safety and roads!
Luckily, state Representative Fred Miller feels the
same way. Miller sponsored a bill, HB 4487, that eliminates
the loophole. The bill, which is before the state House
Tax Policy Committee, would amend the Severance Tax
Act of 1929 and equalize the fees paid by small and
large oil wells.
Instead of drawing red lines through the vital programs
and services that will be the key to rebuilding Michigan,
lawmakers should be redlining tax loopholes that are
obsolete and do not create or retain jobs.
We're at a crossroads, and we have to choose. The
people of Michigan or nonsensical tax loopholes for
corporations? Tell your lawmakers to choose Michiganders
by closing tax loopholes!
Facts Matter Tax Expenditures: Silently Draining the
State Budget, is one of a series of briefs highlighting
Michigan’s budget and tax system, and prepared
by the Michigan League for Human Services.
At a time when state and local revenues are plummeting
and the state faces a serious structural budget deficit,
the Michigan Legislature continues to pass tax expenditures
that would further erode state and local revenues. …This
briefing examines tax expenditures and provides recommendations
on how to improve the tax expenditure process.
What are tax expenditures?
Simply put, tax expenditures reduce or eliminate taxes
that would have been otherwise paid by individuals
and entities, thereby reducing tax revenues. Tax
expenditures can be defined broadly as the tax revenue
forgone as a result of preferential provisions such
as credits, deductions, exemptions, deferrals, exclusions
on lower tax rates, according to the Michigan Department
of Treasury. These provisions are tax expenditures
because, like appropriations, they allocate resources
for specific public purposes, but do so through the
tax system rather than the expenditure system.
How much does Michigan “spend” on tax
expenditures?
Tax expenditures [were] projected to increase 6.7
percent between fiscal year 2008 and 2009 – from $33.6
billion to 35.8 billion, according to the Michigan
Department of Treasury. To put that in perspective,
Michigan’s total state tax revenue for fiscal
year 2009 [was] estimated to be $24.2 billion. Tax
expenditures – the revenue Michigan forgoes – are
growing at a faster rate than state tax revenue. Between
2005 and 2008, tax expenditures grew by about 15 percent
compared with an 8.8 percent growth in total state
tax revenue.
Why should we be concerned about tax expenditures?
Tax expenditures:
· Reduce revenues available to the state
for spending;
· Can grow in cost;
· Are not regularly reviewed by the
Legislature; and
· Do not have to go through the appropriations
process.
Like spending on specific programs, tax expenditures
directly impact the state budget, but they do so in
a more silent way. Some have even referred to tax expenditures
as “silent spending.” Particularly during
difficult budget times, state spending is closely scrutinized
by the governor and the Legislature. In order for any
spending to occur, it must first be authorized by the
Legislature and the Governor. There is no continuation
funding for state programs. Tax expenditures, on the
other hand, continue on without authorization, unless
they are eliminated.
Over the last several years, more than $4 billion has
been cut from the state budget, but few if any tax
expenditures have been eliminated. When the governor
and Legislature look at revenues available and line
items in the budget, tax expenditures are not a part
of that discussion. Essential services are being cut
and eliminated while tax expenditures continue without
evaluation. A list of tax expenditures is included
in the governor’s budget, but unlike budget bills,
the list is not debated by the Appropriations Committees.
Do tax expenditures stimulate economic development?
Defenders of tax expenditures often use the argument
that such expenditures are needed in order to stimulate
economic development and to create jobs. The evidence,
however, suggests otherwise. According to a 2003 report
for the Louisiana Department of Economic Development,
tax incentives “often have no measurable impact
on growth, and even when they do, it is likely that
they are not cost-effective…most economists
in the field would recommend economic development policy
based on sufficient and appropriate infrastructure
investments and service provision, and a balanced,
predictable and fair tax system.”
How could the tax expenditure process be improved?
The Legislature should take action to require that
every tax expenditure be reviewed by the appropriate
appropriations committee as part of the budget process.
Rather than just allowing tax expenditures to continue
without review, a decision should be required as to
whether a tax expenditure continues or ends. Tax expenditures
should be evaluated to determine whether they are still
necessary, are meeting their goals, are cost-effective,
are benefiting the public at large and are worth their
cost to the state budget. Some tax expenditures are
worthwhile and a good use of state money, others are
not. A review system is needed to determine which is
which.
Estimated Michigan Tax Revenue and Tax Expenditure
Trends ($s in Billions)
Estimated State Tax Expenditure Trendline
$29.1 $30.0 $30.7 $33.6 $35.8 Est’d 59% potential
State tax revenues
Foregone
Total State Tax Revenue Trendline
$23.9 $24.2 $24.4 $26.0 $25.1 Est. 41% of potential
State tax revenues
Collected
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2009
BOOK BANK
Research shows that children who own books are much
more likely to enjoy reading and be better readers. We
have a goal of collecting 1,000 quality books this
year to give to children who need books. So
far we’ve collected and distributed around
250 books. Creative Learning has committed
to give one book for every book that is purchased
for 30% off and donated to the BOOK BANK. Gently
used books are also very welcome.
Cathy Albro
