Tired of paying for Michigan? Liquidate it!

Republicans fit a lot of descriptions but lazy in Lansing is not one of them.

Watching all the legislation rolling off the Republican assembly line of regress gives me a headache, and I hear silence from Michigan voters as I look in horror while they close down Michigan, one school or municipality at a time.  We need to speak up.

The Michigan State House of Representatives this week passed House Bill 4214, a piece of legislation that, if passed by the state senate and signed by the governor as expected, will give municipalities, school districts, cities, and township (update: these would be financial managers appointed by the governor) administrators the sole authority to decide whether a financial crisis exists.  If they determine a financial crisis does exist, these individuals will have the authority to cancel labor contracts, sell public land and buildings, lay off workers, and liquidate property to pay the bills.  If this bill passes, mayors can sell city parks, townships can liquidate public waterfront property, and you will be unable to do anything about it.

Why is this almost-law getting passed by Republicans?  Well, because our state no longer wants wealthy corporations to help pay for the privilege of growing wealth on our toil and soil, money has to come from someplace you know.  In order for small town government to pay all those bills that Michigan’s wealthy and privileged no longer feel is their responsibility to help pay, and low income wage earners and public employees cannot pay for themselves, the Republicans plan is to auction off the pieces.

The governor’s budget lets big corporations off the hook,  takes money out of local townships and cities, grabs a million dollars out of the hands of low-income workers in Houghton County who otherwise would qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, taxes public and private pensions, slashes funds for Michigan Technological University, and will take almost $500 per student from your child or grandchild’s already financially burdened school.  But the wealthy corporations get to keep their money.  They, of course, expect municipalities and schools to have expenses they cannot pay.

Not to worry because when schools and local municipalities go broke, the Republicans are have this new law.  They certainly were not interested in making everyone share the burden like we did when Michigan was on top, and like the new governor talked about during his campaign.  No.  These Republicans decided to give municipalities and school districts a tool called a “financial emergency” to let an administrator choose between not paying bills or holding a rummage sale with your child’s future.

Do you think this is smart to run the government like a cheap factory, cutting costs until the only way to pay for police, fire, and roads is to sell the equipment, public buildings, and the final thousands of feet Michigan’s waterfront the general public still has access to use?

These rascals are bold.  They are not interested in picking on public workers like you may believe.  This crowd has grabbed the wheel of government from the people and turned it sharply to the right, stomped on the accelerator, and the vehicle of government as you know it is about to be driven over the edge, right into the trees, back to an era of everyone for themselves and the only protection would be inside a big discount store where you may work for some processed food.

Voters would be outraged about this bill’s threat to local democratic control of towns and schools if enough of us could pry ourselves away from the Charlie Sheening of this week’s media menu.  Our State Representative, Matt Huuki already voted for this reckless legislation.  Sen. Tom Casperson will be next, voting the way the Republican bosses in Lansing tell them to vote.

Pick up the phone and tell these guys what you think about putting public workers and lands on clearance.  Tell them before Houghton has to sell Chutes and Ladders to some corporation, or Houghton County needs to bulldoze elementary schools and sell the school yards so some contractor can build another mini mall.

Your representatives have no idea what you want unless you tell them.  Seriously.  All week they listen to the persistent voices of their leadership in Lansing but do they ever hear your voice?

Rep. Matt Huuki’s telephone number is (888) 663-4031 and Sen. Tom Casperson’s telephone number is (517) 373-7840.  Call today.  Call often.